Sparking Student Motivation: Coaster Creations and Ipads!

Spring Fever has hit the sixth grade here in central Ohio.  Students and teachers alike.  We have had such a terrible winter with snow days galore and a very cold and rainy spring.  Finally, the weather is getting nice and we are all getting a little nuts!  However, we pushed our state testing to the latest possible week this year because we missed so many days which means that we need to stay focused for a few more weeks.  Also, we have another month of school left to keep kids focused.  YIKES!  Our sixth grade students are especially crazy because we have begun the count down for our sixth grade over night camp, and they are VERY excited!  They try to consume every period with questions about camp. 
That said,  I saw the link up at Head Over Heels for Teaching encouraging teachers to share their magic tricks to get students motivated for the end of the year.  There are some awesome ideas on this link up.  I was consumed by them the other night when I was trying to think of something of my own to share.

I always save our kinetic and potential energy unit for the end of the year because we design "roller coasters"  and the students LOVE it!  They don't realize how much they are learning because they are having so much fun.  Additionally, we make a challenge out of the project and let students vote for the best coaster, which they eat up because they love the competition.  This year, I was able to check out our new Ipad cart, so I have been able to incorporate the Ipads into the project which has made it even better.

To begin this project, pairs of students completed a vocabulary charts using Ipads.  I created a blank chart as a template using google drive ( I am loving google drive more and more each day!!!) and then shared it with all of my students.  They were able to open the template, make a copy in their own drive and then edit it to create their charts.  The best part is, when they were finished, they simply shared their charts with me allowing me to grade them.  

**Side note:  We've been talking about how much paper google drive has been saving us in honor of Earth Day last week.**

Although, students were doing a simple vocabulary unit, students were much more engaged simply because they had the opportunity to use the Ipads. 

 

Next, we reviewed vocabulary and then discussed kinetic and potential energy using the Smart Board and students used the Coaster App on the Ipads ($0.99) which plays a roller coaster simulation showing the conversion of kinetic and potential energy throughout the ride.  We discuss the places where kinetic and potential are highest and where the transitions occur.  Students were very interested in the simulations yesterday, and to my surprise paid very close attention to the energy changes that were occurring.

Today, students began using pipe insulation (cut in 1/2) to create their marble coasters.  I gave each group of 4 6 pieces of foam insulation, 4 pieces of tape and one marble and cut them loose with 4 goals: 

 1)  all pieces of the track (insulation) must be used

2)  the track must independently stand (they can tape it to things, but can't be holding it)

3)  the marble must stop on its own after completing all features of the track

4)  they must have at least 1 hill and 1 loop

Here are some pictures from the start of our coaster creations:

Tomorrow, students are finishing their coaster creations and testing them.  They are also going to video their marbles completing the tracks, label potential and kinetic energy along the tracks and snap pictures of their tracks all using the Ipads.  Finally, students will get to vote on the best coasters.  I plan to share how things turn out later in the week.

Be sure to check out all the other great ideas here: