![]() ![]() The Engineering Process- preforming a series of steps in order to solve a problem.Fulcrum- the point on which a lever rests or is supported.Force- push or pull on an object that causes it to stop, change directions or start moving.Examples of potential energy: water behind a dam, a child at the top of a slide, water at the top of a waterfall, a raised weight.Potential Energy- Energy that is “stored” because of the position and/or arrangement of the object.Examples of kinetic energy- running, walking, a car driving, a ball rolling down a hill.Kinetic Energy- Energy that an object has from being in motion.Understanding the Science behind Popsicle Stick Catapults Vocabulary: Items to shoot (marshmallows, pompoms, small candy etc.).Double sided tape, sticky dots or something similar.Plastic spoon (you can use this instead of a bottle lid).Bottle lid (soda pop or milk caps work great).To use the engineering process to understand the difference between kinetic and potential energy. Popsicle Stick Catapult Lesson Plan Objective: The 6 and 3 year old had fun launching objects. Our 10 and 12 year old got very into the engineering process and really started to understand the science behind why it works. ![]() This lead to a great discussion on potential energy. We made the original catapult (described below) then we made slight variations and tested how it changed the results. They will all change the results slightly. There are multiple ways that you can make and tweak the popsicle stick catapult. This is a great activity to teach the engineering process. LOL! We started out making predictions about which object would fly the furthest. The boys enjoyed the process of making the catapult, and let’s be honest, what kid doesn’t love shooting little objects all over the house. Popsicle Stick Catapult was a super fun activity.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |