Teacher’s Instructions

1. Explain how different concepts of gravity air resistance work by using teachers demonstration kit and explanation sheet.

2. Split the children into small groups or let them work alone if desired.

3. Explain the problem and design restrictions to the children.

Problem-

The town of volcom is surrounded by mountains and cliffs. In these cliffs there lives a monster. If the people in the town don’t keep the monster fed it comes down to the town and destroys their houses and eats there cows. The townspeople have found out that the monster’s favorite food is pasta and pencils. The problem with feeding the monster is that he lives in a cave in one of the cliffs and the only way to get food to him is to drop the food past the opening of his cave. The food must pass the opening of his cave slowly so he can have time to grab it. If it passes by the cave opening too fast he can’t eat it and the town will be destroyed. The slower it falls the more time he has to catch it and eat it and the happier the monster will be. It is up to you to use the given supplies to make the pasta or pencil fall as slowly as possible so you can feed the monster.

Design Restrictions- Use only the given supplies and the allotted amount of time.

1. Test the children’s contraption in a stair well to see whose design fell the slowest.

2. If time permits after the children have tested their designs let them go back to the room and modify their contraption and then go and test them again.