Grade 8: Learning With Momentum
In science class with Mrs. Jen Chen, eighth graders explored friction through a Skateboard Lab that brought physics off the page and into motion.
After studying different types of friction in class, students compared how surfaces affect movement by pushing a rider on a skateboard across carpet vs. tile. Working in small groups, they used force sensors and graphing software to measure the force required to get the skateboard moving and to keep it rolling on each tested surface.
As they collected data, eighth graders examined force graphs to identify the difference between static friction, the force that resists motion at the start, and rolling friction, the force acting once the skateboard was already moving. They ran multiple trials, averaged their results, and calculated the coefficient of friction for each surface to compare how different materials affect motion.
Students then applied their findings to real-world scenarios, using their data to predict how friction influences movement beyond the lab.
The Skateboard Lab gave eighth graders the opportunity to gather data, analyze results, and apply scientific reasoning, deepening their understanding of how forces shape motion in everyday life.
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
