Curriculum and Instruction

Dont Just Swing It!

Essential Concepts & Skills:Iowa Core/Next Generation Science Standards, Grades
3-5.
Disciplinary Core Ideas:
3-5-ETS1-3. Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and
failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or
prototype that can be improved.
Science Practices:

Analyzing and interpreting data

Engaging in argument from evidence

21st Century Skills:

Demonstrate initiative, creativity, self-direction, and entrepreneurial

thinking
Demonstrate productivity and accountability by producing quality work.

What students will be doing: Students will be using pendulums they create with a
pencil, washers, and string to design a fair test of different variables.
Students will use evidence from their tests to make conclusions about what
constitutes the ideal pendulum.
Materials:

Pencil

Washers

String

Tape

Timer

Student Thinking Log (see below)

Introducing the Activity: Previously, you learned about what makes a fair test,
how to use variables, and how to make conclusions. We will be using something
relatively familiar to practice what we have learned. Now, I know you have all

seen swings on the playground. We are going to use some supplies to create our
own swings (show premade pendulum and show its motion). Does anyone know
why kind of object makes this motion? (Wait to see if students can come up
with the term pendulum. Can give examples of a ticking grandfather clock. If
students cannot come up with it, you can tell them what a pendulum is.)
We will be using these pendulums to conduct a couple of tests. Each test will
be done separately to test different independent variable. We will be using the
same dependent variable for each test. What do you believe we could use as
our dependent variable? (Should be number of swings in a given amount of
time.) Start thinking about how you will perform this test. What will count as
one swing? What is displacement? How can we measure this? How will we
change the mass? How can we change the string without changing anything else
in our pendulum? (All of these can be questions to ask and have students think
about).
In the beginning of your thinking log, you will review the new vocabulary we
have talked about. While defining these terms, and throughout your thinking
log, you will be expected to use complete sentences. You should always include
as much detail in your statements, so that someone reading them would know
exactly what you are talking about. Before we start our tests, we need to do a
few things. First, we need to write some definitions for our vocabulary. Please
take about 5 minutes to write these definitions on the first page of your
thinking log. (After giving the students enough time, move on.) Next, we need
to make some predictions. Please go to each page and make a prediction about
how the different independent variables of displacement, mass, and length of
string affect the number of swings. When making your predictions, be sure to
use the variables and complete sentences to express your ideas. It is important
not to change your predictions later. Predictions are not required to be right,
they just have to be what you think. (Once students seem to have their
predictions written down, they can start their tests).

Teacher Notes:
1. Be sure students understand that if the pendulum hits something while in swing,
they must start that trial over.

2. Let students discuss and think without telling them exactly how to make these
tests fair.
3. Overall, let students explore and learn. Dont give them too much instruction!
Pendulum Thinking Log: See below
Sample Student Answers: See below

Pendulum Thinking Log

General Definitions: Write a general definition for each
science term listed, so a person will know exactly how each was
measured or what it means. Keep it generic - dont mention
pendulums for these first 7 terms!
Independent Variable:
_______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Dependent Variable:
________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Constants:
________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Fair Test:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Research Question:
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Claim:
____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Pendulum Experiment Details and Diagrams:

Draw your pendulum experimental set-up and clearly label all of
the parts. Also label how you will measure displacement.

How will you measure displacement in your pendulum experiment?

___________
__________________________________________________________________
_
How will the mass of the pendulum bob be measured in your
experiment? ______
__________________________________________________________________
_
How will you count one pendulum swing in your experiment?
________________
__________________________________________________________________
_

Pendulum Experiment #1: Displacement

(Release Position)
What is the independent variable?
_____________________________________
What is the dependent variable?
______________________________________
Research question (What we want to discover): What is the
effect of ______________________ on the ___________________ in
15 seconds?

Prediction: (complete sentence)

_________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Record the data for the constant variables in data table.
Do the experiment then record the results in the data table.
Data Table 1: _____________________________________
(Table title should list both independent and dependent variables.)
Number of Swings in 15 sec

Displacement

Length of
String

Mass

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Average

Write a claim (conclusion) about what you discovered in

this experiment.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Pendulum Experiment #2: Mass

What is the independent variable?
______________________________________

What is the dependent variable?

_______________________________________
Research question:
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Prediction: (complete sentence)
__________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Correctly label all columns and rows in the data table and add a
title.
Record the data for the constant variables in data table.
Carry out the experiment then record the results in the data
table.
Data Table 2: ____________________________________

Write a claim about what you discovered in this

experiment. ________________

__________________________________________________________________
_

Pendulum Experiment #3: Length of String

What is the independent variable?
______________________________________
What is the dependent variable?
_______________________________________
Research question:
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Prediction: (complete sentence)
__________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Correctly label all columns and rows in the data table and add a
title.
Record the data for the constant variables in data table.
Carry out the experiment then record the results in the data
table.
Data Table 3: ____________________________________

Write a claim about what you discovered in this

experiment. ________________
__________________________________________________________________
_
Write an overall claim about the variables that do and do
not affect the rate of a pendulums swinging.
________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
_
Sample Answers: