How Can We Change An Object's Motion?
How Can We Change on Object’s Motion? is part of Smithsonian Science for the Classroom, a new curriculum series by the Smithsonian Science Education Center. It is designed to address a bundle of kindergarten physical science and engineering standards. In this module, students:
- Use observations to explain how pushes and pulls change an object’s motion.
- Carry out an investigation to evaluate the effectiveness of different objects to push a ball into a goal.
- Carry out an investigation to compare the effect of collisions with different materials on an object’s motion.
- Design and test a wall for a hockey game that keeps the ball in the game space and allows the ball to score a goal after a collision with the side wall.
- Develop and test a model to figure out what caused a ball to change its direction of motion inside a mini golf feature.
Below are digital resources that support teaching this module.
Family Letter
Prior to starting How Can We Change an Object’s Motion share the Family Letter with students’ caregivers. Indicate how they should submit responses to the letter.
Download the Family Letter PDF
Ada Asks Introduction (1:18 minutes)
This video introduces the phenomenon of a hockey puck moving into a goal. Closed captioning is available in the YouTube version by clicking the “CC” icon.
Watch on YouTube
or Download the Ada Asks Introduction Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Ada Asks Introduction Video
Download the Ada Asks Introduction Video Transcript
Push Pull Writing Practice
This file can be used for students to practice writing the words “push” and “pull.”
Download the Push Pull Writing Practice PDF
Air Hockey (0:26 minutes)
This is the same air hockey video that students saw in the Ada Asks Introduction.
Download the Air Hockey Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Air Hockey Video
Download the Air Hockey Video Transcript
Drawer Pulls
This file shows examples of drawer pulls, some of which are from objects in the Smithsonian collection.
Download the Drawer Pulls PDF
Animal Pullers
This file shows animals pulling different objects.
Download the Animal Pullers PDF
Fast Slow Writing Practice
This file can be used for students to practice writing the words “fast” and “slow.”
Download the Fast Slow Writing Practice PDF
Ada Asks Engineering (0:52 minutes)
This video introduces Ada's problem of wanting to play an air hockey game at home or at school. Closed captioning is available in the YouTube version by clicking the “CC” icon.
Watch on YouTube
or Download the Ada Asks Engineering Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Ada Asks Engineering Video
Download the Ada Asks Engineering Video Transcript
Tennis (0:21 minutes)
This video shows a man and a boy playing tennis.
Download the Tennis Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Tennis Video
Download the Tennis Video Transcript
Racket Test Machine (0:46 minutes)
This video shows the racket testing machine used by sports engineer James Spurr.
Download Racket Test Machine Video
Download Racket Accessible Version of the Test Machine Video
Download Racket Test Machine Video Transcript
Paddle Shapes
This file shows different types of paddles used in sports.
Download the Paddle Shapes PDF
Paddle Shapes Sheet
This file can be used by students to complete the Paddle Shapes extension.
Download the Paddle Shapes Sheet PDF
Air Hockey Model
This file is a model of the air hockey board that is shown in the video.
Download the Air Hockey Model PDF
Slow-Motion Air Hockey (0:15 minutes)
This video shows the part of the Air Hockey video right before the puck goes into the goal in slow motion.
Download the Slow-Motion Air Hockey Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Slow-Motion Air Hockey Video
Download the Slow-Motion Air Hockey Video Transcript
Moving the Ball to Different People
This file shows an illustration of people sitting in a circle.
Download the Moving the Ball to Different People PDF
Air Hockey Model with More Information
This file is a model of the air hockey board that is shown in the video. It shows the puck’s location at three different times before it goes into the goal.
Download the Air Hockey Model with More Information PDF
Walls around the World
This file shows images of walls made of different materials from different parts of the world.
Download the Walls around the World PDF
Two-Person Air Hockey (0:13 minutes)
This video shows two people playing air hockey.
Download the Two-Person Air Hockey Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Two-Person Air Hockey Video
Download the Two-Person Air Hockey Video Transcript
Air Hockey Shapes
This file shows an air hockey table.
Download the Air Hockey Shapes PDF
Air Hockey Shapes Sheet
This file can be used by students to complete the Air Hockey Shapes extension.
Download the Air Hockey Shapes Sheet PDF
Ada Asks Science Challenge
This video introduces students to the challenge of figuring out what is inside the mini golf feature that causes the ball to change its direction of motion. Closed captioning is available in the YouTube version by clicking the “CC” icon.
Watch on YouTube
or Download the Ada Asks Science Challenge Video
Download the Accessible Version of the Ada Asks Science Challenge Video
Download the Ada Asks Science Challenge Video Transcript
Mini Golf Feature (0:07 minutes)
Download Video
This video shows a ball hit into a box moving in one direction and coming out of the box moving in a different direction.
Golf Course Counting
This file shows an illustrated golf course.
Download the Golf Course Counting PDF
Golf Course Counting Sheet
This file can be used by students to complete the Golf Course Counting extension.
Download the Golf Course Counting Sheet PDF
Golf-o-Rama Pop-up Mini Golf Book
This file shows images from Golf-o-Rama: The Wacky Nine-Hole Pop-up Mini Golf book.
Download the Golf-o-Rama Pop-up Mini Golf Book PDF
Art Course
This website shows images from Art Course, an art-inspired mini golf course, at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri.
https://nelson-atkins.org/art-course-design/
Mini Golf Motion
In this game, players build walls inside mini golf features to cause balls pushed into features to change directions and come out moving toward the holes.
https://ssec.si.edu/minigolf-motion
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