How do we describe motion?
Cycle Summary
Session
1
Elicit
Students calculate the speed of four different organisms.
Engage
Students calculate the speed of a person walking forward, walking backwards,and speed walking.
Session
2
Explore
Students complete an activity and watch a video to describe how frame of reference can change observed motion.
Session
3
Explain
Students complete a vocabulary card sort activity. Students read and answer questions about motion and speed.
Session
4
Elaborate
Students measure distance and time of a push car to calculate speed and velocity. Students complete practice questions over motion.
Session
5
Evaluate
Students complete an assessment over motion. Students complete Portfolio Task 1 describing aspects of motion in their chosen sport.
Extend
Extend
Students plot distance vs time data to create a motion graph. Students analyze and interpret a motion graph.
In Cycle 1, students will focus on describing speed, direction, and frame of reference, answering the guiding question “How Can We Describe Motion?” Students observe motion to develop an understanding of frame of reference and how to describe objects in motion. By collecting data on the time it takes vehicles to travel a certain distance, students will calculate speed of a vehicle. Finally, students describe the relationship between a force being applied to an object and the change in speed and/or direction (velocity). Patterns will emerge between a force being applied and velocity changing.