The Challenge:
Create a fun and safe marble rollercoaster that has at least two hills and a turn using the given materials.
Using the 5E Model:
Engage: Students were given one marble and one piece of tubing (pipe insulation cut in half) and asked to put the marble in the tube to make it move. After five minutes, they were then asked to make it move faster/slower and then make it turn
Explore - Students were given two more pieces of tubing and was asked to use the tubing to create two hills in which the marble would travel, then were asked to include a turn in their design so that the marble would return to their starting point.
Explain - Students discussed what was needed to successfully create two hills and a turn with their tubing. They were asked to talk about their challenges and how they overcame them.
Elaborate - Students were asked to create a rollercoaster that was fun, safe and included at least 2 hills.
Evaluate - Students evaluated each others rollercoaster, noting how fun it was, safe and included two hills and a turn.
Explore - Students were given two more pieces of tubing and was asked to use the tubing to create two hills in which the marble would travel, then were asked to include a turn in their design so that the marble would return to their starting point.
Explain - Students discussed what was needed to successfully create two hills and a turn with their tubing. They were asked to talk about their challenges and how they overcame them.
Elaborate - Students were asked to create a rollercoaster that was fun, safe and included at least 2 hills.
Evaluate - Students evaluated each others rollercoaster, noting how fun it was, safe and included two hills and a turn.
Creating a marble rollercoaster.
Post Activity:
After the design challenge was complete, we asked students to reflect on the challenge and complete the following questions:
1) Draw a picture of your rollercoaster and identify where the greatest potential and kinetic energy occurred
2) What challenges did you have while creating your design? How did you overcome these challenges?
3) If you were to redesign you rollercoaster again, what would you do differently?
1) Draw a picture of your rollercoaster and identify where the greatest potential and kinetic energy occurred
2) What challenges did you have while creating your design? How did you overcome these challenges?
3) If you were to redesign you rollercoaster again, what would you do differently?