Understanding the world around us can be a real adventure! That's the message in this 11-part series for children in grades K-4. Kids travel along as our young host explores the world of physical science and how it can be seen, touched and understood in everyday life. Simple demonstrations will help children comprehend basic concepts, including the properties of matter, forces & gravity, light, sound, flight, simple machines and more. Along the way, our host uses plenty of fun, real-life examples, as well as her natural love of learning, to make each programs its own fascinating adventure! Frequent reviews and hands-on activities are included in each show as well as information about an investigation data sheet, available online, that can be used for assessment purposes.
All About Motion & Balance
Walking on a balance beam and riding a bike both require motion and balance. "All About Motion & Balance" explores these two concepts and how they are related. Kids learn that motion is movement caused by unbalanced forces, while gravity and friction are introduced as forces that affect motion. They also learn why all objects resist any change in their motion. Included are simple explanations of key concepts such as momentum and equal and opposite reactions, as well as an introduction to the idea of center of gravity. A fun, hands-on activity uses a "tug of war" to explore the ways in which opposing forces can be balanced or unbalanced. This program is based on the concepts outlined in the National Science Education Standards for Physical Science.