1.34
Newton's Toy Box.
Carolyn Sumners. Delta Science Module (DSM) series. Hudson, N.H.: Delta Education, 1994.
Program Overview
The Delta Science Module (DSM) series has 51 life, physical, and earth science units for grades K-8 that emphasize science concepts, science content, and process skills. The series includes 12 modules for grades 5-6 and 8 modules for grades 6-8. Each requires about 3 to 4 weeks to complete and includes a teacher's guide and materials for a class of 32 students.
Teacher's Guide
Recommended grade level:
6-8.
Newton's Toy Box introduces students to Newton's laws of motion as they experiment with familiar toys and objects. For example, they use wooden balls to review gravity, motion, and the relationship between mass and force; investigate the variables that affect air resistance when they construct a parachute and use it to slow the speed of falling objects; examine the parabolic path of a tossed ball; and experiment with a traditional "ball and cup" toy and explain how gravity and Newton's second law affect the toy. Students then calculate the speed of a toy car in 3 different situations and identify the degree of friction as the variable accounting for differences in speed. They use gravity (via ramps) to accelerate toy cars and determine which factors, such as starting height on the ramp, affect the cars' speed. They explore Newton's third law of motion--action and reaction--as they construct a come-back-can, and describe its behavior in terms of potential and kinetic energy. Action and reaction is examined further with spring jumpers and student-assembled paper models of grasshoppers. Students experiment with clacking balls and describe the behavior in terms of momentum and transfer of energy, and create collisions with balls of different masses to test the law of conservation of momentum.
In conjunction with the unit's activities, students watch a video, Toys in Space, in which real astronauts experiment with some of the toys students are using. Students compare the behavior of the toys on earth with that of toys in a microgravity environment and see that many of the techniques they use to operate their toys depend on the earth's gravitational force.
The 15 activities in Newton's Toy Box each require 30 to 60 minutes and can be done by students working individually or in groups. In addition to directions for activities, the teacher's guide provides a module overview, a schedule of activities, objectives for each activity, background information, materials management and preparation tips, sample answers to discussion questions, teaching suggestions, and reinforcement activities. Also included are reproducible activity sheets for student work and a performance-based assessment. A "connections" feature at the end of each activity provides suggestions for extending or applying the concepts addressed.
Key to Content Standards: 5-8 (see app. C)
UNIFYING CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES: Systems, order, and organization; evidence, models, and explanation; change, constancy, and measurement.
SCIENCE AS INQUIRY: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry; understandings about scientific inquiry.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE: Motions and forces.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Abilities of technological design; understandings about science and technology.
Prices:
Teacher's guide (ISBN 0-87504-156-6), $27.95. Kit, $349.00. Refill package, $5.50.
Publisher/supplier:
Delta Education.
Materials:
Available locally, from commercial suppliers, or in kit.
Topic Index listings linked to this entry
Use these listings to find related entries.
Forces, Physical Sciences: Exploring Physical Science, ~ Glencoe Physical Science, ~ Motion, Forces, and Energy, ~ Forces and Machines, Simple Machines, ~ Brick Layers: Creative Engineering with LEGO Constructions, ~ LEGO Technic I Activity Center, ~ Machine Shop, ~ Methods of Motion: An Introduction to Mechanics, Book One, ~ Motion, ~ Personal Science Laboratory Motion Experiments, ~ Physical Science Activities for Elementary and Middle School, ~ Simple and Motorized Machines Activity Pack, ~ Structures, ~ Targeting Students' Science Misconceptions: Physical Science Concepts Using the Conceptual Change Model, ~ Thrill Ride!, Multi & Applied Sciences: Integrated Science: Book Two, ~ Middle Grades Science: A Problem-Solving Approach, Seventh Grade, ~ Prime Science: Level C, ~ Science Interactions: Course 2, ~ SciencePlus Technology and Society: Level Red, ~ SciencePlus Technology and Society: Level Blue, ~ A World in Motion II: The Design Experience, Challenge 2, ~ Everyday Science: Real-Life Activities.
Friction, Physical Sciences: Motion, Forces, and Energy, ~ Forces and Machines, Simple Machines, ~ Brick Layers: Creative Engineering with LEGO Constructions, ~ Experiments with Motion, ~ Machine Shop, ~ Methods of Motion: An Introduction to Mechanics, Book One, ~ Motion, ~ Simple and Motorized Machines Activity Pack, ~ Transportation, Multi & Applied Sciences: Science 2000: Science 1 (Grade 7), ~ A World in Motion II: The Design Experience, Challenge 2.
Gravity, Physical Sciences: Flight Lab, ~ Forces and Machines, Experiments with Motion, ~ Methods of Motion: An Introduction to Mechanics, Book One, Earth Sciences: Earth, Moon, and Stars, Multi & Applied Sciences: The Nature of Science, ~ Science 2000: Science 1 (Grade 7), ~ Great Moments in Science: Experiments and Readers Theatre, ~ Science on a Shoestring.
Kinetic energy, Physical Sciences: Exploring Physical Science, ~ Glencoe Physical Science, ~ Heat Energy, ~ Motion, Forces, and Energy, ~ Forces and Machines, Personal Science Laboratory Motion Experiments.
Models, Physical Sciences: Glencoe Physical Science, ~ Matter: Building Block of the Universe, ~ Chemical Interactions, ~ Experimenting with Model Rockets, ~ Inventor's Lab, Experiments with Balloons, ~ Experiments with Motion, ~ LEGO Technic I Activity Center, ~ Machines, ~ Science Experiments: Chemistry and Physics, ~ Simple and Motorized Machines Activity Pack, ~ Soap Films and Bubbles, ~ Structures, Life Sciences: Glencoe Life Science, ~ Heredity: The Code of Life, ~ DNA--From Genes to Proteins, ~ Food, Energy, and Growth, ~ From Genes to Jeans: An Activity-Based Unit on Genetic Engineering and Agriculture, ~ The Human Body: How Can I Maintain and Care for Myself?, ~ An Introduction to Biotechnology: Book 2, ~ Life Changes through Time, ~ You and Your Body, ~ Zebra Mussel Mania, ~ The Molecular Model of DNA and Its Replication Kit, ~ Order and Diversity in the Living World: Teaching Taxonomy and Systematics in Schools, Environmental Sciences: Plastics in Our Lives, ~ Water: Can We Keep It Fit for Life?, ~ Environmental Issues: Intermediate, ~ Environmental Resource Guide: Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention, ~ Global Awareness for Students (GAS): Studies in Climate, ~ H2O Below: An Activity Guide for Groundwater Study, ~ STV: Water, Earth Sciences: Project STAR: The Universe in Your Hands, ~ Asteroid!, ~ Earth, Moon, and Stars, ~ Earth Processes, ~ Earthquake!, ~ Earthquakes, ~ The Moons of Jupiter, ~ Project Earth Science: Geology, ~ River Cutters, ~ Stories in Stone, ~ The Universe: Exploring Stars, Constellations, and Galaxies, ~ Earthquakes: A Teacher's Package for K-6, ~ Earth Science Investigations, ~ Earthy Things, ~ Hands-On Geology: K-12 Activities and Resources, ~ Janice VanCleave's Earthquakes: Mind-Boggling Experiments You Can Turn into Science Fair Projects, ~ On the Rocks: Earth Science Activities for Grades 1-8, ~ Project SPICA: A Teacher Resource to Enhance Astronomy Education, ~ A Sedimentary Geologists' Guide to Helping K-12 Earth Science Teachers: Hints, Ideas, Activities and Resources, Multi & Applied Sciences: Models and Designs, ~ Prime Science: Level C, ~ Energy Transformations: Fourth Module in Bio-Related Technologies Unit, ~ Hot Water and Warm Homes from Sunlight, ~ How Telecommunication Works: How People Use Energy to Communicate, ~ If Shipwrecks Could Talk, ~ JASON IV Curriculum: Baja California Sur, ~ Life: Here? There? Elsewhere? The Search for Life on Venus and Mars, ~ Packaging, ~ A Sunken Ship, ~ The Teaching Tank Discovery Book, ~ The Teaching Tank Discovery Book, ~ Technology Science Mathematics Connection Activities, ~ Transformations: Science, Technology and Society.
Momentum, Physical Sciences: Glencoe Physical Science, ~ Forces and Machines,
Motion, Physical Sciences: Exploring Physical Science, ~ Levers and Pulleys, ~ Motion, Forces, and Energy, Glencoe Physical Science, ~ Personal Science Laboratory Motion Experiments, ~ Physical Science Activities for Elementary and Middle School, ~ Project SEED: Sourcebook of Demonstrations, Activities, and Experiments, ~ Science Investigations for Intermediate Students, ~ Targeting Students' Science Misconceptions: Physical Science Concepts Using the Conceptual Change Model, ~ Thrill Ride!, Multi & Applied Sciences: Middle Grades Science: A Problem-Solving Approach, Seventh Grade, ~ Prime Science: Level C, ~ Science Interactions: Course 1, ~ SciencePlus Technology and Society: Level Red, ~ Science 2000: Grade 6, ~ Wellness: First Module in Bio-Related Technologies Unit, ~ Everyday Science: Real-Life Activities.
Newton's laws of motion, Physical Sciences: Motion, Forces, and Energy, Experiments with Motion, ~ Methods of Motion: An Introduction to Mechanics, Book One, ~ Motion, ~ Science Experiments: Chemistry and Physics, ~ Thrill Ride!, Multi & Applied Sciences: Earth and Physical Science: Content and Learning Strategies, ~ Technology Science Mathematics Connection Activities.
Potential energy, Physical Sciences: Glencoe Physical Science, ~ Motion, Forces, and Energy, ~ Forces and Machines, Personal Science Laboratory Motion Experiments.
Speed, Physical Sciences: Exploring Physical Science, ~ Motion, Forces, and Energy, Experiments with Motion, ~ Methods of Motion: An Introduction to Mechanics, Book One, ~ Motion, ~ Transportation, Multi & Applied Sciences: Prime Science: Level C, ~ Science 2000: Science 1 (Grade 7), ~ Forecasting: Discovering, Simplifying, and Applying Patterns.
Toys, Physical Sciences: Experiments with Motion, ~ Methods of Motion: An Introduction to Mechanics, Book One, Multi & Applied Sciences: Investigating Diversity and Limits, ~ Prime Science: Level B, ~ A World in Motion II: The Design Experience, Challenge 2, ~ Technology Science Mathematics Connection Activities.
