Last week in Mrs. Savage’s third grade class students worked in teams to flex their engineering muscles. Mrs. Savage led a lesson that revolved around the scientific method, potential and kinetic energy, and building a simple machine. Students used spoons and rubber bands to create a ‘simple’ catapult that could launch things like erasers across the room! Before the launching started students made a hypothesis, constructed the catapult, made observations, and then tested their hypothesis by experimentation.
Our Grizzlies were able to see first hand potential and kinetic energy. When you pull back the popsicle stick, potential energy, or “resting” energy gets stored up and when you release the stick, the potential energy turns into kinetic energy, “moving” energy”! Then gravity eventually pulls the launched object back to the ground. Watchin this process first hand really help Mrs. Savage’s students connect with these concepts!
Students were excited to see their catapults work. It was so much fun they seemed to forget that they were learning!
Tags: third grade
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