TITLE: MOVEMENT
AUTHOR: DEBORAH HERNDON, IXL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,
ARKANSAS CITY, KS
GRADE LEVEL: 3-4
OVERVIEW: Students from the middle grades are ready to
begin experimentation as a method for solving problems.
This activity will have them identify variables, and
test a variable for its effect on moving a marble.
PURPOSE: To involve students in identifying variables
and planning experiments to test the effect of a
variable.
OBJECTIVES: As a result of this activity, the students
will:
1. OBSERVE marbles rolling down a ramp.
2. IDENTIFY VARIABLES that could be causing the
marble to roll faster or farther.
3. TEST changing one variable to see what results
it will have.
4. RECORD appropriate data.
5. ANALYZE the data to make a concluding statement
about the changed variable.
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
1. Introduction
This activity could be introduced at the beginning
of a unit on movement or as a part of an ongoing
unit on how technology advances.
Demonstrate a marble rolling down a ramp. Ask the
students to make observations. Discuss what could
make the marble roll faster? farther? List all
possible variables. Decide on one variable to
test, and make a prediction as to the results of
that one change.
Discuss what measurement would be appropriate for
the situation and tools available. In an
elementary classroom and considering the small
amount of time it takes a marble to roll down a
ramp, measuring how far the marble goes is more
appropriate.
2. Small group experiment --The following form can be
generated by the students or given to them with
any or all parts as places to "fill-in", depending
on your emphasis.
RAISE THE RAMP!!
PLAN: We want to see how far a marble will roll after
coming down a ramp. We will try to change the height
of the ramp to make it roll faster.
CONSTANTS VARIABLE
--------------------------------------
size of marble
weight of marble height of ramp
same ramp surface
RESOURCES/MATERIALS: 10 books (each about 1 cm.
thick), meterstick, marble, ramp (made of a cardboard
tube form wrapping paper. (Materials for the
experiment as listed, with enough for each small
group.)
PROCEDURE:
1. Set up the ramp with 4 books on a flat surface.
2. Hold the marble at the top of the ramp and let
it roll.
3. Use the meterstick to measure how far the marble
rolls from the end of the ramp.
4. Record your results.
5. Raise the ramp to 7 books and repeat steps
#2-#4.
6. Raise the ramp to 10 books and repeat steps
#2-#4.
RESULTS:
_ramp______l_trial# 1__l_trial #2__l__trial #3_l
_4 books___l___________l___________l___________l
_7 books __l___________l___________l___________l
_10 books__l___________l___________l___________l
CONCLUSION: __( The greater incline of the higher will
cause the marble to roll faster, unless the incline
becomes so steep that the smooth roll of the marble is
interrupted) ____________________________
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER This provides a good basis of
understanding for further studies of motion.
Interaction is a basic science concept. Students should
become aware of interactions and the causes/ effects of
those interactions.
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