Science with Toys WebQuest

Science with Toys

A Web Quest for 8th Grade Science

Colleen Santaniello
csantaniello@longmeadow.k12.ma.us

Introduction

Remember the fun you used to have playing with your toys? What about the thrill of getting a slinky to "walk" all the way down a staircase? Did you know that a slinky could also be used to explain energy transformations and types of waves? Gyroscopes, boomerangs, nerf guns, pinball machines, pogo sticks, jack-in-the-boxes, and windup toys all can be used to demonstrate scientific concepts in a playful way. In this web quest, you will learn about science while having fun playing with toys at the same time.

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The Task

For this quest, each team member will select a toy that demonstrates basic scientific principles and then research how the toy works. Part of the research should include hands-on observations of the toy in order to better understand how it works. Your team will demonstrate how these toys work and share the research in a group presentation. Then, inspired by the fun you've had, your team will face the challenge of inventing an original toy for the twenty-first century. The toy your team invents must incorporate at least one of the scientific principles researched by your team.

Phase One: Choosing A Toy To Research

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The Process

You will be working in teams of three. Each team member must select a toy from a different category below. Click on a category and select one of the toys listed. Try to choose a toy that is in the toy box or that you have (or a friend has) at home. Even broken versions of the toy are helpful because they can be taken apart in order to view the hidden parts. So, go look through the toy box or bring in your own toy as soon as possible and let's play and learn!

Once each team member has chosen a toy from a different category, you must each print out a Toy Analysis Report and begin researching your toy with the links provided. Remember to research the history of the toy and the scientific principles demonstrated by the toy. Include explanations of scientific terms/principles in the appropriate sections of the analysis report. You may also use the additional toy resources available in the classroom.
Spend some time playing with the toy in order to figure out how it works. If you have permission, take the toy apart in order to see the hidden parts and to better understand the mechanisms at work.
Draw a color diagram the toy in the appropriate section of the Toy Analysis Report. Label all the toy parts and explain the functions of each part.

After each team member has completed his/her Toy Analysis Report, review your findings with your team members. Help each team member to understand the information.
Bring in one poster board per group. Decide on an appropriate title for the team poster. Tape each Toy Analysis Report onto the group poster board. (Reserve the bottom right corner of the poster for the Toy Invention Report for the toy your group invents.)

Phase Three: Inventing a Toy & Group Presentation

Brainstorm some ideas for an exciting toy of the twenty-first century. Think about the purpose of your toy. Decide which scientific principles your toy will demonstrate. What are the dimensions of your toy? What materials will you need to build the toy? Now hit the drawing board and design your team toy.
Print out a Toy Invention Report to describe the toy your team has invented. Fill out the information based on the toy you have designed.
Get together with your team and build a working model of your toy.
Each team member will present his/her researched toy to the class. A demonstration with the toy should be included whenever possible. The team will then present and demonstrate their invented toy to the class.
The team must explain how the toy works and the scientific principle(s) it demonstrates. Each team member must have a part in the presentation of their invention.

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You will receive an individual grade for the Toy Analysis Report that you researched as well as a group grade for the toy invention.

Evaluation

The following is the rubric for the Individual Report:

Individual Toy Analysis Report	Exceptional 4	Admirable 3	Acceptable 2	Amateur 1
Content	Completely accurate; all concepts were precise and relevant	Mostly accurate; a few inconsistencies or errors in information	Somewhat accurate; more than a few inconsistencies or errors in information	Completely inaccurate; concepts misleading to audience
Organization	Extremely well organized; format easy to follow;fully explained & illustrated key concepts	Clear organization; focused on key concepts	Somewhat organized; some ideas were not presented clearly	Confusing; illogical format; several key concepts were missing
Visual Appeal	Very colorful & neat diagram; labels are used and are easy to read	Some color in diagram; a few labels are missing or are not easy to read	Limited use of color in diagram; some labels missing or are somewhat difficult to read	Limited or no use of color in diagram; few labels &/or many difficult to read
Mechanics	Flawless	Few mechanical errors	Some errors in mechanics	Many errors in mechanics
Presentation	Demonstration was engaging; showed a strong understanding of concepts	Demonstration was well done; showed a good understanding of concepts	Demonstration was at times interesting; showed a basic understanding of concepts	Demonstration was not effective; showed little or no understanding of concepts

Final individual score: Total points earned x 2
(Maximum points possible=40)

The following rubric will be used for the team invention and presentation:

Group Project: Toy Invention	Exceptional 4	Admirable 3	Acceptable 2	Amateur 1
Content	Completely accurate; several scientific principles included; function of parts included & toy has a purpose	Mostly accurate; at least 1 principle included; a few inconsistencies or errors in information; few parts missing	Somewhat accurate; at least 1 principle attempted; more than a few inconsistencies or errors in information	Completely inaccurate; principles lacking or misleading to audience
Organization	Extremely well organized presentation; easy to follow;fully explained & illustrated key concepts	Clear organization; focused on key concepts	Somewhat organized; some ideas were not presented clearly	Confusing; illogical format; several key concepts were missing
Presentation	Demonstration of invention was engaging; all team members showed strong understanding of concepts	Demonstration was well done; most team members showed a good understanding of concepts	Demonstration was at times interesting; team showed a basic understanding of concepts	Demonstration was not effective; showed little or no understanding of concepts
Mechanics	Written material is flawless	Few mechanical errors	Some errors in mechanics	Many errors in mechanics
Creativity	Put a great deal of creative energy into invention; very original; interesting materials used	Many creative touches; somewhat original	Few creative touches; little originality	Put little creative energy into invention; no originality
Visual Appeal	Poster, diagram & invented toy are exceptionally neat , colorful; labels are used properly & are easy to read	Poster, diagram & invention are somewhat neat & colorful; a few labels may be missing or are not easy to read	Limited use of color in poster, diagram &/or invention; some labels missing or are somewhat difficult to read; not very neat	Limited or no use of color in poster, diagram &/or invention; few labels &/or many difficult to read;
Group Participation	Team members worked extremely well together; no problems & work was evenly distributed	Team members work fairly well together with few conflicts; work distributed fairly	Team members were somewhat cooperative; work unevenly distributed	Team members did not work efficiently together; many conflicts; work unevenly distributed

Final Group Score: Total points earned x 3
(Maximum points possible=84)

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Conclusion

Congratulations! You have invented an original toy for the twenty-first century! Hopefully, you have learned that toys are not only entertaining, but also great examples of science at work!

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Credits & References

Guenther, Al. Resource Handbook: Practical Activities for Strengthening Your Teaching of Physical Science Concepts (Grades 6-12) Bellevue, WA: Bureau of Education & Research, 1999.

Physics Fun & Demonstrations. USA: Central Scientific Company, 1987. (CENCO Catalog No. 58225)

Physics Science Kit: Tinkering with Toys. (Teacher's Guide #47170-00) A Collaborative effort between: Science Kit, Boreal Laboratories, Inc., & Karen Bouffard, 2000.

Taylor, Beverley A.P., et. al. Teaching Physics with Toys: Activities for Grades K-9. Middletown, Ohio: Terrific Science Press, 1995.

Special thanks to Sandy Budreau, Technology Integration Specialist, at Williams Middle School.

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Last update 4/26/05