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How can you knock down a wall made of concrete?
Force Olympics Unit | Lesson 3 of 6
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How can you knock down a wall made of concrete?

Force Olympics Unit | Lesson 3 of 6
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
Scroll for prep
Video trouble?

How`would`you`knock
down`a`concrete
wall?

Video trouble?

How`can`you`make`a
wrecking`ball`hit
harder?`And`not`as
hard?

Video trouble?
Video trouble?
Video trouble?
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Slide Image
Slide Image

push


1 of 5

to move an object away from you
Slide Image

pull


2 of 5

to move an object toward you

strong


3 of 5

powerful, like a big push or pull
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weak


4 of 5

not very powerful, like a small push or pull
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strength


5 of 5

how strong or weak something is
Video trouble?
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Image & Video Credits

Mystery Science respects the intellectual property rights of the owners of visual assets. We make every effort to use images and videos under appropriate licenses from the owner or by reaching out to the owner to get explicit permission. If you are the owner of a visual and believe we are using it without permission, please contact us—we will reply promptly and make things right.

Exploration
hand opening door by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: jassada watt_
girl pushing imaginary wall by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Juriah Mosin
wall by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: tratong
hammer by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: magicoven
Berlin by argentum , used under Public Domain
hammer by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: abdrahimmahfar
woman smashing wall by Nicole Wharton
building exploding by exception722
building demolition gone wrong by JAY MONDO
wrecking ball in action by Jeff Lowe
double wrecking ball by Benjamin Beytekin
Activity
baby chicks by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: dianaduda
Credits

Featured Reviews

“Kids loved the activity, and it got some of our kids with special needs much more engaged because of the movement. ”
· Melissa · Teacher
“They loved doing the activity and figuring out how knock over the cups while keeping the buildings safe. Hearing them cheer for their success was wonderful. Great real world connection to the video as well.”
· Kristin · Other
“My kids LOVED the wrecking ball experiment. WE had so much fun setting it up and trying to figure out how to keep our houses safe from the wrecking ball! Great discussion!”
· Heidi · Teacher
“The kids were engaged and were actively thinking about how much force to put behind the wrecking ball. Easy set-up and clean-up!”
· Cathy · Teacher
“The best part was being able to knock down cups with pretend wrecking balls (hands-on learning). The students were engaged with their turn and enjoyed watching other students too. Great lesson!”
· Jason · Teacher
“The wrecking balls were so simple to make and extremely engaging. I loved that there were pockets of time dedicated to asking the students what they were discovering, through guided questions. The connection to the Berlin Wall was great as it helped students understand the concept through real life context. ”
· Jennifer · Teacher
“Students loved using the wrecking ball. It was easy to prep and set up. I appreciated the easy to follow directions. ”
· Kari · Teacher
“The on-screen instructions and demo made my kids think about what they were supposed to do before they went to the game boards. And I loved the Berlin wall connection and videos of the building demolitions.”
· Laura · Teacher
“I loved the ingenious paper wrecking ball! Thank you for making resources that are so easy to use at home. The kids loved experimenting with different configurations of the cups and houses afterwards.”
· Victoria · Homeschooler
“making the wrecking ball”
· Carly · Homeschooler
“The children loved the experiment - it was hands on and provided just the right level of challenge. Thank you”
· Emma · Teacher
“The students were really engaged and practiced their work words. We then talked about the questions at the end which went into interactive writing. ”
· Ana · Teacher
“Watching the kids put the words into action.”
· Lynn · Teacher
“we loved it. the game was great. learning about the Berlin wall was so applicable & wonderful! ”
· Suraya · Homeschooler
“The students really enjoyed the hands on activity. They had great fun exploring with different angles and pressures. The activity also did a great job of leading the kids to ask questions and make connections with their world. ”
· Michelle · Teacher
“I loved the way the lesson related forces to a real life, historical situation - the Berlin Wall. The kids had fun, but also used what they had learned about forces, including how engineers have to adapt when there are constraints, ie the houses behind the wall.”
· Phyllis · Teacher
“The extras were great! My students enjoyed the activity in groups. It ran very smoothly since you supplied the step by step directions!”
· Traci · Teacher
“Loved the video about the Berlin Wall--a little history lesson added to the forces lesson. The children loved the knock down the wall activity!”
· · Teacher
“We are looking at walls as a technology, Building them and testing them...this lesson added depth to our work.”
· Mike · Teacher
“I appreciated the cross-curricular content portion of the lesson. Students found Germany on the globe, learned a bit of history, and then explored the causes and effects of force and motion to their hearts content!”
· Katherine · Teacher
“The best part was when our 7 year old son Asher, who is one of my students, quizzed his mom on what she thinks is the best way to destroy a building or wall without damaging anything nearby. Afterwards he provided her with the best strategies to do it. I found this encouraging when that same day I wondered if the students actually learned anything valuable from this lesson. ”
· Jonathan · Teacher
“Of course the wrecking ball game. I used this lesson for my observation with my principal. She was so impressed she pulled out her phone and started taking pictures. ”
· Sharon · Teacher
“the experiment was fabulous! I loved the step-by-step instructions for set up, and the instructional video of the experiment was very helpful for my students”
· Andrea · Teacher
“The children loved the wrecking ball activity and using the work words to describe the work of the machine worked out well. ”
· Sue · Teacher
“Kids have been building walls to knock over with the wrecking ball all week!”
· Jennifer · Homeschooler
“My daughter successfully learned terms she wasn't aware of before. I love the additional items such as the videos, experiments, additional reading. Its full and complete. ”
· Desria · Homeschooler
“I had a student that actually went home and recreated the Wrecking Ball activity! The parent sent me a picture and told me he did it all by himself.”
· Susan · Teacher
“my homeschooling class was able to to this by themselves with only printing help from me! They are from 2nd up to 5th”
· Debra · Homeschooler
“My kids loved coming up with ways to take down the wall without knocking over any nearby buildings. Their ideas were so creative!”
· Alyssa · Teacher
“Educating kids about the Berlin wall, while teaching science... an important lesson all around.”
· · Homeschooler
“The video and photos were great visual aids! My boys LOVED it! ”
· Summer · Homeschooler
“The activity was the best part! The materials and video were very thorough in explaining how to set it all up. We added a conversation about why the 'crane' was set at 45 degrees and not 180 degrees. In addition, during the video we talked about what factors would impact the amount of time it took to dig the hole such as who was digging (dad or child) and what tool they were using (a spoon or a shovel). Thank you!! ”
· Rinky · Homeschooler
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Grade K

