I found this great lesson with lots of interactive elements at the PBS Learning Media website about the different types of energy. I used some of their handouts and read through their What is Energy document to give us a starting point to talk about definitions.
We also used screen shots from this activity to show the kids how the roller coaster has the most potential gravitational energy when it is at it's highest point.
Then we used this experiment to talk more about elastic potential energy (since the balloon powered boats would have elastic potential energy instead of gravitational), took measurements and data and averaged the results.
Finally, we used this basic idea for a balloon powered boat.
We also used screen shots from this activity to show the kids how the roller coaster has the most potential gravitational energy when it is at it's highest point.
Then we used this experiment to talk more about elastic potential energy (since the balloon powered boats would have elastic potential energy instead of gravitational), took measurements and data and averaged the results.
Finally, we used this basic idea for a balloon powered boat.
We simplified and modified ours a bit. Here's what we used:
Balloon Boats
The balloon boats are an example of elastic potential energy transferred into kinetic energy (like the rubber band experiment).
Materials
1 piece of pool noodle
1 balloon
2 zip ties
1 metal nut
skewer
A 2 inch piece of plastic tubing
ASSEMBLY
1. Put your name on your pool noodle piece.
2. Place the tubing inside a balloon and secure with a zip tie.
3. Use a marker to mark two holes on one end of the pool noodle piece where the balloon will be secured.
4. Use a skewer to poke the holes in the noodle.
5. With a long zip tie, attach your balloon with the tubing facing away from the center of the noodle.
6. Cut a small hole in the other end of the noodle and place your metal nut inside of it (this will help keep the noodle from flying up when the air in the balloon is released).
See below for a short video about our day.
Balloon Boats
The balloon boats are an example of elastic potential energy transferred into kinetic energy (like the rubber band experiment).
Materials
1 piece of pool noodle
1 balloon
2 zip ties
1 metal nut
skewer
A 2 inch piece of plastic tubing
ASSEMBLY
1. Put your name on your pool noodle piece.
2. Place the tubing inside a balloon and secure with a zip tie.
3. Use a marker to mark two holes on one end of the pool noodle piece where the balloon will be secured.
4. Use a skewer to poke the holes in the noodle.
5. With a long zip tie, attach your balloon with the tubing facing away from the center of the noodle.
6. Cut a small hole in the other end of the noodle and place your metal nut inside of it (this will help keep the noodle from flying up when the air in the balloon is released).
See below for a short video about our day.
If you want to expand your learning for your child, here are a some resources:
Here is a YouTube energy playlist
Vocabulary
Rubber band car
Marble Experiment
Here is a YouTube energy playlist
Vocabulary
Rubber band car
Marble Experiment