Grade: 3rd

Standards:

3-PS2-2. Make observations and/or measurements of an object's motion to provide evidence that a pattern can be used to predict future motion.

Summary:

Students explore motion and rockets while assisting Spacewoman Tess, Spaceman Rohan and Maya in their explorations. First, they learn some basic facts about vehicles, rockets and why we use them. Then, they discover that the motion of all objects—including the flight of a rocket and movement of a canoe—can be described by Newton's three laws of motion. Students learn more about Newton's laws of motion as they build their own small vehicles that move by launching a mass backward.

Focus Questions:

• How are Newton's laws in play in when our vehicles move?

• Does the vehicle experience more or less friction depending on where it is used? Why?

• Is a vehicle that is already in motion more inclined to continue to be in motion? Why? Can you think of an example of one that is?

Posted by: Lauren Pio

Summary:

Explore forces, what they are, and how they change. Dr.Jett and his team help to explain to students how forces are essential for movement and what happens to cause movement. Students will learn that forces have strength and direction in addition to what happens when forces are balanced and unbalanced.

Focus Questions:

• How does force has both strength and direction?

• In what ways do unbalanced forces cause an object to change its motion?

• Do balanced forces cause a change in motion? How do you know?

Posted by: Abby Jankowski