This week in STEM, the 3/4 class explored the topic for their fourth and final STEM project, energy and energy transformations! They started out with a card sort showing examples of six types of energy: mechanical, sound, light, wind, heat, and electrical. After sorting the cards into those six categories, they next investigated how one type of energy could be changed into a different type (ex. strumming a guitar changes energy of motion into sound energy). Finally, they grouped all of these examples into two main categories: potential (stored) energy, and kinetic (motion) energy. To further explore this topic, they tested out paddles made from rubber bands and small cardboard squares. They investigated how the more you spin the cardboard square, the more the rubber band twists, and the more potential energy is stored- leading to more kinetic energy once you release the paddle and let it spin! Using this idea, the design challenge that they started was to create a boat that could travel in water using the potential and kinetic energy of the rubber band powered paddle. They started brainstorming, designing, and testing their designs, and will continue to work next week. We’re excited to test out the final boats next week and see how they can create the most kinetic energy through their paddles!
