K-PS2 Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions

Simple Definition:

Activity:

This standard aims to have students gain an understanding of various forces and design experiments to test knowledge on how forces can affect the motion of an object.

Simple objects like a marbles, balls, rope, or pulley can work well here. Multiple stations could be set up so that more than one student is occupied. 

Stations:

- A marble track with a large marble on one side, set to collide with a smaller marble on the other. A second track can be used with two marbles of the same size. What happens when the marbles on the different tracks collide?

- Tie a rope around a heavy object (or heavy for a kindergartener). Set up another object tied to a rope, but this time thread the rope through a pulley as shown below:

Have the kindergarteners attempt to lift each object by pulling on the rope (Up in the first case, down in the second). Which one is easier?

- Set up a ramp at a slight incline. Have different objects for the students to set at the top of the ramp to race down. Include a simple ball, wheel (some type of cylinder), as well as other shapes. Which reach the bottom first?

(Here it is important to know that the ball, given that the mass, or weight, of the objects are equal should reach the bottom first if done correctly, as the sphere has its mass distributed equally around its center )