My students need low-friction carts to learn the difference between velocity and acceleration through hands-on activities.
$877 goal
This project expired on February 6, 2010.
This project expired on February 6, 2010.
I teach 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science in a small, rural school. Because our school is so small we, the teachers, are able to know all the students in our middle school. I am able to teach students from all our three grade levels and I teach all the sciences. Our school is a high-needs school where poverty is prevalent.
Learning about motion requires hands-on activities that provide evidence that conflicts with student's misconceptions. Because we live in environments full of friction students often confuse acceleration with velocity. This is one example where friction gets in the way of learning! At our school we have access to carts made of K-nex and we attach small fans to them to have them accelerate. The K-nex are not low-friction so often the kids collect data that shows the cart needs a constant force to maintain its velocity. But providing a constant force, like the fan, should provide acceleration and not velocity.
By using low-friction carts students can collect more accurate data. These carts will be able to travel farther without a constant force thereby allowing students to get a more accurate graph by being able to time it for a longer period. Comparing those velocity graphs to acceleration graphs when we add the fan to the carts will give students concrete evidence of the difference between velocity and acceleration.
Doing physical science with 21st century tools will best prepare my students for college at a time when our country needs students to pursue education and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This project would support having more students enter college for STEM careers by giving them a concrete understanding of the abstract subject of motion.
Half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Never Before Funded90 students impacted
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