Forces and Functions
Value Of Discovery
Rationale
Practical and engaging explorations of physics, engineering and coding will motivate students to pursue these skills as they get older.
Investigation Into
- How forces can be exerted by one object.
- Designing and conducting experiments.
- Basic computer programming using Scratch.
Essential Questions
- What are 'contact forces' and what are 'action-at-a-distance' forces?
- How do you design and conduct an experiment?
- How do you make computer programs using Scratch?
Future Action
Your students will consider physics in their world; as they travel to and from school and as they play with their friends. They will appreciate the complexity and creativity of computer programs that they use every day. Your students will be able to discuss new scientific findings by referring to their knowledge of the scientific method. They will continue to develop their science, engineering and programming skills by establishing interest-based clubs at school.
Pretesting and Familiarisation
The Concept of Discovery
Your students will consider what is needed to make things work.
Your students will consider what is needed to make things work.
Immersion
Your students will be learning how designers and engineers are inspired by existing designs.
Your students will be learning how designers and engineers are inspired by existing designs.
Pretest
Your students will design an experiment to work out which plane flies the furthest and consider how they can use the results of the experiment to improve the design of their plane.
Your students will design an experiment to work out which plane flies the furthest and consider how they can use the results of the experiment to improve the design of their plane.
Introducing the Unit
Your students will learn what they will be doing during this unit as they make plans to build a balloon-powered car.
Your students will learn what they will be doing during this unit as they make plans to build a balloon-powered car.
Forces and Functions Glossary
Your students will consider the context in which unfamiliar words are used to help them understand their meaning.
Your students will consider the context in which unfamiliar words are used to help them understand their meaning.
Habit of Mind: Remaining Open to Continuous Learning
Your students will draw a picture of themselves as a superhero who is facing the 'unknown'.
Your students will draw a picture of themselves as a superhero who is facing the 'unknown'.
Habit of Mind: Responding with Wonderment and Awe
Your students will consider why responding with wonderment and awe is important.
Your students will consider why responding with wonderment and awe is important.
Learning Opportunities
Types of Forces: Experimenting
Your students will learn about different types of forces as they conduct experiments in small groups.
Your students will learn about different types of forces as they conduct experiments in small groups.
Types of Forces: Matching
Your students will match examples with different types of forces.
Your students will match examples with different types of forces.
Experimenting with Wind Power
Your students will explore wind power as they construct a pinwheel.
Your students will explore wind power as they construct a pinwheel.
Experimenting with Friction
Your students will use a tennis ball, a shoe and a slide to experiment with friction.
Your students will use a tennis ball, a shoe and a slide to experiment with friction.
Experimenting with Elasticity
Your students will conduct an experiment to work out which ball will bounce the highest.
Your students will conduct an experiment to work out which ball will bounce the highest.
Balloon-powered Car: Building the Frame
Your students will work in pairs to build the frame of their balloon-powered car.
Your students will work in pairs to build the frame of their balloon-powered car.
Balloon-powered Car: Testing and Refining
Your students will test how well their car rolls and make improvements to their design.
Your students will test how well their car rolls and make improvements to their design.
Balloon-powered Car: Adding the Balloon
Your students will attach a balloon to their car frame.
Your students will attach a balloon to their car frame.
Balloon-powered Car: Conducting an Experiment
Your students will conduct an experiment to work out how far their car can travel with two balloons.
Your students will conduct an experiment to work out how far their car can travel with two balloons.
Getting Started with Scratch
Your students will start coding with Scratch.
Your students will start coding with Scratch.
Coding with Scratch: Glide Around
Your students will consider the different types of forces as they complete the 'Glide Around' tutorial in Scratch.
Your students will consider the different types of forces as they complete the 'Glide Around' tutorial in Scratch.
Coding with Scratch: Making Music
Your students will complete the 'Making Music' tutorial in Scratch.
Your students will complete the 'Making Music' tutorial in Scratch.
Coding with Scratch: Making a Game
Your students will complete the 'Make A Chase Game' Scratch tutorial.
Your students will complete the 'Make A Chase Game' Scratch tutorial.
Coding with Scratch: Making My Program
Your students will write their own Scratch program and share it with other students in the class.
Your students will write their own Scratch program and share it with other students in the class.
Demonstration of Understanding
Coding With Scratch: Publishing Our Program
Your students will provide other students with feedback about their program.
Your students will provide other students with feedback about their program.
Future Action and Independent Inquiry
Future Action
Your students will plan a club to continue practising one of the skills that they have learnt during this unit.
Your students will plan a club to continue practising one of the skills that they have learnt during this unit.
Planning an Independent Inquiry
Your students will plan an inquiry into an aspect of this learning sequence that they would like to learn more about.
Your students will plan an inquiry into an aspect of this learning sequence that they would like to learn more about.
Conducting an Independent Inquiry
Your students will practise the skills of questioning, research and working independently as they conduct an inquiry into a topic that they have learnt about during this unit.
Your students will practise the skills of questioning, research and working independently as they conduct an inquiry into a topic that they have learnt about during this unit.