Amusement Park Science .
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Unit Author |
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First and Last Name: |
Susan Jacques Reese |
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School District: |
West Chester Area Schools |
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School Name: |
Penn Wood Elementary |
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School City, State: |
West Chester, Pennsylvania |
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Unit Overview |
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Unit Plan Title: |
Amusement Park Science |
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Curriculum-Framing Questions |
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Essential Question |
How can we explain and predict changes in the physical universe? |
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Unit Questions |
Who was Isaac Newton? How can scientific principles formulated by Newton and other scientists be used to explain what happens on amusement park rides, playground equipment and in our classroom science lab?
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Unit Summary: |
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This unit was planned to enhance the existing fifth grade science unit ³Amusement Park Science.² It specifically addresses concepts introduced in sections B and C of Unit F in Science Anytime published by Harcourt Brace. Teachers will complete readings and activities outlined in the text, as usual. But implementation of my unit will allow the class to explore each topic in more depth and to show what they have learned through the use of technology. |
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Subject Area(s): Click box(es) of the subject(s) that your Unit targets |
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Engineering Home Economics Language Arts Music School to Career Social Studies |
Drama Foreign Language Industrial Technology Math Physical Education Science Technology |
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Grade Level: Click box(es) of the grade level(s) that your Unit targets |
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ESL Gifted and Talented |
3-5 9-12 Resource |
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Targeted State Frameworks/Content Standards/Benchmarks: |
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Standards These standards are listed for other grade levels, but in our District, are to be addressed in fifth grade.
Fourth Grade
Observe and describe different types of force and motion
Compare the relative movement of objects and describe types of motion that are evident
Seventh Grade
Identify and explain the principles of force and motion
Describe the motion of an object based on its position, direction and speed
Explain various motions using models
Tenth Grade
Distinguish among the principles of force and motion
Know Newton¹s laws of motion (including inertia, action and reaction) and gravity and apply them to solve problems related to forces and mass
Grade 12
Describe inertia, motion, equilibrium and action/reaction concepts through words, models and mathematical symbols.
Technology Standards:
In addition, my unit will allow students to practice using the Internet for research as well as PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word in sharing what they have learned.
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Student Objectives/Learning Outcomes:
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Upon completion of this unit, students will demonstrate and understanding of Newton¹s three laws of motion and how they can be used to predict and explain what happens on amusement park rides. They will also demonstrate an understanding of the following concepts: Sliding friction Rolling friction Fluid friction Gravity Air resistance Friction experienced by falling objects Momentum Inertia Velocity Acceleration They will explain the relationships between force, acceleration and mass
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Procedures: |
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Following an introduction of key concepts and vocabulary (See Teacher PowerPoint Presentation and Key Vocabulary List in Teacher Resources folder) the students will complete the Pretest for the Unit (See Teacher Resources) This assessment will be used again, following completion of the unit. Next the students will be divided into cooperative groups. Each group will perform one of the experiments described on pages F54-F67 in our science textbook F58 In the Air F56 Reducing Sliding Friction F54 A Rocky Test F62 Buckle Up F67 You¹ve Got Pull Students may also perform additional experiments related to force and motion. Students and teachers could find these on-line or developed. It would be fun to design experiments to be performed on the school playground! Following the experiments, each group will create a PowerPoint presentation and share what was learned with the rest of the class. (See Presentation Template and Sample Presentation in Student Resource Folder) Next, each group will perform the Bungee Jump experiment. Directions are provided in a teacher PowerPoint presentation (see Teacher Resource folder) This performance assessment may be used to determine how well each student can apply key concepts. You may also want to have students return to the pretest and fill in what they learned. Or you could use the vocabulary post test (See teacher Resource folder)
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Approximate Time Needed: |
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8 50 minute class periods Four weeks |
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Prerequisite Skills: |
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Internet Searching Use of laptops Use of PowerPoint Use of Microsoft Excel to create worksheets and perform calculations |
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Materials and Resources Required For Unit |
Technology Hardware: (Click boxes of all equipment needed) |
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Camera Computer(s) Digital Camera DVD Player Internet Connection |
Laser Disk Printer Projection System Scanner Television |
VCR Video Camera Video Conferencing Equip. |
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Technology Software: (Click boxes of all software needed.) |
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Database/Spreadsheet Desktop Publishing E-mail Software Encyclopedia on CD-ROM |
Image Processing Internet Web Browser Multimedia
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Web Page Development Word Processing |
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Printed Materials: |
Harcourt Brace Science Anytime-All support materials |
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Supplies: |
All supplies need for the experiments-Unit F Amusement Park Science |
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Internet Resources: |
http://education.jlab.org/vocabhangman/forceandmotion_01/10.html
Hangman Game with Vocabulary
http://www.funderstanding.com/k12/coaster/ Design your own rollercoaster with helpful vocabulary
http://littleshop.physics.colostate.edu/AmazingPhysics.html
Cool Experiments you can do in your classroom
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics/
Amusement Park Resource-Interactive Resource Page Your kids will love it!
http://www.dailypress.com/extras/solutions/sol042202.htm Cool Comic with links to Playground Physics!
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Others: |
Field Trip to an Amusement Park! Guest speakers form the high school Physics Pen pals with High school students
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Accommodations for Differentiated Instruction |
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Resource Student: |
Students will be given extended time or adapted assignments as needed, based on individual IEPs |
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Non-Native English Speaker: |
Students will be provided with support form the ESL or classroom teacher, as needed |
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Gifted Student: |
Gifted students will be encouraged to find additional information about Isaac Newton on-line and present findings via a multimedia presentation. They could make an i-movie, interviewing Newton! They could also do an additional PowerPoint presentation or i-movie, demonstrating one of the laws of motion through an original experiment |
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Student Assessment: |
Assessment of student learning will be made using the rubric for the PowerPoint presentations (See Evaluation folder) A pre/post test has been provided as well as a performance assessment (Bungee Jump Experiment) There is also a test of key concepts, taken from the Harcourt Brace materials, but adapted for use on the computer |
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Key Word Search: |
amusement park science, amusement park physics, playground physics, Isaac Newton, laws motion |
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