4th Grade Science & the FabLab

4th-6th grade Lower School Science teacher Jami Muranaka and the FabLab got together to help the students learn about data collection. At the beginning of the year, Ms. Muranaka teaches her 4th grade students about the scientific method and how to collect data. This year, the FabLab created the car chaise using "BoxMaker". We laser cut the car "body" with numerous axle holes and cut various size wheels.

In science class, the students set up their cars with the same axle placement and wheel size. Then they tested them by letting them roll down a ramp and then measured the distance they traveled. They did 3 trials each, with different amounts of weights...first, 0grams; second, 10grams; and third, 20grams. The students then found the average distance traveled for their car, next they found the average distance traveled for the class. The final step is to graph the results.

After all this is done (which was about a week), students are able to experiment with their cars by changing the axle placement, wheel size and weight of the car, to see which configuration will travel farthest.