[ML3] Grade 3 -- Curriculum Overview

Learning Objectives:

  • Core Concepts: Introduction to friction, sound intensity, light transmission, and basic heat transfer.
  • Data Skills: Introduction to more complex live plots, understanding trends in data, and the relationship between variables.

Session Grouping:

  • Bootcamp (Sessions 1-2): Practice taking readings and plotting simple data.
  • Experimentation (Sessions 3-7): Investigate sound, light, friction, and temperature through guided experiments.
  • Physical Measurements (Sessions 8-9): Students explore heart rate and jump height to see how the body reacts to physical activity.
  • Creative Project (Session 10): Design a unique experiment and gather real-time data using MeasureLab.

Data Analysis Skills:

  • Advanced Trends: Students begin detecting trends in live data, plotting multiple data points, and understanding relationships (e.g., heat vs. time, sound vs. distance).

Session 1: Windy Wonders—Playing with Air

Details:

Students use a motorized fan controlled by MeasureLab to feel different wind speeds, adjusting voltage with an on-screen slider for a fun introduction to the equipment.


Session 2: Sound Off—How Loud Can You Clap?

Details:

Students measure the loudness of their claps or voices using the sound sensor, observing noise levels and getting comfortable with taking measurements.


Session 3: Light Blockers—Testing Materials

Details:

Using the light sensor, students experiment by covering it with various materials (paper, foil, fabric) to see how light intensity changes, learning about transparency.


Session 4: Reaction Time Challenge

Details:

Students test their reaction times to visual, auditory, and touch stimuli using the touchpad sensor, comparing results and discussing quick responses.


Session 5: Melting Magic—Ice and Movement

Details:

Students explore how stirring affects how quickly ice melts in water, using the temperature sensor to record changes and understand heat transfer.


Session 6: Ice Insulators—Keeping It Cool

Details:

Wrapping ice cubes in different materials, students measure which ones slow down melting the most, learning about insulation and material properties.


Session 7: Reflection Exploration

Details:

With the light sensor, students investigate how different surfaces reflect light, discovering concepts of reflection and absorption.


Session 8: Solar Power Fun

Details:

Students use a solar cell connected to MeasureLab to see how light intensity affects voltage output, experimenting with angles and light sources.


Session 9: Jump Height Challenge

Details:

Using a simple setup, students measure how high they can jump, recording data and discussing factors that affect jump height.


Session 10: Design Your Own Experiment

Details:

Students plan and conduct their own simple experiments using MeasureLab, applying their knowledge and showcasing creativity.