Inquiry-based activity:
Gravity & Mass
One really easy lesson that I’ve always done and got the children so engaged and curious was on the topic of gravity and mass.
Firstly I did a KWL chart and asked the children what they know about gravity. Then I would teach some vocab and show a video on gravity. Based on the video and what the children already know I would ask them what they would like to know about gravity.
I would then go onto doing 2 small experiments.
One is dropping an empty bottle and a full bottle of water on the floor – which would would hit the floor first. We would discuss and tally on the board which one would fall first and why.
After the experiment is done I would ask why they think the one that fell first fell, and why? After discussion I would tell them the answer and the science behind it.
The second experiment is dropping a flat piece of paper and a crumbled up piece of paper at the same time – which would fall first? The same process of prediction, recording, discussion and explanation would occur.
These experiments would be an introduction to gravity and after teaching lessons on gravity and how it works, the children would then use two different variables just as the experiments above and conduct an experiment in groups in front of the classroom. They would have to research and in conference with teacher discuss their experiment and its explanation. Then they would show it in front of the class with the same pattern as modelled by the teacher: stating the experiment- prediction – recording- experiment- discussion – explanation.
Then as a conclusion to the theme of gravity we would as a class complete the L part of our KWL chart, or this can be done after each lesson while the info is fresh in the children’s minds.