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How is your body similar to a car?
Energizing Everything Unit | Lesson 1 of 8

How is your body similar to a car?

Energizing Everything Unit | Lesson 1 of 8
Lesson narration:
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DISCUSS:

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

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DISCUSS:

Where does this get its energy from?

toy-car

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DISCUSS:

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

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# Extensions
Below are ideas for extending this topic beyond the Exploration and Activity you just completed.
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# Activity: Energy Scavenger Hunt

In this Mystery Science extension activity, students look at a drawing of a town and search for all the places where they see stored energy being released. The activity can be found here and the answer key can be found here

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# Readings

These readings are free with registration at Newsela or Readworks, both excellent sources of supplemental reading.

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# 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)

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Lesson narration:

Grade 4

Energy, Energy Transfer, & Electricity

Speed & Energy

4-PS3-1

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.

Preview activity
COVID-19 Adaptations
Digital worksheets available
Teacher demo recommended

Students at home
Set up two Twist-o-matics to demonstrate the activity over video conference. Students need the Twist-o-matic Challenges worksheet (printed or digital) to record their ideas and observations.
Students at school
Set up two Twist-o-matics to use as you demonstrate the activity for your students. Each student needs a copy of the Twist-o-matic Challenges worksheet so they can record their ideas and observations.

Exploration

16 mins

Wrap-Up

4 mins

Grade 4

Energy, Energy Transfer, & Electricity

Speed & Energy

4-PS3-1

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