Grade one students are nearing the end of their unit on forces and motion. The shift in their thinking is quite significant – they are now able to articulate how wheels work to solve the problem of friction, and can construct wheels that work reasonably well using only recycled materials.

Some students have started talking about fair tests that will help them to determine if their changes have had a positive or negative effect on their toy designs ability to move more easily. It’s fantastic that some students have gotten to this type of scientific thinking in only a few weeks, simply by building toys.