Title: Kinetic Energy
Author: Courtney Lyons
Subject: Science & Language Arts
Grade Level: 4th Grade
State Standard(s):
- 4-PS3 Energy: Use evidence to construct an explanation relating the speed of an object to the energy of that object. (NGSS)
- RI.4.3 Reading Informational Text: Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text. (CCSS)
Lesson Goals: In small groups, students will use a chart to record observations about an object it motion (BL: Applying). The students will use this information to write a short compare and contrast essay about the experiment. (BL: Analyzing)
Instructional Methods
Anticipatory Set:
- This lesson will be an introduction lesson on kinetic energy.
- First, the students will be asked to take out a pencil.
- The students will hold the pencil up (students will choose how high or low) and drop the pencil on their desk.
- With a partner, the students will discuss what happened to the pencil and make an educated guess about why. The students will then have the opportunity to share.
- The students will receive a list of definitions needed for the lesson.
- The students will watch the short video, "Bill Nye the Science Guy: Energy".
Recognition
“What”
Multiple means
of Representation
|
Strategic “How”
Multiple means
of Action and Expression
|
Affective “Why”
Multiple means
of Engagement
|
1.2 Provide alternatives for auditory information
During the video, the CC option will be used to allow students to also read and connect definitions to the video
2.1 Define vocabulary and symbols
The students will receive a hand out of the definitions used in this lesson.
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4.1 Provide varied ways to respond
The students will be able to share their thoughts with a partner and have the choice to share with the class. Students could also write their predictions in their science journal.
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8.3 Foster collaboration and communication
The teacher fosters communication by having the students share their thoughts with a partner as well as with the class.
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Introduce and Model New Knowledge:
- The teacher will introduce the definition of energy and explain energy's two categories with an anchor chart.
- The teacher will explain the difference between each category and give examples.
- The students will be asked to recall the Bill Nye video with the bowling ball example. Explaining that the first time the ball was help up, it had a potential energy. When the ball was let go, the potential energy turned into kinetic energy.
- The teacher will give each student a plastic straw, using a ruler as a measurement of height. (All students will hold their straws 12 inches off their desk) The teacher will ask the students to look at their classmates and make predictions about whose straw will fall the quickest.
- The teacher will explain that because the straws were all the same and held at the same height, that each straw had the same potential energy.
- The students will then drop the straw, and will observe that the straws had similar kinetic energy.
Recognition
“What”
Multiple means
of Representation
|
Strategic “How”
Multiple means
of Action and Expression
|
Affective “Why”
Multiple means
of Engagement
|
1.1 Customize the display of information
The teacher will create an anchor chart for the students to organize ideas.
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5.3 Provide ways to scaffold practice and performance.
The teacher let the students experiment with pencils during the introduction. During the second experiment, the students were instructed to use a ruler as height measurement to scaffold the results of the falling straw.
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7.3 Reduce threats and distractions
The teachers will reduce distractions by giving explicit instructions on how to conduct the experiment.
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Guided Practice:
- The students will move to the rug and watch a demonstration of the activity.
- The teacher will have a pool noodle cut in half and a marble set up.
- The teacher will ask the students to observe the experiment. The height of the noodle will be measured before the experiment.
- The students will turn to a partner and share their prediction.
- The teacher will set the marble at the top of the noodle track, and get ready to set the stop watch.
- Once the marble is let go, the time will start and the data will be recorded on the board. The students will also record this data in their journals.
- The noodle will be moved in a higher position and measured again. The timer will start when the marble goes down the track.
- The teacher will ask the students why there was a difference in the results and why? The teacher will practice writing a short answer on the board to the question, using vocabulary words such as potential and kinetic energy.
Recognition
“What”
Multiple means
of Representation
|
Strategic “How”
Multiple means
of Action and Expression
|
Affective “Why”
Multiple means
of Engagement
|
2.5 Illustrate key concepts non-linguistically
The students will be able to see the experiment in action to develop a deeper understanding of potential and kinetic energy.
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6.1 Guide effective goal setting
The teacher will explain and model procedures so that the students can set goals for their own experiments in an effective way.
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7.2 Enhance relevance, value, and authenticity
This activity enhances authenticity because it brings the concepts to live with live demonstrations.
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Independent Practice:
- The students will break up into small groups.
- Each group will go to a various station around the room to conduct and record their own experiments with noodles and marbles. (At least 5 different runs)
- The students will take notes in their journals of their investigations.
- The teacher will meet with different groups during independent practice and offer help to students.
- The teacher will take notes while observing, if students are understanding the concept and areas that may need more instruction.
- When students are finished with their experiments, they will use the computers in the classroom to read a journal article about energy.
- Journal Article: Punkin Chunkin Machines

- Students who do not finish before the wrap up will be allowed extra time to look at the journal article online before the assessment.
Recognition
“What”
Multiple means
of Representation
|
Strategic “How”
Multiple means
of Action and Expression
|
Affective “Why”
Multiple means
of Engagement
|
3.4 Support memory and transfer
The teacher will support memory and transfer while visiting each group and offering assistance. The teacher will encourage the students to full observe what is happening and transfer that information into their journal using the new terms.
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6.4 Enhance capacity for monitoring progress
The teacher will be able to effectively monitor progress by having students record their thoughts in the science journals. This is another tool to shape instruction.
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8.2 Varied levels of challenge and support
The teacher fosters different levels of support for the students by offering different levels of help to groups.
