Week 4

    This week in lab, we started with a powerpoint and multiple discussions surrounding friction. Friction is the force that opposes gravity (where there are slopes). Brakes stop wheels from spinning, but frictions stops them from sliding. Static electricity has to do with friction. Things fall at different rates because of air resistance. We saw this between two balls of paper when we dropped them from the same height. If there were no air resistance, then everything would fall at the same rate. Gravity pulls harder on more massive objects, which are also harder to accelerate. Looking at the state fair slide, the bumps don't allow you to accelerate as much. The riders use mats so that the friction is controlled and the same each time.

    Towards the end of the lab, we switched the focus to playground swings. This week in science methods II lab we addressed the big question - What affects how long it takes a swing to go back and forth? We got into groups and created our own investigation/hypothesis. My group looked at how weight affects the speed of a swing. We used, string, washers, and books to simulate a swing. We timed the two different weights and recorded three trials for each. After that, our group explained our investigation on a whiteboard to share what we did with the whole class. 

Washer 1 - 7.2 g (0.41, 0.40, 0.43 seconds)

Washer 2 - 28.6 g (0.63, 0.51, 0.42, seconds) 

    In Thursday's lecture we talked about forces a bit more and weight. We learned about Newton's first and second laws. Then we got into rope length and energy. Energy is never created nor destroyed, but it can be transferred. There is potential and kinetic energy, both playing a role in a swing. Energy is transferred to the air particles surrounding a rider and that is why they eventually slow down.

    The reading this week was "Formative Assessment Practices to Support Students who Struggle in Science". I learned a lot about how to help your students with learning challenges, disabilities, and ELLs in the science focus. The most helpful thing was the specific formative assessment examples provided like the sticky note feedback. I could use more information on how the Line of Learning strategy actually works in the classroom.

    A comment that I would have loved to investigate swings on the playground in my elementary science classrooms.