On Your Mark, Get Set, Roll

Grade Levels: 4-12 | Duration: 120 min (Two 60 minute sessions)

Students will explore how to create triggers by building a device that releases a ball when activated. Their design will need to include a trigger that can be activated from three or more feet away from the device.
Resources

Lesson Plan PDF

Grade Levels: 4-12

Duration: 120 min

Concepts/Skills: Energy transfer, stored energy, gravitational
potential energy, elastic potential energy, engineering, release mechanisms

Objectives: Students will:

  • Consider how they can use potential energy to
    build their triggers.
  • Design a ball-release device that is activated by a
    trigger.
  • Iterate on their design by building a different
    method for activating the device.