Kindergarten Physics Centers

Students will use balls, cars and other objects on ramps as they consider the question, "What affects the way an object rolls down a ramp?" This packet supports the Next Generation Science Standards.

The “Science Kids” series is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning. All activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of your students.

Concepts in this Unit:

*Some objects roll down ramps, while others slide.

*The height or texture of a ramp will change the distance and speed an object rolls.

*Changing the weight of an object will change the distance and speed it rolls down a ramp.

*An object will move around obstacles that are in its way as it rolls down a ramp

Investigations include:

*"Does it Roll or Slide?"

*"Does Height Make a Difference?"

*"Bumpy Ramps"

*"Heavy and Light"

*"Obstacles"

Printable "Prediction" and "What Really Happened?" sheets are included for many of these investigations.

Also included is a "Just for Fun" ramps art activity.

The final project in this packet is a "Design Your Own Ramp" activity with printable planning sheets and suggestions for ways that students can share their projects with their peers and others.

These 10 STEM challenges will motivate your students to come up with innovative and creative solutions as they are increasing their science and math skills. These STEM activities are most appropriate for children in Kindergarten-2nd Grade, but can be used in Preschool with the support of an adult.

► "Egg Drop"

► "Deliver a Message"

► "Bird Beak"

► "Floating Pennies"

► "Cross the River"

► "Marshmallow Tower"

► "Marble Roller Coaster"

► "Newspaper House"

► "Magnet Fish"

► "Pom Pom Launcher"

All of the activities in this packet follow a 5-step process:

Introduction- This is the part of the lesson where the teacher defines the challenge and the students begin to brainstorm solutions. There are no right or wrong answers during this part of the lesson.

Planning- Students work together (usually with a partner or in a small group) to come up with a potential solution for the challenge.

Construction- This is the building stage!

Testing- The students test their designs to see if they have solved the problem, and met the challenge.

Evaluation- The students critique their designs and think about what they might change.

The “Science Kids” packets are designed to help students learn to think like scientists and begin to understand the process of scientific inquiry. This packet supports Next Generation Science Standard K-2-ETS1.

(*Save money by purchasing the entire Year Long Science Curriculum in one bundle.)

This bundle includes:

Kitchen Chemistry- Students will learn:

*Properties of Matter (The ingredients used in the investigations have different properties)

*Changes in States of Matter (The ingredients will change when combined with other ingredients)

Ramps – Students will learn:

*Some objects roll down ramps, while others slide.

*The height or texture of a ramp will change the distance and speed an object rolls.

*Changing the weight of an object will change the distance and speed it rolls down a ramp.

*An object will move around obstacles that are in its way as it rolls down a ramp

Mirrors and Reflections- Students will learn:

*Some surfaces are reflective and some are not

*Multiple mirrors can generate many images

*Mirrors can create symmetrical images

Gingerbread Man Science- Students will explore the following concepts:

*Dissolvability

*Buoyancy

*Bridge Construction

*Pendulums

*Properties of Waterproof and Non-waterproof Materials

The activities in this packet are designed to last for eight weeks, or one quarter of the traditional school year.

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The Science Kids curriculum is intended to help teachers implement developmentally appropriate, hands-on science activities for children in Preschool, Kindergarten and the early grades. The activities in these packets are based on the scientific method and encourage inquiry-based learning. All activities can be differentiated to meet the needs of your students.

This year long bundle includes 16 Science Units:

• “What do Scientists Do?”

• “Floating and Sinking”

• “Color Mixing”

• “Magnets”

• “Kitchen Chemistry”

• “Ramps”

• “Mirrors”

• “Gingerbread Science”

• “Freezing and Melting”

• “My Human Body”

• “Music and Vibration”

• “Shadows and Light”

• “Weather and Temperature”

• “Taking Care of the Earth”

• “Taking Care of Pets”

• “Taking Care of Plants”

This packet includes enough lessons for 32 weeks of hands-on learning. While 32 weeks is a bit shorter than a typical school year, this curriculum is designed to be flexible in order to give children the time they need to learn, so extra days are allowed for each unit. Additional, optional activities are also included for many of the units, and these can be used to help fill your days if needed.

This curriculum supports the Next Generation Science Standards for kindergarten.

Please see my other Science products if you want to supplement this curriculum.