Encourage tinkering with ideas, relationships, connections. Set up situations where students have to find information not readily available in school texts. Provide opportunity for students to design open-ended explorations of the concept. Provide multiple options so students can plan a unique "proof" of learning.
Students construct balanced mobiles.
Objective: To demonstrate rotational/counter-rotational motion using information learned.
Activity: Students are instructed to bring small "junk" item to class from home. They work in groups of four members. Each group is given seven pieces of string each 60 cm long, and three wooden dowel rods each 30-60 cm long. Boxes of paper clips and rolls of masking tape should be available for student use. Each group will construct a balanced mobile which will be suspended from the classroom ceiling.