Pushes & Pulls

Motion, Speed, & Strength

K-PS2-1

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students change the strength and direction of a wrecking ball’s push in order to solve a tricky problem. The activity, Don't Crush That House, is a game in which students experiment with the force of a paper wrecking ball in order to knock down a wall of cups. The challenge is: they can’t knock down the paper houses!
Preview activity

I have a Mystery Pack

Game Station Set printout Print 8 copies
Blank Paper (8.5 x 11")
Recycled is fine.
Details
8 sheets
Scotch Tape
1 roll
Yardstick or Meterstick
8 sticks
Large Binder Clips (2")
16 clips
Masking Tape
1 roll
Solo Cups (9 oz)
24 cups
String
Yarn or ribbon will work well.
Details
32 feet
Prep Instructions

Your students will play the Wrecking Ball game in groups, taking turns. To help you determine how many game stations to set up, we suggest splitting your class into groups of 4.

Prepare Game Stations Before Class

Before class, get all the Game Station pieces ready for your students.

  1. Find the page titled “The Foldable Houses.” Cut out and fold the houses. (If you are making multiple stations, you can use a paper cutter.)
  2. Find “The Foldable Wrecking Ball” page. Fold it and tie it to the end of the ribbon, following the instructions printed on the sheet. Use transparent tape to keep the Wrecking Ball from unfolding.
  3. You are going to use masking tape to attach the yardstick to your support. To see how, watch this short video. For easier taping, clip the stick to the support first. Make sure the stick is at a 45º angle. Tape at two points — high & low.

    4. wreckingball

  4. Adjust the length of the ribbon so that the wrecking ball will hit the top of the cups as it swings. Clip the ribbon in place with a binder clip.
  5. Tape the Game Board to the floor, like this. (Match A with A and B with B.)

gameboard

Your students will set up the cups and houses when they are ready to play. gameboard

Exploration

10 mins

Hands-On Activity

20 mins

Grade K

Pushes & Pulls

Motion, Speed, & Strength

K-PS2-1

Slow internet or video problems?
Credits
 
Pushes Lesson 3: How can you knock down a wall made of concrete?

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