What better way to experience the relationship between the motion of an object and the forces acting on it than a trip to a bowling alley?
Mrs. Chan's 6th Grade science class has spent the past several weeks learning about Sir Isaac Newton's Three Laws of Motion. From hands-on experiments during labs to informative videos and class discussions, students have learned about inertia, mass, acceleration, and force. In a culminating activity to bring this study of physics to life, an exuberant 6th Grade class headed to Harley's Valley Bowl in Simi Valley.
Students had a unique opportunity to take an interesting behind-the-scenes tour of the bowling alley machinery to see how pins are set up and how the ball is returned. They saw Newton's Laws in action as they observed the motion of the bowling balls and pins. "We learned that a heavier ball will knock down more pins than a lighter ball," said Amani B. They applied their knowledge as they bowled and watched how their actions affected the ball's movement. Aleksi R. added, "I was bowling with a 6-pound ball with perfect accuracy, but since it was lighter, I did not get a strike. When I used an 8-pound ball, I got a strike!" Mrs. Chan was delighted that the students had a real-world application of the scientific principles learned in class.
In addition to academics, a critical part of the 6th Grade experience is experiential learning, bonding, and teamwork. This fun and educational field trip afforded our students the chance to strengthen current peer relationships as well as forge new ones. Students cheered on their teammates as they competed for the best team score, the best individual score, and the most clever team name. It was a day filled with science, fun, and unforgettable memories.
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