STEM...Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
The first grade students here at C-FG were busy learning about force and motion through various STEM activities. All of the STEM activities were done in our Discovery Lab. The students rotated through 5 different stations, where they learned about force and motion. Below are pictures that show each station and capture the learning.
1. Use a balance and cubes to compare the weight of the balls
2. Test different balls (glass, wood, plastic, and foam) on a bare ramp to see which one goes the furthest. How many tiled did each ball go? How was it different from the others?
3. Did the difference in the weight of the balls change the results?
4. Is there anything you could do to the ramp to change the results?
1. Line up several gears and apply force to the first gear. How does the energy transfer?
2. Do all the gears in a row move in the same direction? Do you see a pattern?
Station 3: Rolling on a Ramp 1. Release a toy car from the top of the ramp and mark where it stops.
2. Measure the distance it traveled on the floor.
3. Repeat and record your best distance.
4. Choose a new material to cover the ramp.
5. Test and record your best distance for each surface.
6. Which material worked best? Is there anything else we could do to improve our results?
Station 4: Dominoes Station1. Line up dominoes and apply force to the first domino. Watch the energy transfer!
2. Line up dominoes to form the letter S.
3. Line up dominoes to form the letter Z.
4. Can you know them all down with just one push?
Station 5: Marble Run
1. Combine several pieces to create a tower, then test marbles to complete the run.
2. In what direction does the marble need to move?
3. Is there anything else we could do to improve our results?
