Gotham Avenue School Third Graders Test Elastic Force in the STEAM Lab
Gotham Avenue School’s third grade scholars recently explored how elastic force impacts motion through an exciting hands-on investigation in the STEAM Lab.
The lesson launched with a collaborative discussion of prior knowledge on elastic force, as students shared real-world examples, such as a stretched rubber band snapping back to its original shape. Thinking like true scientists, the scholars formed a hypothesis: the farther the car was pulled back, the farther it would travel.
Working in teams, the scholars tested their predictions using elastic-powered cars. They varied the pullback distance, from 3 millimeters, 6 millimeters and 9 millimeters, conducting three trials at each distance. During each trial, students carefully observed the results and measured how far the car traveled, collecting data with precision and consistency.
Through experimentation and analysis, the third graders confirmed their hypothesis, discovering that increasing the distance increased the elastic force and, in turn, the distance the car traveled. This engaging investigation deepened students’ understanding of the relationship between force and motion while fostering collaboration and critical thinking.
