Grow Up Great
The cars traveled down the ramp due to gravity and kinetic movement. Gravity is the force that pushes everything down. Kinetic movement is energy that comes from motion. A larger wheel will travel a farther distance per revolution than a smaller wheel, so the vehicles with the larger wheels will go farther. The vehicles with the smaller wheels will travel faster because smaller wheels rotate faster, resulting in more speed.
These lessons are aligned with the Common Core State Standards ("CCSS"). The CCSS provide a consistent, clear understanding of the concepts and skills children are expected to learn and guide teachers to provide their students with opportunities to gain these important skills and foundational knowledge.**
The cars traveled down the ramp due to gravity and kinetic movement. Gravity is the force that pushes everything down. Kinetic movement is energy that comes from motion. A larger wheel will travel a farther distance per revolution than a smaller wheel, so the vehicles with the larger wheels will go farther. The vehicles with the smaller wheels will travel faster because smaller wheels rotate faster, resulting in more speed.
Wheels are important to people because they help people do work. Cars, trucks, carts, wagons, bicycles, trains, and even airplanes have wheels. The wheel is also used for many simple gadgets and machines such as clocks, pizza cutters, and pencil sharpeners. Wheels are everywhere and make things easier to move.
- If you do not have enough room in your classroom to perform this experiment, take the children outside.
- If no ramps are available, go outside and use the slide on the playground as a ramp.
- Wheels by Annie Cobb
- Wheels on the Bus by Raffi
- Bears on Wheels by Stan and Jan Berenstain
- Big Wheels by Anne Rockwell
While we believe that the books and resources recommended may be of value to you, keep in mind that these are suggestions only and you must do your own due diligence to determine whether the materials are appropriate and suitable for your use. PNC has no sponsorship or endorsement agreement with the authors or publishers of the materials listed.
There are currently no Common Core Standards for pre-k, but these lessons are aligned as closely as possible to capture the requirements and meet the goals of Common Core Standards. However, these lessons were neither reviewed or approved by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices or the Council of Chief State School Officers, which together are the owners and developers of the Common Core State Standards.
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