How to Wobble and not Fall Down

I used to love to play with a toy top when I was a child, so the article’s title caught my attention. As I read the article I found so much more of interest. This is a design challenge tha... See More

I used to love to play with a toy top when I was a child, so the article’s title caught my attention. As I read the article I found so much more of interest. This is a design challenge that helps students understand how and why inventors/scientists have to continually change and improve upon their products/projects as they test and retest their designs. Gravity, friction and inertia are the scientific concepts that can be studied as students work with their tops. The lesson is presented in the 5 E format and focuses on the nature of scientific inquiry by carefully observing, creating and building a prototype, and testing toy tops. Through the series of activities, students form their own conceptual understandings of gravity, friction and inertia. They are also able to address several potential misconceptions they may have about motion. For example, this one is one that I used to have: Faster-moving objects have a greater force acting upon them. The author includes a chart of the more common misconceptions as well as a diagram of a generic top with a materials list for making it. There are some monetary considerations connected with this lesson (see page 34) that one will need to take into account before deciding to use it.

Blueprint for a Great STEM Project

This article details how to use a spinning top as the crux of an engineering design project. The project is presented here from planning and prep stages through evaluation. It also includes... See More

This article details how to use a spinning top as the crux of an engineering design project. The project is presented here from planning and prep stages through evaluation. It also includes excellent ideas for enrichment and extension.