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How could you win a tug-of-war against an elephant?
Invisible Forces Unit | Lesson 1 of 5
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How could you win a tug-of-war against an elephant?

Invisible Forces Unit | Lesson 1 of 5
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Discuss: Can you think of any way for your team to win? Is there something you could do to make it harder for the elephant to pull?

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Practice: Think about each action below. For each one, ask yourself: Is it a push or a pull? (Answers on next slide.)

squeeze
pinch
tug
smack
drag
lift


Can you come up with any other verbs where there's either a pull or a push?

squeeze = push
pinch = push
tug = pull
smack = push
drag = pull
lift = It depends how you lift. You could push up on a thing to lift it, or you could pull on it too.
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Discuss: Do you have any ideas for how you could get the watermelon to burst using rubber bands?

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SPECIAL NOTE TO TEACHERS

The next slide features our newly revised Activity Video where students will learn how to make "Hopper Poppers."

If you need to, you can still access the previous version of the activity.

Constructing the hopper takes students about 20-25 minutes. Practicing using their hopper and then completing the "High Hop Score Card" takes an additional 20 minutes.

If your time is limited, there is a natural stopping point after Step 6. Have students write their names on materials, then collect them and resume the activity next science class.

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🎉 That’s it for this lesson! How did it go?
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# Extensions
Below are ideas for extending this topic beyond the activity & Exploration which you just completed.
# Extra Activity: Tug-of-War

Tug-of-war is a great way to give students a feel for forces. You’ll need a sturdy rope, a room with a slick floor, and masking tape. Use masking tape to mark the center of the rope and make a line on the floor.

Discuss with the students how to make two, evenly matched tug-of-war teams. Have the teams play tug-of-war, starting with the center of the rope directly above the line.

Then have a rematch with one simple change: The winning team must take their shoes off and play in their stocking feet. (They’ll feel like an elephant on roller skates.)

If students mention friction here, let them know you’ll be exploring that topic fully in a future Mystery.

Featured Reviews

“It was simple and fun. The students liked being competitive with themselves and the other students. They liked rebuilding and retesting.”
· Janice · Teacher
“The students were so engaged and excited to do this lesson. Students who started the year saying, "I hate science" are coming in thrilled for science class!”
· Sarah · Teacher
“My son laughed at the elephant tug-of-war and we watched it several times. The examples that are used to demonstrate various ideas are easy to understand and fun to watch. My son loved the rubber bands on the watermelon demonstration. Watched it over and over. Great having it in slow motion. Excellent presentation on forces. Easy to understand for most age groups.”
· Vicky · Homeschooler
“My students are engaged and excited about force and motion! We are doing the rubberband hopper activity as a FUN FRIDAY tomorrow! THANK YOU for this amazing activity.”
· Katherine · Teacher
“I love how you did the step by step directions for making the hopper popper. THANK YOU!!”
· Tiffany · Teacher
“My kids LOVED the video of the exploding watermelon ”
· Erin · Teacher
“It's a total package, that includes the digital and the hands on components. Kids loved it!”
· Makini · Homeschooler
“the kids loved the interaction of the video and activity. we would really love it if monthly payment were avaliable. I teach in Thailand at a missionary school and the membership is a whole months salary!!!”
· Lise · Homeschooler
“Loved watching the rubber band around the watermelon and making the hopper. Thanks for the hopper template.”
· Malinda · Teacher
“Both the lesson and the activity were engaging for my 3rd grade scientists. The activity was very clear and easy to accomplish for all of us!”
· Patricia · Teacher
“The exploration videos were engaging. My students enjoyed watching and discussing. The observation sheet is also helpful.”
· Gara · Teacher
“I love how engaged the lesson kept my students. The step by step directions for the hopper popper were very easy to follow.”
· Diana · Teacher
“The entertaining video with a well explained fun exploration of the Hopper Popper! :) Had a great time with it!”
· Denise · Homeschooler
“The students really loved it and I loved that it pointed out not just that each side was pulling but that they were pushing as well. A lot of my students were surprised by that.”
· Danae · Teacher
“My students loved comparing the heights of their poppers. The visuals are excellent. Great activity.”
· Linda · Teacher
“The kids loved making the hoppers. We will expand on the lesson as they hypothesize ways to increase the jump elevation, make a new hopper, and try it out.”
· Debra · Teacher
“I loved the clear directions of the hopper popper lab. We watched it on the projector and I was also able to run around and help; it made it go so smoothly and the kids loved it!”
· Diana · Teacher
“The stopping points for discussion were perfect and the videos were super clear and highly engaging!”
· Sarah · Teacher
“The best part is how students can "see" and identify "push/pull" forces.”
· · Teacher
“So engaging and fun. The kids loved it and learned so much about forces and interactions. The assessments are straight forward and capture standards based proficiencies. ”
· Amanda · Teacher
“Very easy to understand and implement. I was thrilled that we had the materials on hand. I liked the looping instructions as well. Can't wait for another mystery!”
· Kacie · Homeschooler
“The kids enjoyed making the hoppers and testing how the push/pull actions make it work. Very hands on!”
· Elizabeth · Teacher
“The question that started it all really set the stage for great experience. I used this lesson to review with my 5th graders and it worked so well!”
· Sherry · Teacher
“The videos showing the forces. I also loved how everything was here for me! Information, videos, discussion questions, activities, and an assessment!”
· Lauren · Teacher
“Kids loved it. I made the hoppers and then made them use their engineering skills to modify them and see who could get the highest hopper. The kids enjoyed being engineers.”
· Deana · Teacher

Grade 3

Forces, Motion, & Magnets

Forces

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this Mystery, students will see that by learning to think about pushes and pulls — forces — they can accomplish extraordinary things!
Preview activity

To make and test a Hopper, each student needs:

  • Enough “light chipboard” to cut a 3” x 6” rectangle — available at craft or office supply stores or on Amazon.(This chipboard is about as thick as the cardboard used to for cereal boxes, so you also have the option of raiding the recycling bin for supplies.)
  • A ruler
  • A pen
  • Scissors
  • 2 or 3 #16 rubber bands — available at craft or office supply stores or on Amazon.(These rubber bands are 1/16” wide and about 2” long, measured from one end of the loop to the other.)
  • 1 Launch Pad Handout
  • 1 High Hop Scorecard

It's never a bad idea for students to wear safety glasses, available for a good price here.

For open-ended exploration, the class will also need:

  • Extra chipboard for students who want to make additional hoppers
  • Rubber bands of different sizes and thicknesses

To help guide students during open-ended exploration, the teacher needs a printout of Teacher Tips .

Exploration

20 mins

Hands-On Activity

45 mins

Grade 3

Forces, Motion, & Magnets

Forces

Extend this lesson

Assessments

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Forces Lesson 1: How could you win a tug-of-war against an elephant?

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