1. TESLA Balance and Motion 2011
Tops Lesson 3
TESLA Balance and Motion 2011

2. The Big Idea of this Investigation
Our physical world is governed by the properties and interaction of objects and how force affects motion.

3. ENGAGING SCENARIO
The Lewiston Toy Company is very pleased with the information we have given them about balancing toys. They are now thinking about making some toys that spin and they would like for you to test some more models. The Lewiston Toy Company thinks these models could be used to make some spinning toys and they need your help in testing them to see if they will work. They have sent us some materials and printed information that may help us. They also need us to continue to keep accurate records and labeled drawings in our science notebooks so we can report what we found out in a couple of weeks.
What is the problem we need to solve?
What do we need to investigate?

4. Kit Inventory
These are the objects that have been sent to us by the Lewiston Toy Company. I have put them in this large bag. Let’s see if we can identify them.
What color/shape is the object?
Where have you seen this object before?
What do you think we will use this for in the unit? 4

5. New Vocabulary
We have already had several experiences with balance and stability. Now the Lewiston Toy Company wants us to build something that has motion. Toys that have the type of motion that spin are sometimes called tops.
What do you know about tops?”
The Lewiston Toy Company has sent enough materials so that everyone will receive a straw, two small disks, and two large disks to help you solve the problem.

6. Focus Question (What is the problem?)
Discuss with your group of scientists a possible focus question for this investigation.
How can we use the straw and disks to make a top?
How are the materials in the boxes organized? How can we find out the common property in each of the boxes?
Prediction (related to the focus question)
I think that we can make a top that spins if we…
Sometimes a scientist needs to explain their thinking with models and drawings because their thoughts are difficult to put in words.
NOTEBOOK ENTRY 6

7. Solving our Problem
Scientists always try to make careful observations.
Record examples of the different ways you think you can make a top in your science notebook. Scientists use labels and pay attention to detail so other people can understand their drawings.
Test your ideas to see if you can solve the problem. If you think you found a design that works, make a drawing of your design in your science notebook. Be sure to label all of your drawings.
Sometimes scientist like to record the ideas that don’t work because these ideas can also help us understand the problem.
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8. Making Meaning Conference
How did you use the materials to make a top?
How did you know when you made your top?
How did you get your top to start moving?
How does the top move when working?
What type of motion does a top make when it is going?
New Vocabulary
When something turns in circles or goes around and around a lot of times, we say that it is spinning or rotating. Tops rotate on an axis or a point. Our axis was the straw.

9. What is the best design for a top to spin a long time?
The Lewiston Toy Company will be very pleased with what we have learned so far about making tops. Using the same materials, I would like you to try to investigate and respond to one of the following tasks:
What is the best design for a top to spin a long time?
What is the best design for a top that spins fast?
What is the difference between tops with large disks and small disks.
Test your ideas to see if you can solve the problem. If you think you found a design that works, make a drawing of your design in your science notebook. Be sure to label all of your drawings.
Sometimes scientist like to record the ideas that don’t work because these ideas can also help us understand the problem.
NOTEBOOK ENTRY

10. Making Meaning Conference
How did you get your tops to start spinning?
Does a top made with large disks or small disks spin better? Why?
Is a spinning top more stable when it is going fast or when it slows down?
How does the design, the way the top is made, change the way it spins?

11. Claims and Evidence
Use your own words, or words from the word wall, to help you complete the following sentences in your science notebook.
I claim that a top needs ____________________ to start spinning. I know this because…
I claim that a top made with _____________ plastic disks normally spins better than a top with ________________ plastic disks. I know this because…
I claim that ___________ spinning tops are more stable than ___________ spinning tops. I know this because…
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12. Reflection/Conclusion
Revisit your original prediction and respond to one of the following stems:
My prediction was accurate or was not accurate because…..
I wish to revise my prediction because…
My original thinking has changed because…
What did you learn…?
What really surprised you…?
What new questions do you have…?
What would you like to know more about…?
NOTEBOOK ENTRY