Ok, so the 7th graders were learning about potential and kinetic energy this week. And I found a "Bounce!" lab from Science-class.net under physics and energy, that really hit the spot. It was really a hit. I should have taken pictures.
What did they do: Measure a piece to masking tape at least 100 cm from the floor on the wall. Mark it in three spots, 50 cm, 75 cm, and 100 cm. Starting at 50 cm drop the ball and watch where it comes back up to, record the measurement and do this four times more. And then repeat for the other two measurements. Find the average heights, make a bar graph, and answer some analysis questions.
What did they learn: Potential is converted to kinetic energy, energy is conserved, law of conservation of energy, energy is converted to other forms of energy like sound and thermal.
What did they practice: Using a measuring tool , accurately recording metric measurements, finding averages, taking data from a table and putting it into a graph, comparing and interpreting data from a graph, analyzing other scenarios for the same concept.
In my class, students complete the hands-on part in class and the analysis at home. We come together the next day to discuss the results. The next days discussion went well for my morning class, who had completed the analysis at home, but the afternoon class is still working on doing their homework at home before we can have more meaningful real conversations in class.
Boom Bang Boom!! Couldn't ask for a better lesson.
No comments:
Post a Comment