Children reexamine the Results chart of their Steep & Gentle Ramps experiments and draw some conclusions: Which ramp made the objects go farther—the steep ramp or the gentle ramp?
In the Results chart, you can compare the results of all the Steep & Gentle Ramps experiments.
Revisit the results of a specific experiment and rewatch the video.
Materials
- Steep & Gentle Ramps: Results in the digital Ramps Journal on 1 or more iPads
- 2 equal-length pieces of cove molding (18”–24”) or 2 paper towel tubes, cut in half lengthwise to form 2 half tubes
- 2 large marbles
- 3 cardboard, unit, or wooden blocks to support the ramps
- Sticky note
- Optional: Projector (if available)
- Optional: Chart paper or poster board (to provide a smooth roll-out area for the marbles)
Preparation
- Build two ramps from cove molding. The gentle ramp will be supported by one unit block; the steeper ramp will be supported by two unit blocks. Roll marbles down the ramps so you know how much roll-out space you will need to provide. If using, position the chart paper (or poster board) for the roll-out area.
- If available, set up a projector to display the iPad.
Directions: Lesson 6
Circle Time: Wrap-Up
This activity reviews the results of the experiments done during the Steep & Gentle Ramp Experiments Guided Small Group activity.
- Review steep and gentle ramps. Choose an iPad on which one or more Guided Small Groups have entered data for their Steep & Gentle Ramps experiments. On the index page of the digital Ramps Journal, tap Results in the Steep & Gentle Ramps section to compare the results of all the groups’ experiments on one chart.
- Listen to Nor’s narration. Have children point to the stars that show which ramp made each object go farther. If you wish, click on an object (in the top row) to rewatch the video of that experiment. Engage children with possible discussion ideas such as:
- What happened in our experiments? What did you notice?
- In (most/all) of these experiments, which object went farther: the one that rolled down the steep ramp or the one that rolled down the gentle ramp?
- If we did more experiments like this with two objects that are the same, do you think the object on the steep ramp would always go farther than the object on the gentle ramp?
- Set up the gentle and the steep cove molding ramps (or paper towel half tubes). Discuss the ramps with children. Possible discussion ideas:
- Which ramp is gentle? Which ramp is steeper?
- Think about what we learned. Which ramp do you predict will make the marble roll farther: the steep one or the gentle one?
- Let children discuss their predictions and the reasons behind them. Then place a sticky note on the ramp children choose. Let two children release the marbles from the top of the ramps. Does the result match our prediction?
SAFETY ALERT: Marbles can be a choking hazard to children. Make sure children understand that they are never to put marbles in their mouths. Monitor children when they are playing with marbles to ensure that they are using them responsibly and safely.
