Museum of Science
Paddle Boat
Harness the power of rubber bands of all things. A hands-on activity has scholars design and build paddle boats. They learn how the elastic potential energy of rubber bands can be converted to the kinetic energy associated with motion.
PBS
Paddle Power
Potentially get all the way across the water. The fourth of five design challenges asks pupils to develop a plan for a paddle-powered boat that will store its energy. Given a limited number of supplies, the class members design, build,...
Cornell University
Airboats
Don't let the resource blow you away. Scholars build airboats from basic materials and collect data on how far the boats move. They refine their designs taking Newton's laws into consideration.
Curated OER
Newton Gets Me Moving
Young scholars discuss Newton's laws of motion. The conduct motion experiments by building "Newton Rocket Cars" from assorted materials. They propel the cars with rubber bands and wooden blocks and record the distance traveled on data...
Curated OER
Sink or Float?
Students examine how weight and balance can effect if an item sinks or floats. They listen to the book "Who Sank the Boat?" by Pamela Allen, and discuss how the smallest animal sank the boat. Students then conduct an experiment in...
Curated OER
Physical Science- Sink or Float?
Learners investigate which objects sink and which ones float. Learners engage in an experiment, make predictions, and record results on a graphic organizer. This is a comprehensive and easy to follow resource.
National Research Center for Career and Technical Education
Lou-Vee-Air Car
Who said teaching a STEM lesson had to be challenging? Incorporate a career and technology-centered car build into your upcoming force lesson plan, and your class will be moving down the road in no time! Pupils practice...
Curated OER
Sink or Float
Using a variety of objects, learners conduct buoyancy experiments. They make predictions on which object will sink or float and test their predictions. They use a graphic organizer to record their findings.
National Security Agency
Classifying Triangles
Building on young mathematicians' prior knowledge of three-sided shapes, this instructional activity series explores the defining characteristics of different types of triangles. Starting with a shared reading of the children's...
Cornell University
Catapult
Studying levers couldn't be more exciting! Learners build their own catapults and test the results as they make adjustments to the fulcrum. They compete against other groups to create the most accurate apparatus.
Vermilionville
Mardi Gras—Secondary
Add a little glitter to your Mardi Gras celebration with a packet that includes information about the history of Mardi Gras. It also provides information about how different communities celebrate the holiday, as well as templates for...
DiscoverE
Design a Flotation Device
Save the soup! Scholars devise a flotation device using straws, balloons, foam, corks, and other objects. A can of soup must stay afloat for at least a minute with this device—your dinner might depend on it!
Curated OER
Gone Lobstering
This simple lesson has young mathematicians consider all of the expenses, and monetary rewards a typical lobsterman encounters when going about his business. Given a few pieces of information, pupils must figure out a lobsterman will...
Curated OER
Environment: Water & Air
The introduction to the lesson mentions a sailor's limited capacity to store drinking water on his ship. Pupils then set up an overnight experiment to remove freshwater from salt water by distillation. There is a math and map activity to...
Curated OER
Will It Sink or Float?
Students perform experiments to see if items will sink or float. In this sink or float lesson, students work in groups to make predictions, and record the results. After the experiments are complete students make a book of the results.
Curated OER
Holy Mole
Students discover Mexican culture by reading and cooking. In this Central American History instructional activity, students read the book Holy Mole, and analyze the story by answering questions about plot, characters and even sound...
Curated OER
Make and Use a Plankton Net
Students make simple plankton nets and use them to collect and identify common forms of plankton. They identify and interpret plankton, as seen under a microscope, whether there was more zooplankton or phytoplankton. Finally, students...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Build a Rubber Band Paddle Boat
Build your own bathtub or pool toy from simple craft materials in this fun activity. You will build a rubber-band-powered boat that can zip across the surface of the water after you wind up the rubber band.
![Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Paddle Power [Pdf] Activity](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/240133-269c480d57012b98a42b2a6067ff8946.jpg?1661182394 "Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Paddle Power [Pdf] Activity")
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Paddle Power [Pdf]
Hands-on challenge to design and build a paddle boat that moves across water using a rubber band as its power source. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, and redesign it if necessary. Activity...
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad: Build: Paddle Power
Can you build a rubber band-powered, paddle boat that paddles across the water? Give this a try and have a paddle race with a friend.