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Cars and Trucks Little Engineering STEM (SP) Class 1 Energy: Potential/Kinetic

How far can your car move? How fast can you make your car travel? In this one-week course, our Little Engineers will test the science of energy with our cars, ramps, and tracks. #academic
Ms. Kelli, Simply Inspired Education
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(91)
Class

What's included

1 pre-recorded lesson
1 week
of teacher support
1 year access
to the content
Mastery Evaluation
A challenge to prove the science.
Certificate of Completion
included

Class Experience

US Grade 1 - 5
Beginner Level
This one-week class will be presented through Nearpod with slides, videos, interactive activities, and games. To get the most out of this week, please try to have at least two toy cars and some track (or something that can act as a track) available.

We will discuss the concept of energy and how it applies to force and motion in a developmentally appropriate manner. We will explore creating a ramp that makes your car fly with speed and how to make your car travel distance without touching it. After learning the science, our young engineers will design ramps, tracks, jumps, and crash setups to test their designs and experiments. 

Cars and trucks naturally engage children's curiosity and teach them science and math without them realizing it! This class introduces kids to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math), promotes a growth mindset, and develops critical thinking skills. 

Through inquiry-based investigation, guidance, and discussion, students will build, test, and revise their creations.

NGSS: K-2-ETS1-2.	Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.

Learning Goals

1) creative problem-solving through engaging, exploring, explaining, elaborating, and evaluating
2) persisting even when encountering an unexpected and difficult challenge (Growth Mindset)
learning goal

Syllabus

Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created Curriculum
Standards
Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
1 Lesson
over 1 Week
Lesson 1:
Potential and Kinetic Energy
 As an engineer, how would you build a ramp or change your design to get your car to go as FAR as possible? 

Other Details

Parental Guidance
If building a track is difficult for learners, they may need help. Learners should have supplies close by so that when a lesson is presented, they can easily gather the supplies they need.
Supply List
(Hot Wheels can be purchased at stores like Target, Walmart and Amazon for about $20).  

Straight tracks
Two or more vehicles 
Stacked books or raised platforms of various heights (such as a coffee table, a desk, a bookcase, countertop, or a kitchen table)
Empty plastic bottle, empty yogurt container, toys etc. to knock down are optional
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined May, 2020
4.9
91reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
California Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
Bachelor's Degree from University of California, Irvine
As a mom, I have played with Hot Wheels throughout my kid's elementary years.  As a teacher, I have taught this unit of study to fourth grade students. I have taught this class online for several years.

Reviews

Self-Paced Class
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$25

for all content
1 pre-recorded lesson
1 week of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content

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Ages: 6-11

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