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Wrap-up:
- After all the students are finished with the activity, they will all move back to the carpet.
- The teacher will allow students to share what happened in their investigations.
- The teacher will go over the anchor chart again, allowing the students to answer what potential and kinetic energy are.
- The students will then break up individually to start the assessment or resume reading the online journal articles or library journals about kinetic energy.
Recognition
“What”
Multiple means
of Representation
|
Strategic “How”
Multiple means
of Action and Expression
|
Affective “Why”
Multiple means
of Engagement
|
3.2 Hightlight critical features, big ideas, and relationships
The teacher will go over the "big idea" of the experiments in the wrap up section, clarifying any further questions.
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4.2 Provide varied ways to interact with materials
The students will have the option to take the assessment, read paper journals or online journals about the topic for deeper understanding.
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7.1 Increase individual choice and autonomy
By allowing the students to pick the order in which they complete these tasks, the teacher is supporting student choice.
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Assessment:
- The assessment will be a short essay comparing and contrasting two of the experiments done in the independent work section. (Formative-written) Done on the computers or with pen and paper.
- The students will pick two of the experiments from their journal, describing the situation for each (i.e height, time etc.) The student compare/contrast the results.
- The assessment will be used to assess if the students understand the definitions as well as the main concept. If more time is needed on kinetic energy, further lessons will be taught.
- After finishing the assessment, the students will place the writing in the tray and continue to read silently.
Recognition
“What”
Multiple means
of Representation
|
Strategic “How”
Multiple means
of Action and Expression
|
Affective “Why”
Multiple means
of Engagement
|
2.4 Promote cross-linguistic understanding
The teacher will promote cross-linguistic understanding in the assessment by allowing students to do further reading before taking the assessment.
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4.3 Provide varied ways to interact with materials
The students will be able to use different formats to complete their assessment. (computer or pen and paper)
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9.3 Develop self-assessment and reflection
The teacher fosters reflection in the assessment section by asking the student to write about the differences in their experiments. Using the writing assessment helps the student and teacher evaluate the level of understanding.
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Materials:
Anticipatory Set-
- Pencil
- Definition's printed
- Bill Nye video (Computer or Projector)
Introduce and Model New Knowledge-
- Anchor chart
- Plastic Straws
Guided Practice-
- Pool noodles
- Marbles
- Stop Watches
- Dry erase board & markers
Independent Practice & Wrap Up
- Pool noodles
- Marbles
- Stop watches
- Science journals
- Computers
Assessment-
- Computers or pen and paper for assessment
Brain NetworkUDL PrincipleRecognition Networks“What”I. Multiple Means of Representation ensures that the Recognition networks of students are supportedSpecific UDL Accommodations (1.1 – 3.4)Key ElementsPlease Put a Check Mark Next To the Ones You IncorporatedWhere in the project?(Which Lesson Phase 1-6)x Introduce New Knowledge xAnticipatory SetxAnticipatory SetxAssessmentxGuided PracticexWrap Up
xIndependent Practice Strategic Networks“How”II. Multiple Means of Action and Expression ensures that the Strategic networks of students are supportedSpecific UDL Accommodations (4.1 – 6.4)Key ElementsPlease Put a Check Mark Next To the Ones You IncorporatedWhere in the project?(Which Lesson Phase 1-6)xAnticipatory SetxWrap UpxAssessment
xIntroduce and Model New Knowledge xGuided Practice xIndependent Practice Affective Networks“Why”III. Multiple Means of Engagement ensures that the Affective networks of students are supportedSpecific UDL Accommodations (7.1 – 9.3)Key ElementsPlease Put a Check Mark Next To the Ones You IncorporatedWhere in the project?(Which Lesson Phase 1-6)xWrap Up xGuided Practice xIntroduce and Model New KnowledgexIndependent PracticexAnticipatory Set xAssessment
UDL Assignment RubricEvaluation AreasExceeds ExpectationsAMeets ExpectationsBDoes Not MeetCPoints25-23 points22 -20 points19- lessMultiple Means of RepresentationProject incorporates at least 6 elements from this area of the UDL framework(checklist filled out)Project incorporates at least 4 elements from this area of the UDL framework(checklist filled out)Project incorporates 2 or less elements from this area of the UDL framework(checklist partially filled out)/25Multiple Means of Action and ExpressionProject incorporates at least 6 elements from this area of the UDL framework(checklist filled out)Project incorporates at least 4 elements from this area of the UDL frameworkProject incorporates 2 or less elements from this area of the UDL framework(checklist partially filled out)/25Multiple Means of EngagementProject incorporates at least 6 elements from this area of the UDL framework(checklist filled out)Project incorporates at least 4 elements from this area of the UDL framework(checklist filled out)Project incorporates 2 or less elements from this area of the UDL framework(checklist partially filled out)/2515-1413-1211-Multimedia ElementsProject contains a wide variety of graphic design elements: embedded videos, pictures, hyperlinks, clip art, etc.Project contains a few graphic design elements: embedded videos, pictures, hyperlinks, clip art, etc.Project contains a variety of graphic design elements: embedded videos, pictures, hyperlinks, clip art, etc./1510-987PresentationOverall editing is accurate and presentation is effective(spelling, grammar, punctuation, formatting, font, text size, aesthetics, etc)Some basic editing and presentation mistakes (spelling, grammar, punctuation, formatting, font, text size, aesthetics, etc)Several editing and presentation mistakes/10Overall Total Points/100



