Engineering Marble Movers

During this Physical Science unit of Kindergarten, students begin their exploration of forces and motion, considering how strength of force and friction affect movement.

In this last lesson of the unit, students apply what they have learned about forces and motion to design a structure that guides a marble from one place to another as fast as possible and then stops its motion.

• There are many technologies in our everyday lives that use scientific ideas about forces and motion to solve problems.
• Ramps can be used to make an object move faster. Friction can be used to make an object slow down or stop.

• How are engineers different from scientists?
• What is the purpose of a slide?
• What kinds of problems can be solved using what you know about forces and motion?
• How could an engineer get an object that was traveling fast to slow down?
• How can you guide a marble to travel 6 feet as fast as possible and then make it stop?

Misconception: Constant motion requires a constant force.

Fact: Once a force causes an object to move, that object will continue to move until another force acts on it, causing it to change its motion.

Misconception: Moving objects stop when the force moving them “runs out.”

Fact: Objects only change their motion by force. For example, objects slow down because of the force of friction. Without a force to change its motion, a moving object would continue moving forever.

Energy : the ability to do work

Friction : a force that slows motion when two objects rub against each other

Speed : how fast an object moves

As the main activity of this lesson, students act as engineers to use what they know about forces and motion to design a structure that guides a marble from one place to another as fast as possible and then stops its motion. Students consider the problem that needs to be solved, design a solution, draw and build their prototype before testing it and making necessary adjustments. Students also engage in dialogue to analyze the engineering process they experience to notice how they could improve their prototype and whether or not they solve the problem.