Can a Car Move Without Gas?

This week in science we started a new unit about energy called “Energizing Everything.”  Your child learned how things need energy to move and that energy can be stored in many different ways.  We saw examples of cars powered by gasoline, people, springs and even food!  Your child built a rubber band racer to test how the energy put into the racer impacts how far the racer goes.  We solved the mystery, “Can a car move without gas?”

You can support this week’s learning by watching another example of people powered vehicles with your child (http://www.safeyoutube.net/w/ySj).  You might ask, “How does this car have the energy to go?  Where did the people get their energy?  What other vehicles get their energy from people?”

Here's a few pictures of the kids getting ready to race their cars...

Here are some videos of some attempts to get their racers in the "Sweet Spot"...  We'll start with Emma who had a difficult time getting hers to go where she wanted it to...

Aiden and Brayden gave it a shot.  Brayden's bounced off the walls a couple of times before stopping short of the finish line.  Aiden's started in the wrong direction, but after a quick reset, finished strong!

And here's Angel showing everyone how it's done...