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This WebQuest is designed to allow students to collaborate while investigating Force and Motion, Newton's Laws of Motion, and simple machines. The students should be placed into groups of about 3 to 4 students. Students will decide collectively on which roles they want to take in their Investigative Team:

Lead Researcher - tracks the progress of the WebQuest and assists all Investigative Team members, Technology Navigator - helps lead the way though web resources, uses the mouse,

Force and Motion Scientist(s) - records findings as the team answers questions when visiting resources.

Students choose one form for creating a collaborative presentation:

a) Each Investigative Team in the class will create an Empressr (a Web 2.0 Tool but like Powerpoint) as a group to share with the class.

OR

b) Each Investigative Team in the class will create a Google Slides presentation (a Web 2.0 Tool but like Powerpoint) as a group to share with the class.

Extension Activities: If any student finishes quickly or desires a greater depth of study on this topic, have him or her delve deeper into simple machines. Have these students investigate a few or all six of the simple machines, then create another presentation to share with the class. Have students perform a simple experiment to test the efficiency of several simple machines, then apply the efficiency formula.

Note: Parts of the following sites may be too complicated. Teachers need to direct the students to the areas they need, depending on the student's abilities.

Tech Engineering: Simple Machines is a great resource for lessons and experimentation.

Simple Machines and Mechanical Advantage gives more information about simple machine plus includes ways to computer efficiency. This page even supplies a calculator!

Calculating Efficiency of Simple Machines uses object animation to describe efficiency.

This worksheet provides some insight on mechanical advantage and efficiency.

Remedial Activities: This WebQuest can be simplified by making it more concrete. Eliminate resources on the Process page. In Step 2, only have students use the Physics4Kids or the NASA's Research Center sources. Entirely eliminate Step 3, simple machines. This narrows the area of investigation to Newton's Laws of Motion. Also, cut down on the number of slides students need for the presentation. A teacher can make this WebQuest even more concrete by eliminating choices. For instance, the teacher can decide which presentation tool to use and/or which research sheet document to use, or just hand out hard copies of the research sheet. Each elimination makes the activities more concrete, more defined, so students are not bogged down my choices and focus on learning and the tasks.

Limited Access to Technology: You can still participate in the WebQuest if your room only has a computer for the teacher and a projecting device. Still divide the students into their Investigative Teams. Modify this quest by reading the pages and visiting the sites as a class. Groups can takes turns reading the slides, and even part of the site pages, where they have found answers for their research sheet. Use the whole process as an interactive discussion in your class. Once they are ready to create their presentations, class discussion can stop. They can create their presentations within their Investigative Teams. You can give them time to create graphics for their presentations. Their presentations can include graphics on posters, or other media, instead of a computer-based slide format.

Click for the Laws of Motion Adventure WebQuest Lesson Plan

Physical Science: Grade 8

SOL objectives: 10.b, 10.c, 10.d

ISTE Standards: Introductory level; 1.b, 1.c, 2.a, 2.b, 2.d, 3.b, 3.d, 4.c, 4.d, 5.b, 6.a, 6.d

For an Introduction, click the picture.

Photo from: http://news.discovery.com/space/setistars-successful-funding-jodie-foster-110817.htm

Introduction Task Process Resources Evaluation Conclusion

Laws of Motion WebQuest designed by Nancy Stalik

Email: nstalik@mail.umw.edu