Vroom! Engineering Race Cars

What a fantastic couple of days we have had.  Over the past few days, we have been working on a mini science unit on force.  We learned about the forces of drag, friction, and gravity and how they might be involved in designing a fast car that can go straight.  After doing a little research and discussing how the forces might work together, it was time to build our cars!  The students were able to decide how they could balance the weight of their cars and where they could use friction in their designs.  After some tinkering (otherwise known as redesigning in the engineering process), several students were able to make their cars go straight...and fast!

And the build begins! 

Testing the ability of our cars to travel straight and fast.

After a little redesign, another car has a straight ride.

And here's something great!  After the students completed their cars, they wanted to continue to redesign them in various ways, even working through recess to test them.

What to Do?

I hope that everyone is enjoying this snow.  I love the beauty of it, but I admit, I am beginning to feel like I want to and need to get out.  I'm ready to be back in the classroom.

That being said, I have discovered an opportunity for exploration not too far from home.  In the old mill buildings of North Andover, a new hive of activity has opened.  The Maker Mill ( www.themakermill.com ) is open and ready for play and learning.  This open concept learning center is offering drop-in courses, as well as week long programs during February break and summer vacation.  Check out their offerings.

Another learning place, not too far from Topsfield, is the Essex Art Center.  Located in an old mill building at the southern edge of Lawrence, this non-profit organization offers weekly after school classes, as well as programs during the February break.  See what they have to offer at www.essexartcenter.org.

If staying closer to home is more appealing, have your students fill spray bottles with colored water and create a snow mural that they can post on their Kidblog.

Stay warm.  Stay safe.