Classroom Resource

Hamster Run - Game | The Ruff Ruffman Show

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

K, 3

Overview

Use this game from The Ruff Ruffman Show to help children learn motion and stability: forces and interactions through physical science. Use the engineering design process to build, test, and redesign structures to help the hungry hamsters reach their food.

This resource is part of The Ruff Ruffman Show Science Collection.

Content Standards

Science (2015) Grade(s): KG

SC15.K.1
Investigate the resulting motion of objects when forces of different strengths and directions act upon them (e.g., object being pushed, object being pulled, two objects colliding).

Unpacked Content

Vocabulary

Push
Pull
Collide
Investigate
Result
Motion
Objects
Forces
Strengths
Directions
Refute

Knowledge

Students know:

Pushes and pulls can have different strengths and directions.
Pushing or pulling on an object can change the speed or direction of its motion and can start or stop it.
When objects touch or collide, they push on one another and can change motion.
A bigger push or pull makes things speed up or slow down more quickly.

Skills

Students are able to:

Investigate forces and interactions.
Describe objects and their motions.
Describe relative strengths and directions of the push or pull applied to an object.

Understanding

Students understand that:

Simple tests can be designed to gather evidence to support or refute ideas about effects on the motion of the object caused by changes in the strength or direction of the pushes and pulls.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying out Investigations

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect

Science (2015) Grade(s): 3

SC15.3.1
Plan and carry out an experiment to determine the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object using one variable at a time, including number, size, direction, speed, position, friction, or air resistance (e.g., balanced forces pushing from both sides on an object, such as a box, producing no motion; unbalanced force on one side of an object, such as a ball, producing motion), and communicate these findings graphically.

Unpacked Content

Vocabulary

Experiment
Variable
Motion
Force (push and pull)
Balanced forces
Unbalanced forces
Cause and effect
Number
Size
Direction
Position
Friction
Air resistance
Communicate
Graphically
Net force
Sum

Knowledge

Students know:

Each force acts on one particular object and has both strength and direction.
An object at rest typically has multiple forces acting on it, but they add to give zero net force on the object.
Forces that do not sum to zero can cause changes in the object's speed or direction of motion.
Objects in contact exert forces on each other.

Skills

Students are able to:

Collaboratively plan an experiment to determine the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object using one variable at a time.
Carry out an experiment to determine the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object using one variable at a time.
Collect and record data from experiment.
Describe how the investigation plan addresses the purpose of the investigation.
Communicate findings graphically.

Understanding

Students understand that:

Cause and effect relationships provide evidence when investigating balanced and unbalanced forces.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Planning and Carrying out Investigations

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect

Interdisciplinary Connection(s)

Link to Resource

https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ruffruffman-sci-hamsterrun/hamster-r…

Content Type / Source

CR Resource Type

Interactive/Game

Resource Provider

PBS

Accessibility

License

License Type

Custom

Custom License Type (URL)

https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/terms-of-use/

Comments or Notes

PBSLearningMedia is free for teachers. Teachers need to create a free account to access all available resources.

Approved Date

2021-03-29

Curated by

Design by Adaptive Theme