Includes:
• 2 Double-sided tracks
• 2 Cars
• 4 Blocks
• Ladder with 2 removable bars
• Pendulum ball
• 10 Activity Cards
• Support Materials (reproducible)
o Prediction Sheet
o Observation Sheet
o Data Sheet
o T-chart
o Motion sorting cards
Welcome to the wonderful world of force and motion!
This activity set includes real science concepts and support materials for you, paired with
interesting pieces (including cars, roadway pieces, and a wrecking-ball-inspired pendulum) and
activities to spark children’s imaginations and stimulate their curiosity. Each activity has been
teacher-tested and child-approved to ensure broad appeal and ease of use. Aspects of the
scientifi c method are included for your early learner “scientists.” Incorporate the activities as an
introduction to STEM or as a follow up, to support and reinforce learning. Extended connection
ideas further challenge children, encouraging them to become logical thinkers and fostering
self-reliance. Let’s get started!
STEM and STEAM
Simply defi ned, STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
But STEM is much more than an acronym. It is an approach to learning that asks children to solve
real-world problems through inquiry-based problem solving, hands-on experimentation, trial and
error, and self-discovery. The three disciplines of science, engineering, and mathematics are
clearly defi ned and understood. But what about technology? In STEM, technology is broadly
defi ned to mean practical innovation—that is, designing and using materials and tools to help solve
a specifi c problem. Today, of course, technology is commonly understood in terms of computers
and the internet, which also solve specifi c problems occurring in everyday life.
Another acronym associated with STEM is STEAM, which adds the component of art to the
interdisciplinary mix. Art can be incorporated through traditional means of drawings or paintings
(e.g., drawing your prediction prior to an experiment), or through real, 3-D construction (e.g.,
creating a colorful pinwheel to demonstrate how wind moves objects). By incorporating art into
scientifi c exploration and discovery, you tap into the right (creative) side of the brain to help
develop creative problem solving skills and fl exible thinking.
Force and Motion
Force and motion is all around you: at the bowling alley as you roll a ball down the lane, on the
playground while swinging and sliding, or in the car while driving to a friend’s house. Force and
motion units are commonly taught in early school years as a way for children to explore how and
why objects move. With this STEM set, children will discover several force and motion concepts
through fun, hands-on experiments, such as push-pull (does pushing or pulling the pendulum
create more force?), objects in motion (will the cars change direction upon colliding?), the eff ects of
friction and weight in movement (can a car move faster on a bumpy or a smooth road?), and more!
2822 STEM F-M SET GUD 3.indd 2 9/25/15 3:12 PM
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