Gear ratios and how their size is related to angular velocity.

The activity that our group is proposing is a game (maybe even two games, money permitting). The primary game will be called "the Great Exciting Animal Race (a.k.a. GEAR)," in which children will have to decipher how fast some animals run in relation to others. The main idea behind "the Great Exciting Animal Race (a.k.a. GEAR)," is that a set of two different size gears that interlock with single drive gear will be placed in front of a child for he/she to rotate. In essence, one gear will be driven to rotate faster than the other gear. The gears will be drawn upon to resemble a race track. Upon observation, the child will be presented with a choice of two different animals in the form of game-pieces. For instance, a tortoise and a hare. The child will then have to match animals with the respective gear that corresponds to how fast each of the animals can run with respect to the other. For example, the tortoise would correctly be placed on the gear that rotates slower and the rabbit will be placed on the gear that rotates faster.

After the placement of the figurines, the child will be asked why the gears move the way that they do. If they answer successfully, then they will get praised for his/her exceptional efforts. If they answer incorrectly, then they will still get praised for trying and also have a chance to answer correctly.

For children in grade levels K-3.

Children will be introduced to gear ratios and the mathematical relationship that gears with more teeth, or gears with a larger diameter, have a slower rotational velocity than gears with fewer teeth or smaller diameters.

This will be aided by the well-known children's story of the Tortoise and the Hare. The tortoise travels slower than the hare. To correlate with this concept, the tortoise will race along the bigger gear, and the hare will race along the smaller gear.

During the Great Exciting Animal Race, children will hear lots of sounds as the gears spin. The rotational energy that is transferred from one gear to the next will result in the spinning of pinwheels or the launching of a blue-foam cannon ball. This will give the children a sense of satisfaction, as they can visually see the results of their hard work in turning the gears.

See answer to question 1.

Gears, peg board, bunny rabbits, tortoises, blue foam cannon balls, handles to turn gears, race track accessories, and targets.

This game is fun for all children of all ages. Provides hours upon hours of both education and entertainment. The child will learn fundamental scientific concepts with this useful educational teacher's aid.