Activity #2 Supplement B

(Cross-curricular activity, art, & creativity)

Equipment required
Shoebox/student
Scissors
Glue
Toy cars or golf/ ping pong balls
Rulers
Masking Tape
Fun-tac

Have each student bring a shoebox to school at the onset of this unit.

After activity 2A, the students will have a grasp of the idea of acceleration. This activity
will reinforce the concept of acceleration.

Ask students if they rollerblade, skateboard, snowboard etc…or if they watch such
competitions on TV. How do they build up high speeds? (Elicit the word “ramp.”)

Then, ask students how the ramp affects their speed, i.e. the higher the ramp, the > the
speed.

Using a shoebox, glue, scissors, and anything else available in the classroom, how can
we construct a ramp used at three different heights for racing toy cars?

Have students suggest various construction methods for the above.

In groups of 3 or 4, let them try to build the ramps. If some students need help, the
construction below works well. Keep in mind that many variations are acceptable.

Ramp Building
- Cut away 1 end and 1 side of the shoebox.
- Cut 3 horizontal slots (~9cm) on the short end of the box at 3 different heights e.g. 2.5
cm, 5 cm and 7.5 cm.
- For each ramp box made, cut a rectangle from Bristol board 19cm x 24 cm
(practically the same dimensions of the box). At one end of the short side of the
board, cut out a notch the same length as the cut made in the shoe box so that the
ramp slides in the box.
- This “ramp” will be inserted in the 3 different slots that have been marked on the box
as to their respective heights.
- The ramp is kept in place with fun-tac at the bottom corners.
- Students can then decorate their boxes as they wish
- Once these boxes have been constructed, the class is ready for Activity 3.