Sarah Grosvenor, field specialist with UNH Cooperative Extension and instructor for the Physics SPIN Club, laid down the challenge for her fourth, fifth and sixth grade students.
“Design a ski jump that makes your marble jump into a can without bouncing on the floor,” Grosvenor told the class.
After a quick physics lesson, the 23 participants got busy in the UNH STEM Discovery Lab at UNH Manchester, building roller coasters out of foam pipe insulation and tape. The students designed their tracks to wind through classroom chairs, go up and over tables and trash cans and travel downhill from window sills. Marble ‘cars’ flew all over the classroom.
“I like science, and this class allowed me to branch out into physics,” Keegan said, as he proudly pointed to his track that was at least 10 feet long. “We used lots of tape, and a few things we designed didn’t work, but we finally figured it out.”
Caitlin, another student in the class, signed up for the Physics SPIN Club even though her hobbies were drawing and writing. Jill, her partner for the project, told me her favorite subject was physics and that she had been studying the subject for two years.
“But our roller coaster design was mostly done by trial and error,” Jill said.
The roller coaster challenge helped the students learn and then test the concepts of motion, gravity, velocity and acceleration. In addition, the teaching methods used throughout the six-week class gave students an opportunity to put into practice many of the 4-H values such as compassion, decision-making, collaboration and generosity.
One of the 4-H core values, exploring interests and trying new skills, was also evident in the SPIN class.
“I’ve had a lot of experience riding on roller coasters, and this class showed me how to make a roller coaster,” Naomi said.
“I like physics and my mind was blown when I heard about this class,” Elijah said, adding that he hopes to become an engineer at LEGOLAND someday.
Grosvenor said SPIN clubs are a great way to bring youth together around a topic of interest and inspire imagination, tinkering and passions for science.
“Several of the students here today have participated in other Cooperative Extension SPIN programs," Grosvenor said. "The topics within the 4-H SPIN Clubs vary from rockets to robots, but all the sessions include invention, creativity, problem-solving and, of course, fun.”
From the smiles evident throughout the lab, building roller coasters in the Physics SPIN Club was a great way for students to laugh and learn together.
Learn more about UNH Cooperative Extension and Science Literacy here or by contacting Sarah Grosvenor.
To learn more about UNH STEM Discovery Lab and its programs, visit the website or contact Melissa Gould for more information. Registration for UNH Manchester Summer Youth Programs opens on March 1, 2016.
