Water Slides and the Forces That Move Us

The goal of this STEM project, Water Slides and the Forces That Move Us, was to help early learners understand the concept of non-touching forces—particularly gravity and friction—through inquiry, exploration, and creative modeling. Designed with the BSCS 5E instructional model, this hands-on lesson invited students to become engineers of their own water slide systems, predicting outcomes, testing models, and drawing conclusions based on observed force interactions. The integration of visuals, read-alouds, and guided discussion offered a multi-sensory entry point for all learners. Motivated by a desire to make abstract scientific concepts accessible and meaningful, students engaged in building and testing water slide prototypes using foam tubing, marbles, water, and timers. They explored how changes in slope, texture, and materials affected speed and motion, using their observations to explain where and how friction and gravity appeared in their designs. While students demonstrated great enthusiasm and creativity, managing group dynamics and ensuring full conceptual grasp presented challenges that were met with differentiated strategies and consistent feedback. Future iterations of the project will include more collaborative design rubrics and incorporate digital simulations to further enrich students’ understanding of force and motion in real-world applications.