Presenters from Bricks 4 Kidz® are coming to your local library as part of this year’s Summer Reading Program theme: Build a Better World! They will offer programs that provide an atmosphere for students to build unique creations, play games, and have loads of fun using LEGO® bricks! Who says physics is boring? Participants will test out some of Sir Isaac Newton’s Laws of motion with models that illustrate the concepts of inertia, force, mass, acceleration, and the observation that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Programs designed around our proprietary model plans, designed by engineers and architects, with exciting themes such as space, construction, and amusement parks, will inspire children. At Bricks 4 Kidz® the presenters believe that kids learn best through activities that engage their curiosity and creativity. For now, they get to build fun stuff out of LEGO® bricks and create a positive association that science is fun! These programs begin on June 12 and run until July 27.
Program Descriptions
Swing O’Rama Students will build a model of a spinning amusement park ride in order to explore Newton’s First Law of Motion – the law of inertia, which simply states that in order for something to begin moving or stop moving, there must be an outside force applied. Discussion of this concept includes examples from everyday life. When the students complete the model, they will have the opportunity to start spinning and witness inertia up close – the mini-figure rider will fly off if not properly attached to the model! Vocabulary includes inertia, centrifugal force.
Catapult The catapult has been used since the Middle Ages when it was a state-of-the art weapon of war used to lay siege against fortified castles. Students will learn that a catapult is a type of lever, and will name the different parts of the catapult and describe how it functions. Students will build their own catapult and launch a paper football, changing the position of the pivot pin to observe how far the paper football travels. Vocabulary includes fulcrum, projectile, potential, kinetic.
Ferris Wheel First designed for the World’s Expo in Chicago in 1893, the Ferris Wheel is still a favorite at amusement parks around the world. Students will learn a lesson in imagination and problem- solving, and discuss the giant axle that powered the original ride. We will find out what happened to the original Ferris Wheel, and then build our own version of the famous ride. Vocabulary includes engineer, axle, forged, demolish.
Lawnmower Explore laws of motion with a familiar machine – the lawn mower! Students will learn about the origins of the lawn mower and then discuss how Sir Isaac Newton’s discoveries relate to cutting grass. How hard do you have to push to make the mower move? How does the weight of the mower affect the force needed? Vocabulary includes acceleration, net force, mass, reaction.
See Saw This favorite playground fixture is actually a type of lever! It also illustrates Newton’s second law of motion – Force = mass x acceleration. In order to lift the rider on the other end of the see saw off the ground, you need to apply a force equivalent to the weight of the rider you wish to lift. The heavier the rider, the more the force. The faster you want them to go up, the harder you have to push. Playground physics! Vocabulary includes force, mass, acceleration.
Bricks 4 Kidz® Event Schedule at Public Libraries
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