In this lab, the students had to propel their standard cars with rubber bands. Each group manipulated rubber bands in the following ways:
* Stretch the rubber band across to the opposite axle.
* Wind the rubber band in opposite directions.
* Attach the rubber band under, the over the axle.
Some of the students’ observations are listed below:
* The […]

                                                                         Lab 5: Observations 
For this lab, the students needed to use their knowledge of what made their vehicle move fast and slow from their last lesson to design a fast-moving car of their own.
What made our vehicle move slow:

Heavy Load
No Slope
String got stuck
Not enough washers

What made our vechile move quickly:

Less Load
Clear Path
Correct Design
More Washers

In today’s lab, the students set up experiments to examine the effect mass has on an object while maintaining a constant force. The students added up to two different wooden blocks to their standard vehicles to investigate the effects of a load on motion. During the lab, the students measured the time it took for […]

Today, the students disassembled their own car designs and built a standard model. Each team of 3-6 students received 16 small weights, a bookend, clips and string. Their goal was to determine the effect adding additional weight would have on speed and distance of their cars.
 Predictions:
* Adding extra weight will slow the car down.
* The […]

January 30, 2008 
Objective:To represent a side and top view of the vehicle. 
 
What we learned:
Converting scale is a lot easier than it looks.
    
  Challenges we faced:      
*Our biggest challenge was drawing and measuring the vehicle and also having to convert the measurements to fit the paper! 

This blog will be devoted to the fifth grade students’ developing understanding of motion and design throughout the next nine weeks. Our first lesson introduced students to the physics of motion and elements of design. The students recorded what they already knew and what they wanted to learn about both concepts:
 What we know about motion:
* You […]