From Revolving Surfaces and Inclined Planes (From Magnets to Magic Mixtures)

Today, we experimented with revolving surfaces and inclined planes.

Spin Art

We worked in small groups and experienced colors, patterns and centrifugal forces while using salad spinners: A paper plate was placed into a salad spinner. We added paint (different colors) with a spoon and then took turns spinning the salad spinner to create interesting patterns. 

 
We also practiced the following:

• Waiting our turn
• Taking turns
• Requesting, passing and sharing materials
• Helping each other, e.g., holding the salad spinner while our partner was spinning it.

Bowling and the Inclined Plane: Bowling is one of our favorite activities but today, we did it with a little twist. We placed a ball on an inclined plane and then let the ball roll down to knock over as many bowling pins as possible. We figured out quickly that the steeper the slope is, the faster the ball rolled down. We used self-made bowling pins, i.e., soda or water bottles that were filled with colored water.

Some ideas for interactive strategies while bowling:

• Group cheers for peer.
• Peer gives high fives to team members when roll is completed.
• Peer hands ball to peer to indicate whose turn it is next.
• Two peers work together and put up the bowling pins after they are knocked over.
• One peer keeps score for the group.
• Group works cooperatively to reach a certain score.