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How is your body similar to a car?

How is your body similar to a car?

Lesson narration:
English Spanish
Scroll for prep
Video trouble?

DISCUSS:

Do you think the "energy" used by people and the "energy" used by cars is the same thing? Why or why not?

Video trouble?

DISCUSS:

Where does this get its energy from?

toy-car

Video trouble?

DISCUSS:

The more you stretch a rubber band, the faster an object goes. Why?

Featured Reviews

“THIS IS AMAZING! My 4th gr students LOVE LOVE LOVE the drag race cups! Hurray for an activity that made my first-ever teaching experience in science a total hit - kids can't wait for next week's lessons!”
· Kathy · Teacher
“The thin and thick rubber bands were great examples of how energy is stored differently, and it was a real world example.”
· Dana · Teacher
“Love the new activity! We had greater success than the rubber band cars!”
· Nikki · Teacher
“My students were engaged and at the same time they learn and have fun. Thanks!”
· Esther · Teacher
“Students loved the lesson. They came up with great designs for the last question on the worksheet. Two groups used renewable energy/solar power to make their ride spin. When it was time to leave the class, they couldn't believe how fast time went by :) ”
· Laleh · Teacher
“Making the Twist-o-Matic's spin and talking with students to hear their ideas about why and how to improve the experience of the thin band.”
· Brent · Teacher
“Great introduction to my energy unit! They loved the activity!”
· Jessica · Teacher
“My kids really enjoyed this lesson!”
· Elise · Homeschooler
“My students learned a lot from the mystery and challenge. I love how instructions are easy to follow and visual. I also loved the writing prompts to encourage them to apply what they learned to other things. My students' favorite was the burning food and self-powered rides videos.”
· Gloria · Teacher
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Lesson details

Grade 4

Energy & Energy Transfer

Speed & Energy

Activity Prep

Print Prep
This lesson was revised on April 27, 2019. Here is a link to the previous version.
In this lesson, students learn that we use the energy from food to make our bodies move just like cars use the energy from gasoline to move. In the activity, Twist-o-matic Tester, students build paper models of an amusement park ride called the Twist-o-Matic. The ride stores energy in rubber bands and spins around when the energy is released. Students compare the speed of the spins when they use a thin rubber band versus a thick rubber band.
No activity prep.

Standards

Jump to

Exploration

16 mins

Hands-On Activity

40 mins

Anchor Connection

10 mins

Lesson details

Grade 4

Energy & Energy Transfer

Speed & Energy

Extend this lesson

Unit Readings

Unit Readings

The First Airplane Engine

In this reading, students learn how a rubber band-powered toy airplane helped inspire other early flying machines.


What Goes Up Must Come Down

In this reading, students learn how different types of energy occur during a roller coaster ride.


Rube Goldberg, The Engineer

In this reading, students learn what a Rube Goldberg machine is.

Mystery Science Activity

Mystery Science Activity

Rubber Band Race Cars

Continue exploring the relationship between speed and energy with another Mystery Science hands-on activity.

Students are put to the challenge of building cars that move using energy from a twisted rubber band and landing in the sweet spot!

The step-by-step activity instructions, supplies, and worksheets can be found here.

ELA Extension

ELA Extension

Energize student writing with prompts .

Video

Video

An Italian restaurant owner built a people-powered amusement park. It only contains rides that are powered by people. To ride these rides, people have to put energy in by pedaling, pushing, or climbing. Take a quick tour and watch people use their own energy to make a loop-de-loop! (1:38)

Discussions

Discussion

Energy Scavenger Hunt

Engage your students with a discussion about stored energy using our Energy Scavenger Hunt worksheet .

You can continue the energy scavenger hunt by going outside and searching for similar items!

Transcripts

Credits
 
Energy Lesson 1: How is your body similar to a car?

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