Do you have a Lightning McQueen fan?
For this STEAM activity, we are racing Lighting McQueen (or race car of your choice) to see if we can win the race!
STEAM represents the combination of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Relating STEAM activities to children’s interest helps keep them in engaged in the activity.
STEAM activities for preschoolers help young learners, investigate questions and think like a problem solver.
STEAM Challenge: Can your race car win the race using the fastest ramp?
Objective: Build the fastest ramp to win the race.
Materials:
- Book, “Driven to Win” by Liz Marsham
- Small Race cars
- Cardboard or Wooden Planks
- A variety of textured materials; sandpaper, foil, wax paper, plastic sheets.
Teaching Strategy:
1. Read the book, “Driven to Win” by Liz Marsham
2. Build several different ramps with the provided materials. Which material will help your race car win the race?
3. Test the ramps. Time how fast the race car travels down each ramp.
4. Measure the distance each car travels.
5. Redesign your ramp to make it even faster.
Guiding Questions:
Which ramp is the fastest? Why is it the fastest?
Which car traveled the furthest distance?
What happens if you raise or lower the ramp?
STEAM Integrations:
Science: Do the race cars slide or roll down the ramp? What other objects roll or slide down the ramp?
Technology: Use a stopwatch and measuring tape to determine which car is the fastest and which car travels the furthest distance.
Engineering: Build a ramp that can help your race car win the race.
Art: Cover your ramp in paper and drop paint down the ramp. What happens?
Math: Measure the distance of how far your car travels. Which car traveled the farthest?
Sign up for our Summer STEAM Series and get the Lesson Pack for this challenge!
Click Here to Get the Free Download
Leave a Reply