(Full teacher resource documents are included in the PDF)
Lesson Focus Students explore potential and kinetic energy while working in teams to design and build an interactive gumball machine.
Lesson Synopsis
Students learn about the history of gumball machines and explore potential and kinetic energy while working in teams to build a gumball slide. Teams then design and build their own interactive gumball machine.
Age Levels: 10-18
Objectives
Explore potential and kinetic energy.
Design & build an interactive gumball machine.
Implement the engineering design process to solve the design challenge.
Anticipated Learner Outcomes
As a result of this activity, students will have:
Explored potential and kinetic energy
Designed & built a interactive gumball dispenser
Implemented the engineering design process to solve the design challenge.
Lesson Activities
Students will begin this lesson by reading about the history of gumball machines. Next, students will work in teams to design and build a gumball slide. Students will contemplate the science behind the slide and answer questions about gravity, kinetic energy, and potential energy. Finally teams build upon their slides and design and build devices that will dispense gumballs in a fun and innovative way!
