4th grade students and Perry and Hancock Elementary schools are using VEX robotics to learning all about potential and kinetic energy. Students are using Design Thinking to collaborate on building a robot with VEX robotics constructions kits that will support one passenger (an eg:). The egg must be secured by a student designed vehicle restraints system. Students build prototypes and then test them on an inverted plan or simple machine. Students learn how energy is converted rolling down the ramp and converted again once it hits a solid object. They also get to test their newly designed restraint system to see if their “passenger” survived. Results are charted in journals and students discuss what modifications they would make in the future.
