Ward's World Activity Guides

+ ward ' s science Page 2 Build Yourself a Pendulum! (student handout) Description of Activity Teacher Role Student Role Engage Explore a pendulum demonstration (this can be a physical demonstration or a video of a pendulum swinging). Ask students what they notice about the motion of the pendulum bob. Have students brainstorm and record their observations. Explain Teacher explanation Explain the parts of the pendulum (i.e. string, bob, etc.) and what constitutes a full period of a pendulum swing. NOTE: For high school students, the teacher should also introduce the equation for the period of a pendulum T=2π√(L/g) and explain the parts of that equation. Students will sketch a pendulum and (if applicable) write the equation for the period of a pendulum. Explore Each student will construct their own pendulum and answer the questions in the student sheet. 1. Hand out paper, string, tape, and masses. 2. Monitor student progress asking intentional questions probing for understanding and deeper thinking. Complete student sheet individually by collecting and tabulating their data Elaborate During the Explore time above, conversations between students and between teacher and student reveal understanding and promote deeper thinking. As students explore, ask intentional questions and listen to conversations to assess understanding. Example of possible questions: -What difference does the mass of the pendulum bob appear make? - Can you test another aspect of the pendulum's construction? Students have conversations about their work with each other and the teacher. Evaluate Have students fill out the conclusion question at the bottom of the student sheet. Facilitate a time of reflection for the final question on the student sheet. Student writes a brief conclusion statement at the end of the student sheet. Test Your Understanding: 1. From your data, how does amplitude affect the period of a pendulum? The greater the amplitude, the farther the pendulum falls, so the longer the period. 2. From your data, how does length affect the period of a pendulum? The longer the length of string, the farther the pendulum falls, so the longer the period. 3. From your data, how does mass affect the period of a pendulum? The mass of the pendulum bob does not affect its period. As mass increases, so does the force on the pendulum, but acceleration remains the same. (It is due to the effect of gravity.) Because acceleration remains the same, so does the time over which the acceleration occurs. Modifications and Differentiation: For English Language Learners and others with scaffolding needs • Add sentence starters to student sheet • Provide a word bank of words to use to describe the phenomena For management modifications • Lead the class through each step regroup and discuss. For lacking materials • Any material can be used as a mass for the pendulum bob Name: Class: Date: 5 E Instructional Model:

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