Energy Action Lab

STEM Implementation

The First Grade Marble Management System

Tape Donut "Garage"

Stick a small rolled circle of blue tape to each desk. Whenever the teacher speaks, the marble must park in the garage. No runaway spheres!

2 Clear Jobs

Architect: Holds the ramp steady.
Astronaut: Does the 3-2-1 countdown and releases. Switch every trial!

Snap Cube Ruler

First graders connect snap cubes from ramp exit to cup. They count 1, 2, 3 cubes instead of struggling with cm numbers.

Scripted Questioning Stems (During the 15-Minute Build)

Prompting Energy Observation:

"Listen to that! Why was Trial 3 so much louder than Trial 1? Where did that big clack come from?"

Stopping Pushing Habits:

"Remember, real STEM engineers let gravity do the work! Show me your open fingers—just let go!"

Guiding Track Fixes:

"Did the marble fly off? Let's pinch the sides of the paper up to make high walls like a real roller coaster!"

Connecting to the Cup:

"The marble stopped moving after it hit the cup! Where did its motion energy go? Look at the cup sliding!"

Adaptation Matrix for Other Grade Levels

Call-and-Response Routine: Teacher: "STEM Engineers!" • Students: "Hands on heads!" (Instantly stops marble rolling).

Kinetic Coaster Challenge • Teacher Instructional Guide Page 2 of 2

First Grade Classroom Management Protocols (35-Min Success)

Tape Donut Marble "Garage"

Give each pair a rolled ring of tape stuck to the table. When not rolling, the marble rests inside the donut so it never rolls off desks!

Two Partner Jobs (Switch Every Trial)

Job 1: "The Architect" (holds ramp top steady). Job 2: "The Astronaut" (counts down 3-2-1 and releases the marble). Switch roles!

Fast-Finisher Challenge: Can you tape two tracks together to make a super-long mega coaster that pushes the cup even farther?

Kinetic Coaster Challenge • Grade 1 Master Key Page 2 of 2

The Grade 2 Science Truth

Gravity Stored

Powers the car roll down the hill

Friction Robbery

Sandpaper rubs and steals speed into heat

Smooth Victor

Coasts 3x farther across floor tiles!

Complete your Grade 2 Lab Sheet • Cars in kit bags! STEM Masters

Grade 2 Common Misconception Diagnostic

Misconception: "Heavy cars always roll farther because they have more push."

Correction: Surface friction acts equally on wheel contact. Test the exact same car on both surfaces to prove surface alone causes the slowdown!

Score Range (16 Points Total): 14–16 = Master Racer • 11–13 = Proficient • 8–10 = Apprentice

Record on Student Sheet

Ramp Racer Rally • Grade 2 Master Key Page 2 of 2

Striker Energy

Potential → Kinetic rolling speed

Instant Impact

Energy passes into stationary marbles

Target Scatter

Targets blast out with transferred speed

Log your cm data on Grade 3 Lab Sheet • All 4 marbles in bag! STEM Complete

Grade 3 Misconception Diagnostic

Misconception: "The striker marble pushed them because it has power inside, but the power vanished when it stopped."

Correction: Energy cannot vanish. The striker's kinetic energy was delivered directly into the targets, propelling them away while leaving the striker at rest!

Score Range (16 Points Total): 14–16 = Master Physicist • 11–13 = Proficient • 8–10 = Apprentice

Record on Student Sheet

Collision Crash Lab • Grade 3 Master Key Page 2 of 2

Calibrated Energy Proof

Final 8 Min

What Did Your Data Prove?

Double Stretch

Stretching from 2 cm to 4 cm doubled tension

Higher Velocity

Projectile leaves spoon with more kinetic speed

Maximum Range

Flew nearly 3x farther across the target zone!

Log final data on Grade 4 Lab Sheet • Return all launcher kits! STEM Complete

Power Launcher Challenge • Grade 4 STEM Lab Page 2 of 2

Grade 4 Misconception Diagnostic

Misconception: "The rubber band adds new power from nowhere when it snaps."

Correction: The rubber band cannot create energy! It can only store the exact mechanical energy that your fingers exerted when pulling it back (Law of Conservation of Energy).

Score Range (16 Points Total): 14–16 = Master Catapult Engineer • 11–13 = Proficient • 8–10 = Apprentice

Record on Student Sheet

Power Launcher Challenge • Grade 4 Master Key Page 2 of 2