Energy Changes

Whenever I get my students to fold paper aeroplanes, especially the boys, their faces light up. They thought I am going to play something. Yes, they are right! I love to use every day activities and link them to Science concepts. It helps them remember better. As the old adage goes, “a picture paints a thousand words”. So, getting my students to see, feel, touch and “paint” images in their minds is my personal mission to help them grasp concepts in a fun way!

STEP 1

*CHILD: fold a paper aeroplane. If he/she does not know, google for a tutorial. Heaps of it. Choose the easiest one.

STEP 2

*CHILD: stand at a designated distance and get him/her to aim at a distance and throw. Watch how it lands. Repeat a few times. Vary the distance.

*OBSERVE: how each landing goes.


STEP 3

*LINK: Prior knowledge is needed.

Chemical Potential Energy

Kinetic Energy

Gravitational Potential Energy

Heat Energy

Sound Energy

*CHILD: guide child to think what energy changes has taken place as he/she aims and throws the paper aeroplane.

 


Step 4:

*JOURNAL: encourage your child to create his/her own mindmap/journal/other forms of records.