Use the Force

This week in science we are learning about Forces. Not the force like in Star Wars but forces that are all around us.
First forces are what makes things move, or stop, or change direction. Can you name all of the forces that we see and experience?
Well, let's start with the easiest. Gravity. Sir Issac Newton is known for his work in gravity and is even know for it's discovery. (Notice I didn't say he 'invented' it. This is what most people misconceive) Newton is also attributed as to discovering gravity while sitting under an apple tree and one hitting him on the head. Yes, another misconception. More than likely he OBSERVED the apple falling and wondered why did it fall.
It is this curiosity that I am trying to bring out in your child. We try to answer the "why" does something happen. Coming up in the next week or so, we will be exploring this question and using 'forces' to answer it.
First we will go through the Scientific Method and come up with a testable experiment. This will be totally from a curiosity perspective from your child. They will have to come up with a 1. Hypothesis, 2. Constant, 3. Variable, 4. procedure for testing, 5. a way to collect data such as a chart, 6. conclude with a reasonable finding.
You might find your child rummaging through junk to find things to test or they may ask you weird questions. This is normal and ok.
Keep in mind that this project will take a few days and there may be times that they will be frustrated. Again , this is normal. Assure them that things will get better the more times they perform the tests. Help them tweak some things and help them take careful notes.
After Newton's work in gravity and his Laws of Motion were widely accepted among scientists, Einstein came along and made even more understandable... yeah right! watch the following video and you will see what I mean. By the way, your children will NOT be tested on the following information.
Newton vs Einstein