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Can you build a chain reaction machine?
Energizing Everything Unit | Lesson 5 of 5

Can you build a chain reaction machine?

Energizing Everything Unit | Lesson 5 of 5
Lesson narration:
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Dominoes

Use LEGO bricks, cassette tapes, wooden blocks, or books.

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Rollers

Use a plastic egg, a roll of tape, a toy car, a rubber ball, or even a marker.

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Ramp #1

A binder becomes a ramp when a falling domino yanks out the support that keeps it level.

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Ramp #2

Use cardstock to make a ramp that fits your roller.

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Ramp #3

With two yardsticks, we made a ramp for a plastic egg.

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Ramp #4

With cardstock and pushpins, make a marble run on the bulletin board.

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energy


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the ability to do an action
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stored energy


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energy that is not in use, but is saved inside something, such as batteries or rubber bands
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chain reaction machine


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a machine that uses a series of energy transfers, such as one domino knocking over a line of dominoes
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energy transfer


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when energy travels from one place to another
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experiment


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a test used to discover new information about a question
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engineer


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a person who uses science to come up with solutions to problems
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Lesson narration:

Grade 4

Energy & Energy Transfer

Energy Transfer & Engineering

4-PS3-4, 3-5-ETS1-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, 3-5-ETS1-3

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students learn about storing, releasing, and transferring energy. In the activity, Build a Chain Reaction (Part II), students complete the chain-reaction machine they started building in the previous lesson.
Preview activity

Exploration

30 mins

Grade 4

Energy & Energy Transfer

Energy Transfer & Engineering

4-PS3-4, 3-5-ETS1-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, 3-5-ETS1-3

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