Play with gravity and the forces at work. Build the tracks and design the structure of a roller coaster using a ball with an approach to iterating their projects to affect the success of the ball trying to reach the end.

Please note this resource was tailored for US schools and may require adjustments to suit UK schools.

🇬🇧 Teacher Notes

Overview and Objectives

Materials

Preparation

Build pink triangle bases

Build pink sliding beams

Attach sliding beams on triangles

Make joints for top

Attach joint to close top of pyramids

Make a straight blue track

Connect both pink adjustable pyramids with the blue track

Raise the height of a pyramid by sliding beams

Make a bent pink beam

Click beam in the middle of track to straighten

Raise a pyramid to the highest height

Make blue and green triangle bases

Make blue sliding beams

Attach sliding beams on the blue triangle bases

Assemble joints for top

Make green sliding beams

Attach sliding beams on the green triangle bases

Connect both pyramids with track

Make bent pink beams

Click the bent pink beam in the middle of track

Build curved tracks

Attach a curved track to the shorter blue pyramid

Connect the green pyramids with curved track

Make a smaller curved track

Attach smaller curved track to a green pyramid

Test roll your ball along the tracks

Build

Challenges

STEAM Classroom

United States

Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.

NGSS

3-5-ETS1-1

Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

3-5-ETS1-2

Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.

3-5-ETS1-3

Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.

MS-ETS1-1

Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

MS-ETS1-2

Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.

Build a Roller Coaster

Overview and Objectives

Overview