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Force & Motion Marble Run

Shared by Cathy Walker

Details

Space: 
inside
Subject: 
Science
Grades: 
3rd Grade
Key Terms: 
strength
direction
force
motion
speed
Materials: 
paper plates
straws
cardboard boxes
cardboard tubes
recycled materials
wooden craft or dowel sticks

Lesson Overview

Teacher Overview:

Essential Question: How do we get something to move when they are in contact with each other?

Introduce the idea of force- If an object is not moving, all the forces acting upon it are equal.

Standards- 3-PS2-1 & 3-PS2-4

 

Students will use the materials listed to create a maze or marble run for their marble.

Possible Challenges:

1. Making the marble change directions _______ times.

2. How would you make the marble travel faster or slower?

3. What happens if you put a larger object in the maze to roll through? What would happen to the time? Why? How?

 

Student Summary: 

Today you will have straws, cardboard, and marble to create a maze or marble run to demonstrate your knowledge of force.

Lesson Phases

Plan

Was there anything you had to keep in mind when coming up with your design?
Description: 
In groups of 2, draw a marble run or maze that will allow you to demonstrate force.

Create

Did the marble move as fast as you wanted? Why?
Did the marble move in the direction you wanted? Why?
Description: 
Build your design and test your marble.

Improve

Did you achieve the results you wanted?
What was difficult about the experiment?
Description: 
Make any adjusts necessary for your design. Challenge yourselves by having the marble change directions 3 times.

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