Car journey
This practical activity involves measuring length/distance.
Age
5 to 7
Challenge level
Problem
Image
Here is a little car, going on a journey.
For this activity, you will need three little cars like this one. We are going to investigate how far they can travel.
You can use a small wooden ramp, or you might like to make a ramp using any materials that you have.
You could also use a big slide like this one:
You could also use a big slide like this one:
Image
If the ramp is wide enough, place all three cars at the top and LET GO!
Which went furthest? How do you know?
How far did each one travel from the bottom of the slope?
Which went furthest? How do you know?
How far did each one travel from the bottom of the slope?
What could you try next?
Getting Started
How will you know which car has gone the furthest?
Is there more than one way to find out?
Is there more than one way to find out?
Teachers' Resources
Car Journeys
Image
Here are three little cars, each going on a journey.
For this activity, you will need three little cars. We are going to see how far they can travel.
You might use a small wooden ramp, like this:
Image
Or you could make one using materials you have got.
You may like to use a big slide, like this one:
You may like to use a big slide, like this one:
Image
If the ramp is wide enough, place all three cars at the top and LET GO!
Which went furthest? How do you know?
How far did each one travel from the bottom of the slope?
What could you try next?
Photograph Acknowledgement
www.skatebuilders.com
www.tripadvisor.com
Which went furthest? How do you know?
How far did each one travel from the bottom of the slope?
What could you try next?
Photograph Acknowledgement
www.skatebuilders.com
www.tripadvisor.com
Why do this problem?
This problem is a playful activity that gives pupils the opportunity to explore different ways of measuring length/distance. It could lead into considerations of standard and non-standard units of measure, and will certainly involve children comparing lengths/distances.Possible approach
You may need to consider whether this is for the whole class or a group at a time.Make sure that there is a suitable slope to use and there are small cars available, and allow the children to explore as you stand back. You may need to encourage some sort of measurement but try not to impose particular ways of measuring, rather let learners try out their own.
After a suitable length of time, you could draw the whole group together to share the different ways they measured. If appropriate, you could begin to discuss which way/s might be most helpful and why.
After a suitable length of time, you could draw the whole group together to share the different ways they measured. If appropriate, you could begin to discuss which way/s might be most helpful and why.
Key questions
Which car went the furthest?
How far did that car go?
How do you know?
How much further did that car go than the next car?
How far did that car go?
How do you know?
How much further did that car go than the next car?