In iMatter, we are strong advocates in experiential learning involving experimentation, hands-on work and the use of real world examples to reinforce the content we teach in class and what the students learn in school.
For our PSLE Science students, Forces and Energy are taught in their syllabus and will definitely feature in their year-end national examination. Learning these two topics can be challenging for some as Forces and Energy are essentially abstract concepts and certainly invisible. However, their effects are very real, ranging from the feel of wind in our faces to the destructive aftermath of an explosion.
Experiential Learning
To study these two topics in a realistic yet playful and safe manner, we ran our very own Grand Prix with…. Toy Cars!
Admittedly, we do not have a scenic circuit like Singapore’s F1 Night Race or the Monaco Circuit made famous in the movie, Iron Man 2. What we do have is a plastic board used as a ramp for the toy cars to slide down. (Sorry, our toy cars are not self-powered.)
However, the excitement is every bit as real as that experienced in Marina Bay or Monte Carlo (within Monaco). When a toy car is a personal treasure of an individual student, it becomes as priceless as an F1 racer. Though no monetary stake is involved, the race becomes a matter of individual pride and winning the championship becomes a very personal achievement.
Lessons Learned
But let’s not forget the reason why this race was run in the first place. It was to allow our students to learn experientially the causes and effects of Forces and Energy. Raise the ramp and each toy car possesses greater potential energy to convert into kinetic energy, giving it greater speed. Cover the ramp with a plastic film and frictional force is reduced, again leading to greater speed for all cars.
Even before the race, the class was brought through a brainstorming session to fix the “rules of the race”. This is actually a process to design the experiment so that the observations are reliable and fair.
As mentioned before in other posts, hands-on work not only is a great way to learn and understand a subject, it also reinforces any material learnt prior to the session.
If you are keen to let your child join us in our exciting Science journey, sign him up for our various Science Tuition Programmes.
- Primary School Science
- Lower Secondary School Science
- Upper Secondary School Chemistry
- Upper Secondary School Physics
- JC Chemistry
