By April NelsonSherrills Ford Elementary School

Design Challenge: Lesson 1In 20 minutes or less design and build a

vehicle that will move 100 centimeters.*Do not take your vehicle apart- place it

on the back counter with your card.

When you are done, open your notebook and answer these 2 questions.

How did you get your vehicle to move?What was one problem your group

encountered and how did you solve it?

Lesson 2: Technical Design

Engineers use science and math to plan, design, and construct products. They often sketch their ideas and plans before they build. They also make detailed records of their products after building them.

Using graph paper, draw a side view of your vehicle. Use colored pencils and try to be as accurate as possible. If you finish draw a top view as well.

Lesson 3: Design ChallengeTake apart your vehicle.

Your design challenge is to use a technical drawing to design a standard vehicle.

All vehicles should be the SAME.Read article “The Race That Wasn’t Run”

Lesson 4: Pulling a Vehicle

Question: How does adding weight affect the motion of a vehicle?

Prediction: (Students complete on their own)Materials: 1 standard vehicle 1 pulley system 16 small metal washers 1 large metal washers 1 bookendPlan:First you set up the pulley system on the vehicle.Pull it back on the table and hold it until one washer is on.Then test using different amounts of washers.Record data.

Lesson 4: Pulling a Vehicle (cont)DATA

Glue down data sheet 3-A into notebook

Lesson 4: Pulling a Vehicle (cont)

Claims Evidence

Lesson 4: Pulling a Vehicle (cont)Conclusion (Answer these questions?)Was your prediction right or wrong?What made your vehicle move?What made your vehicle stop?How did the different weights change the

motion?

Lesson 4: Pulling a Vehicle (cont)

Next Questions/I wonder……………

Lesson 4: Testing Motion With a Load

Question: How does adding blocks change the way your vehicle moves?

 Prediction:  

Materials:1 standard vehicle1 falling weight system1 bookend2 blocks of wood1 timer

Lesson 4: Testing Motion With a Load (cont.)Method:First set up the falling weight system.Then add 2 blocks to your vehicle.Place ? washers on the hook until the vehicle

moves. Time the vehicle and record with a colored dot

on the data sheet. (REPEAT 5 TIMES)Repeat with 1 block. Repeat with 0 blocks.

DATA: (Glue down line plot)

Lesson 4: Testing Motion With a Load (cont.)

Claims Evidence

Conclusion: Answer the questions.Was your prediction right or wrong? What did you observe when testing various

loads?How did the vehicle move when it was loaded

with 2 blocks?How did the motion change when you

removed 1 block?

Next Question/I wonder………..

Lesson 4: Testing Motion With a Load (cont.)

Lesson 5: Designing Vehicles to Meet RequirementsQuestion: How can I design a lunar rover to meet

design requirements? (Read Design Challenge Card for requirements)

Prediction: ]Materials:1 standard vehicle16 small washers2 blocks1 falling weight system1 timer

Lesson 5: Designing Vehicles to Meet Requirements (cont.)Plan: Write 5 sentences about how you designed

and tested your vehicle.

Lesson 5: Designing Vehicles to Meet Requirements (cont.)Data: (glue down data sheet)Conclusion: Was your prediction right or wrongTell about your results. Tell about how you tested the vehicle and how it

moved. Tell about any difficulties you had and how you

solved your problems.Describe any changes you would make and why? Next Questions/I Wonder………………………

Lesson7: Testing Rubber Band Energy1-Question: What is the relationship between the number of turns of a rubber band and the distance?

5-DATA: (Glue down chart)

2-Prediction: 6-Claims Evidence

3-Materials:1 standard vehicle 1 rubber band connected Colored dotsAdding machine tapeMeasuring tape

7-Conclusion: Answer the questions.•Was your prediction right or wrong?•How did you store energy in the rubber band?•What happens when the stored energy is released?•How does the number of turns on the rubber band affect the distance?

4-Method:First Then Next

8-Next Questions/I wonder………………

Lesson 9: Designing and Building a Vehicle With A Sail 1-Question: How will a sail affect the motion of an axle driven vehicle? 

5-DATA: (What are your observations)(Complete a Technical Drawing on Graph Paper.)Fold & glue down into notebook

2-Prediction: 6-Claims Evidence

3-Materials: 7-Conclusion: Answer the questions.Was your prediction right or wrong?What did the sail do to the movement of the vehicle?

4-Plan:Adapt your vehicle with K’nex to hold a cardboard sail.

8-Next Questions/I wonder………………

Lesson 10: Testing the Effects of Air Resistance on a Vehicles Motion (2 Days)

1-Question: What affect will the position of a sail have on an axle driven vehicle?

5-DATA:Creat Chart to document trail runs 1, 2, and 3 for each sail

2-Prediction: 6-Claims Evidence

3-Materials:Car made in Investigation 9Card board for sailAdding machine tapeRed and Blue Dots3 #16 Rubber Bands

7-Conclusion: Answer the questions.Was your prediction right or wrong?How did the sail placement affect to the movement of the vehicle?

4-Plan:Run 3 test runs with Sail #. Wind rubber band at least 10 times. Make sure you keeps the winds the same on each trail.Record Data

8-Next Questions/I wonder………………

Lesson 12: Building a Propeller-Driven Vehicle

1-Question: 5-DATA:

2-Prediction: 6-Claims Evidence

3-Materials: 7-Conclusion:

4-Plan:8-Next Questions/I wonder………………

Each group selects a What If statement and designs their own investigation following the Science Notebooking process outlined below.