Experiment #3 -  Energy Changes (Energy)

Another favourite activity. My students get curious and excited when they see a bull’s eye target and rubber bands. Another game? Oh yes! Play first, teach later? Another yes!

Boys and girls alike, they like it when there is an outlet to “shoot” rubber bands. Tried and tested with different batches yearly and the results are consistent.

Step 1:

*ADULT: help to draw or print a target board and paste on a wall.

Step 2:

*CHILD: takes a rubber band. Either using hands or a ruler, he/she aims at the target and shoot. Distance between the child and the target varies.

*OBSERVE: where and how the rubber band hit.

Step 3:

*LINK: Prior knowledge is needed.

Chemical Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy, Gravitational Potential Energy, Heat Energy, Sound Energy

*CHILD: guide child to think what energy changes has taken place as he/she aims and throws the paper aeroplane.

Suggested guide:

CPE (food from body) -> KE (moving rubber band) -> GPE (rubber band in air -> HE + SE (hits the wall) -> KE (rubber band falling down) è HE + SE (hits the ground)

*NOTE: answers may vary, according to how/what the question asks. In this case, children are required to list out the energy changes as specifically as possible.

Step 4:

*JOURNAL: encourage your child to create his/her own mindmap/journal/other forms of records.