Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand basic concepts of physics related to blocks and trains.
Materials and Prep
- Blocks (various shapes and sizes)
- Toy trains
- Open space to play
No prior knowledge or preparation is required for this lesson.
Activities
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Building Towers:
Use the blocks to build tall towers. Start with a single block as the base and add more blocks on top. Observe how the tower becomes taller and less stable as more blocks are added.
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Train Track Obstacles:
Set up a train track with curves and hills. Place different obstacles, such as blocks, along the track. Experiment with how the train interacts with the obstacles and observe any changes in speed or direction.
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Collisions and Momentum:
Line up two trains on the track facing each other. Push one train towards the other and observe what happens when they collide. Discuss how the momentum of the moving train affects the stationary train.
Preschool Grade Talking Points
- "When we stack blocks on top of each other, the tower gets taller. But if we stack too many, it may fall down!"
- "When the train goes over hills and curves, it may slow down or change its direction. The track and obstacles can make the train do different things."
- "When two trains crash into each other, they can make a big noise! The train that was moving fast can make the other train move too!"