Models and Designs. Go-Carts challenge.

Today students in grade 5 were challenged to design a go-cart that can roll down a ramp and across the floor a short distance.

During our third investigations, they constructed rolling carts from familiar materials, they used a design-and-test approach to solve problems, they also used eye/hand coordination and spatial relationships to design carts that perform predetermined functions and finally they related structures to functions. As they were engaged in the challenge, our scientists developed the following concepts and inquiries:

• Using scientific principles and knowledge to design useful products is the work of engineers.
• Some land vehicles have wheels fixed to axles.  
• Power turns the axle and thereby turns the wheel.