Parking for Halloween at Dynamic Earth is limited, please consider taking our free shuttle (select days only).

PLEASE NOTE: Window replacement is underway at the Science North ramp until early fall 2026. The ramp remains open with covered walkways in place for your safety.

Structures & Mechanisms

structures and mechanisms

Material Matters!

Students will learn the difference between materials, objects and everyday structures and do activities to practice identifying materials, objects and structures.


MATERIALS

  • Learning Materials handout
  • Materials Scavenger Hunt handout

HANDOUT

HANDOUT ANSWERS

SCAVENGER HUNT

DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS


Friction!

Students will explore friction using a simple machine and investigate how different materials create different amounts of friction.


MATERIALS

  • 4 strips of cardboard, wood or other similar material (to make ramps)
  • 1 to 4 toy cars (similar type / wheel size is best)
  • 3 materials of different textures (e.g. sand paper, foil, towel, paper towel, plastic bag)
  • Tape
  • Books, blocks or boxes to prop up ramps (same objects for all ramps is best)
  • Measuring tape and / or stopwatch (optional)

DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

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