In this video, children at a park roll objects down grassy hills and paved walkways and make observations and comparisons about how far the objects roll.
The video can give us ideas for our own outdoor explorations.
What can we take outside to roll?
Materials
- Down They Go video on iPads (1 for Circle Time, several for Learning Center)
- Projector (if available)
- Optional: Chart paper
- Marker
Preparation
- Preview the video.
- Make sure the iPad volume is adjusted appropriately. You will be watching the video twice: the first time with the sound turned ON, and the second time with the sound turned OFF.
- If using, set up a projector to display the iPad.
Directions: Lesson 9
Guided Small Group
- Tell children that they will be watching a video about some children who go to a hilly park. They do some experiments, rolling things down the grassy hill and the paved paths. Then they compare how far the objects roll.
- As you watch the Down They Go video together, ask children to think about “rolling objects down the hill” experiments that the class could do when they go outside.
- After watching, have a discussion about what children observed. Possible discussion ideas:
- What are some rolling objects that we could take outside with us?
- What are some different outside surfaces that we could roll the objects on? (grass, dirt, sidewalk). If you wish, write the children’s ideas on chart paper.
Circle Time: Wrap-Up
- Play the Down They Go video with the audio turned OFF. Let children narrate what is happening. Use discussion ideas such as the following. Pause and replay sections of the video as needed.
- What are the children doing?
- Which objects roll down the hill the farthest?
- What happens when the children try to roll the spool down the grassy hill? Why do you think that happens?
- On the sidewalk, the spool rolls far, but on the grassy hill, it doesn’t roll at all. Why do you think that is?
- After the video, have children make connections to earlier explorations. Possible discussion ideas:
- What things did we do outdoors that were similar to the things the children in the video did?
- What did we discover about rolling balls on grass and on pavement?
