Following classroom discussions and demonstrations of mechanical energy and the conversion from potential to kinetic energy, students were able to experience this energy transformation first hand and --- shoot rubber bands! Student pairs took turns launching a rubber band off of a ruler at increasing stretch distances. The travel distance for each shoot was measured and recorded in a data table. Students conducted repeated trials for each distance and we discussed how this practice increased the reliability of our data. After calculating the averages of each stretch length, students graphed their data and looked for trends. We also tied in the elements of experimental design and labeled our variable and our controls. The discussion that followed this hands-on lab was very impressive.
5th Grade ScientistsWatch us learn! Archives
September 2014
Categories |