Spool Racer Activity Concepts

This video tutorial guides students through a three-part activity to explore potential and kinetic energy. Students engage in a card sort, picture interpretation, and a spool racer activity. They learn to differentiate between potential and kinetic energy, conduct experiments with spool racers, and analyze their findings. The activity concludes with a comparison of energy types and student reflections.

What materials are required for each group to conduct the spool racer activity?

• One medium rubber band and a ruler

• One calculator and a pencil sharpener

• One large empty thread spool and a metal washer

• One pair of scissors and a glue stick

In Part One, what is the main task students perform with the cards?

• They cut and paste the cards into a chart.

• They color the cards.

• They draw diagrams on the cards.

• They write essays on the cards.

What is the main focus of Part One: Forms of Energy?

• Building a model of a spool racer

• Creating a new type of energy source

• Discussing and identifying potential and kinetic energy

• Calculating the speed of different objects

What is the purpose of the practice trial in the spool racer activity?

• To measure the weight of the spool

• To calculate the speed of the racer

• To ensure the spool racer is set up correctly

• To test the strength of the rubber band

What should students do if the rubber band is too long during the spool racer setup?

• Cut the rubber band to the correct length

• Make a knot in the rubber band

• Replace it with a shorter rubber band

• Use two rubber bands instead

During the spool racer trials, what role does the 'timer' play?

• Releases the spool racer

• Measures the distance traveled

• Starts and stops the stopwatch

• Records the data in the journal

How many times do students wind the racer for the final set of trials?

• Twelve times

• Six times

• Eight times

• Ten times

In Part Three, what do students do with the set of cards?

• They write a story using the cards.

• They pair the cards to show comparisons.

• They create a new game with the cards.

• They discard the cards after reading.

What is the final task students complete in the activity?

• They present their findings to the class.

• They write a report on their observations.

• They create a poster of their results.

• They clean their area and recycle paper scraps.

What is the purpose of the reflections and conclusions section in the student journal?

• To calculate the average speed of the racer

• To list the steps of the activity

• To reflect on the learning experience and draw conclusions

• To summarize the materials used