SCIENCE BOX OVERVIEW
Kit #18
Name: “Workin’ Smarter…Not Harder”
Grade Level: 3-6
Content Strand: Physical Science
Content Standard and Description: Forces and Motion - Students understand that forces such as gravitational, electrical, and magnetic influence the motion of objects
Summary: This kit is designed to help students learn all about force and motion. By using props in this kit such as PVC pipe, toy cars, hammers, and pulleys, students will definitely have fun while they learn.
Learning Cycle Lesson Plans: Here is the list of the lesson plans in this kit.
1. “Do You Have the Force?” – Students will have an increased awareness of what a force is, and its effect on an object. Students will define types of energy, and finally students will demonstrate how force and energy are present in their daily lives.
2. “It’s Simply a Machine!” – Students will be introduced to the concept that machines enable us to use force to do work. Also students will name and identify the six types of simple machines. Finally they will demonstrate how simple machines accomplish work.
3. “Makin’ K’Nex-ions” – Students will learn that simple machines reduce the amount of force required to do work. Also that smaller parts can be combined to make larger constructions, and finally, students will use their oral presentation skills to share their invention with the rest of the class.
4. “The Snack Stand” – Students will investigate how tools are made up of simple machines that help us accomplish work in our everyday lives. Also Students will learn that simple machines can be combined in different ways to form complex machines.
What to Expect: By the end of using this kit, teachers can expect that their students will have been introduced to forces, motion, simple machines, and working with tools. This kit is designed to apply these concepts to third through sixth graders.
Evaluations: Here is what other teachers have said about this box.
1. “I enjoy teaching hands on science. I wouldn’t change anything about this kit.”
2. “Very good box! I’d like to be able to have a bunch of these in my classroom.”
3. “Very well done—very helpful.”