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5th Grade
- Project
- 1 week
Gravity Gurus: Hands-On & Canva Creations!
Purpose
Explore the fascinating force of gravity by designing and conducting hands-on experiments to observe its effects on various objects. Create a Canva presentation to effectively communicate your discoveries, highlighting how gravity influences our daily lives and why understanding it is crucial. Share your findings with the community to spark interest in science and develop your skills in scientific inquiry and real-world applications.
Learning goals
Explore the fundamental principles of gravity and how it affects different objects in everyday life. Develop skills in conducting scientific experiments, analyzing data, and presenting findings clearly and effectively. Create a Canva presentation to visually communicate your understanding of gravity, using real-life examples. Enhance collaboration and communication abilities by engaging with peers and community members. Cultivate curiosity and appreciation for scientific inquiry through hands-on learning experiences.
Standards
- NGSS - 5-PS2-1: Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down.
- Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.4: Report on a topic or text, present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
Products
Throughout this project, you'll develop a series of hands-on experiments to observe gravity's effects on various objects, documenting your findings in a Canva presentation. By the end of the week, you'll have created a comprehensive digital product that includes real-life examples and visuals, effectively communicating the concept of gravity to a community audience. Additionally, you'll prepare to present your findings at a local community center or library event, where you will engage with community members and share your insights on the importance of understanding gravity in everyday life.
Launch
Begin your exploration of gravity by visiting a local park. Bring a variety of objects, such as balls, feathers, and paper, and experiment by dropping them from different heights to observe how gravity affects each one. Discuss your observations and initial thoughts about why objects fall differently. Capture these experiments with photos or videos to use later in your presentations. Use Canva to create a digital presentation about your findings, incorporating these visuals to help explain gravity's effects in an engaging way.
Exhibition
Organize a community science fair at a local community center or library where you can showcase your gravity experiments and Canva presentations. Set up interactive stations where visitors can engage with your experiments and ask questions. Prepare to explain your findings and the significance of gravity in everyday life, using visuals and real-life examples to captivate your audience. Invite family, friends, and community members to attend, fostering a shared learning experience and sparking interest in science.
Week 1 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
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Activities |
Discover: Introduction to Gravity Challenge - Begin by visiting a local park with various objects like balls, feathers, and paper to conduct observations and discuss how gravity affects each one. Capture photos or videos to use in your presentation. (30 min)
Discover: Reflection and Data Collection - Share initial thoughts in a reflection circle, discussing why objects fall differently and the role of gravity. Document observations in a science journal. (30 min)
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Examine: Generate Questions and Build Background Knowledge - Collaboratively create questions about gravity and read relevant texts or watch video explanations to build understanding. (30 min)
Examine: Hands-On Investigations - Conduct simple experiments to explore gravity further by dropping different objects from various heights and recording results. (30 min)
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Engineer: Hypothesis Development - Formulate a hypothesis predicting outcomes of your gravity experiments. Use evidence gathered to support your statements. (20 min)
Engineer: Plan Your Experiment - Create a detailed plan to build, test, and refine your gravity demonstration, including a data collection strategy. Share your plan for feedback. (40 min)
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Do: Conduct Gravity Experiments - Execute your planned experiments, document the process with photos or videos, and gather data on gravity's effects. (30 min)
Do: Data Analysis - Use a Data Analysis Protocol to evaluate the effectiveness of your experiments. Discuss interactions and findings with peers. (30 min)
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Share: Create a Canva Presentation - Design a digital presentation using Canva to communicate your findings about gravity, incorporating visuals and real-life examples. (30 min)
Share: Prepare for Community Presentation - Organize a rehearsal of your presentation, receive T.A.G. Feedback, and make final improvements. Discuss potential questions or feedback you may receive from community members. (30 min)
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Deliverables |
1. Conduct hands-on gravity experiments using different objects and document observations.
2. Create a Canva presentation including visuals and real-life examples to explain gravity and its effects. |
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Preparation |
1. Gather materials for experiments, such as balls, feathers, papers, rulers, stopwatches, and cameras or smartphones for recording.
2. Arrange a visit to a local park or open space for conducting initial experiments. 3. Set up Canva accounts for digital presentation creation. 4. Coordinate with a local community center or library to plan a public presentation event. 5. Prepare peer review forms for feedback on presentations. |