Sunday, May 2, 2010

Science Sunday ~ Pushing, Pulling, and Marshmallow Catapults

The object of this lesson was to teach the kids about position and motion of objects ~ how they can be changed by pushing or pulling.

We used the swing as an example, pushing it  IMG_2294

then pulling.IMG_2290

After the kids understood the difference in pushing and pulling we listed things that go by using these motions.

Pushing:

  • Closing the door
  • Stroller
  • Push mower
  • Van when it won’t start (sad, but true!)

Pulling:

  • Opening door
  • Zipper
  • Opening drawers
  • Nozzle on water sprayer

To demonstrate how we could “push” marshmallows I told the kids we where going to make a catapult.

I gave them the following materials:

  • rubber bands
  • plastic spoon
  • wooden block
  • ruler

I let them try to figure out how to make the catapult.  Emily tried several different waysIMG_2296

before she came up with the one that catapulted the marshmallows the farthest (mommy gave her a little help).IMG_2299

We marked the marshmallows with food markers so we could see whose marshmallow went the farthest.IMG_2305

Emily was the winner ~ she had the marshmallows bouncing off the ceiling!

Want to know what Aiden was doing during most of the experiment?  IMG_2307

I think he ate at least 10 marshmallows before I noticed what he was doing.

For more fun with science, check out Science Sunday at Adventures in Mommydom.

~Cindy

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Great Lesson. I am still laughing about the picture of Aiden.

Debbie said...

What a fun experiment!

An Almost Unschooling Mom said...

Aiden would fit in well with my kids! I love that catapult - we'll need to make one sometime.

Ticia said...

Aiden and Princess would get along great. She sneaks marshmallows all the times.
I've got a catapult I've been thinking of using for a science experiment for a while, but I like the idea of figuring out how to make one. Very cool.

Anonymous said...

oooh very fun experiment! I think my job would have been working on what Aiden did ;-)

Julie said...

Fun! And that is a great picture! M is the same way with marshmallows. She could eat a whole bag if I let her!

Elise said...

What a fun experiment. I like your idea of having your children problem solve by trying to figure out how to make a catapult.

Natalie PlanetSmarty said...

This is really very neat - I like that you had Emily trying different options before helping her come up with the best design. Great hands-on lesson.

Trevor Wanderlusting said...

Grreat reading this

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