I Can Be a Ramp

Guided Small Group

1. Remind children that a ramp is like a slide. One end is high, and one end is low. Possible discussion ideas:
   • Can you make your arm into a ramp—an arm ramp?
2. Model making an arm ramp. Position the cardboard tube on top of your arm. What do you predict will happen if let go of the cardboard tube? After children make predictions, let the tube roll down your arm.
   • What did you observe? How did the tube move on my arm ramp?
   • Which way did the tube roll on the arm ramp? Why do you think it rolled in that direction?
   • What do we call the force that pulled it down? If needed, review that gravity is a force that makes objects fall down.
3. Sing a variation of the second verse of “Gravity Song” as you try rolling a tube down the arm ramps of the other children. You might encourage children to work in pairs and roll a tube down each other’s arm.

   • Verse:
     Put a tube on a ramp and let it go.
     Down it rolls. Down it goes.
     Put a tube on a ramp and let it go.
     Gravity pulls it down.

   • Chorus:
     Gravity pulls things down, down, down.
     Down, down, down. Down, down, down.
     Gravity pulls things down, down, down.
     Gravity pulls things down.

4. Ask children to make a ramp with another part of their body. If children would like you to do so, roll the cardboard tube down those body part ramps. Children can also look for ramps around the classroom and roll a cardboard tube down those.
5. Optional: Invite children to draw a picture of themselves as a ramp and dictate a caption to go with their picture. Save several drawings from this activity to share with the group during the Watch It Fall Circle Time: Wrap-Up discussion.