Ramps and Rollers

This activity invites K–5 students, in both English and Spanish, to explore the phenomena of rolling objects down a ramp and investigate the question, “What happens to a roller when you change the ramp by making it steeper?” Students experiment by rolling balls or cylinders down a ramp, and observe how the ramp’s steepness affects how far their roller rolls or how far it pushes a block. This activity supports the kindergarten science standard on forces.

Teachers can use this activity in virtual or in-person environments, with minimal prep time and common household materials. Slides scaffolding the student experience can be modified to suit different learning contexts.The accompanying Teacher Support Guide contains suggestions for how to use the activity, support for sense-making discussions, content background, and connections to ELA, math, and the kindergarten science standard.