Elementary School
Students:
Get up to Speed
Think of your favorite car. (A purple Porsche? A yellow Mini? A red '67 Mustang convertible?) Now forget what it looks like.
Focus on the invisibles:
What makes it move?
What keeps it going?
What makes it slow down?
What makes it speed up?
To understand cool cars, you need to understand the cool science behind them. This site will teach you the basics you need to know about motion, force and
energy—all the things
that make cars go.
Quick Links
Select a video or interactive to learn more about specific topics.
- Lesson 1
How Things Move: Roll, Slide, and Bounce - Lesson 2
Motion and Force: Pushes and Pulls / The Force of Gravity - Lesson 4
What Makes Things Stop?
How Things Move: Roll, Slide, and Bounce
Exploration About Force Have you ever played tug of war? In this game, two teams pull the ends of a rope in opposite directions. The team that pulls the other team across the center line wins. When a team pulls the rope, they apply force. Want to know more about force? Let's explore and find out.
Motion and Force: Pushes and Pulls
Fun-damentals Making Things Move What makes something move? What speeds it up or slows it down? Find out in this very moving Fun-damental.
What Makes Things Stop?
Fun-damentals Making Things Move What makes something move? What speeds it up or slows it down? Find out in this very moving Fun-damental.
Exploration Friction Have you ever skated over ice? Do you think you can skate the same way over a concrete road? Of course not. Friction stops your skates from sliding over the concrete road. Let's learn more about friction.
Video Segment Friction Friction is a force caused by two objects rubbing together, which slows motion. Friction can cause heat, and allows movement, as well as stopping.
Video Segment Example 1: Measuring Length in Inches Length is measured in inches using a ruler or tape measure. To measure accurately, the zero at the end of the measuring tool must line up with one end of the object being measured.
Teacher Toolbox
Fuel student curiosity about math and science topics!
Advance your students' STEM education with customized lesson plans and access to more energizing resources. Put your classroom behind the wheel and empower them with knowledge and skills to transform the future and how they'll get there.
Access free resources including:
- Lesson plans
- Corresponding videos
- Student activities
- Links to helpful tools
- ...and more!
High school students from across the country designed fuel-efficient, next-generation dashboards. Explore their ideas, and help Drive Change Today by posting your ideas to Twitter and Facebook!
Parent Corner
Bring the lab to the living room and beyond with family activities, tips for conserving energy and more! Enter Here