Coasting Coasters
K-2

Students create marble run contraptions to explore the forces of gravity and friction. By adding drops and hills, they can compare how far different objects travel.

Virtual: $300 per 30-student pack

In-Person: $225 per class

Lab Outline and TEKS

Engage: What are forces and how do people use them? Introduce students to the Lab’s topics with the Engage videos on our online platform, then use our inquiry prompts to guide a discussion.

Explore: After distributing coaster materials, invite groups to start testing their inclined tracks. Groups record observations and predictions on their data sheets.

Explain: What did your students find? Groups share their observations. Our videos help illustrate the concepts of gravity, friction and potential energy, and highlight careers that put these forces to work. 

Elaborate: Now, students use what they observed to amp up their tracks with hills and other new features! When ready, groups can show off their coasters to the class.

Evaluate: Students come together to discuss their designs and what improvements they incorporated, while our Evaluate videos recap the Lab’s key concepts.

K.1A, K.1B, K.2B, K.2C, K.2D, K.2E, K.3A, K.3B, K.4A, K.4B, K.5A, K.6C, K.6D

1.1A, 1.1B, 1.2B, 1.2C, 1.2D, 1.2E, 1.3A, 1.4A, 1.4B, 1.5A, 1.5C, 1.6C

2.1A, 2.1B, 2.2B, 2.2C, 2.2D, 2.2E, 2.3A, 2.3B, 2.4A, 2.4B, 2.5A, 2.5C, 2.5D, 2.6C

Zip Away
3-5

The challenge: design a zipline carrier that can pass tests of motion, forces and speed. As students prototype, test and tweak, they uncover the Engineering Design Process in action.

Virtual: $330 per 30-student pack

In-Person: $225 per class

Lab Outline and TEKS

Engage: What are forces and how do people harness them to create zip lines? Introduce students to the Lab’s topics with the Engage videos on our online platform, then use our inquiry prompts to guide a discussion.

Explore: Students choose their group roles and plan how they’ll carry a ping pong ball down different zipline slopes. Groups test, record data and make predictions about why parts of their carriers work and others don’t.

Explain: Our Explain videos and inquiry prompts help students link their observations to the concepts of gravity and friction—and show them that engineers use the same problem-solving process.

Elaborate: Thinking like engineers, students adapt their ziplines to solve a real-world problem. A budget to “buy” new materials lets groups improve or redesign their carriers. 

Evaluate: Let’s see solutions in motion! Each group shares their zipline carrier, explains what problem it solves and how they improved the original design. Our Evaluate videos bring together key concepts from throughout the Lab.

3.1A, 3.1B, 3.2A, 3.2C, 3.2D, 3.2E, 3.2F, 3.3C, 3.6B, 3.6C, 

4.1A, 4.1B, 4.2A, 4.2C, 4.2D, 4.2F, 4.2E, 4.3C, 4.6D 

5.1A, 5.1B, 5.2A, 5.2B, 5.2C, 5.2D, 5.4F, 5.2E, 5.3C, 5.6D

Marble Roller Coaster
3-5

Groups dream up and test out roller coaster designs. Watch potential energy become kinetic energy in the form of drops, jumps and loop-de-loops!

Virtual: $330 per 30-student pack

In-Person: $225 per class

Lab Outline and TEKS

Engage: What are forces and how do roller coasters use them? Introduce students to the Lab’s topics with the Engage videos on our online platform, then use our inquiry prompts to guide a discussion.

Explore: Teammates choose roles and review their challenge: build a coaster with a loop and a jump. Students record data as they build, test and improve their designs.

Explain: Smooth cruising or crash landing? After test runs, the Explain videos help students better understand gravity and friction and provide problem-solving strategies from engineers.  

Elaborate: Students search for ways to improve their roller coaster designs and test them with new “riders.” They can take inspiration from our Elaborate videos featuring careers that use physics. 

Evaluate: Students present their updated coaster designs, along with the process behind their choices. Our Evaluate videos highlights the Lab’s key concepts.

3.1A, 3.1B, 3.2A, 3.2B, 3.2D, 3.2F, 3.2E, 3.3A, 3.3C, 3.6B, 3.6C
4.1A, 4.1B, 4.2A, 4.2B, 4.2D, 4.2F, 4.2E, 4.3A, 4.3C. 4.6D
5.1A, 5.1B, 5.2A, 5.2B, 5.2C, 5.2D, 5.2F, 5.2E, 5.3A, 5.3C, 5.6D

Roller Coaster Tycoon
6-8

Riders are lined up to try your students’ creations: roller coasters with at least two loops and one jump! But how will changes to height and mass affect each ride? Students apply the Laws of Motion to problem solve.

Virtual: $360 per 30-student pack

In-Person: $225 per class

Lab Outline and TEKS

Engage: What are forces and how do roller coasters use them? Introduce students to the Lab’s topics with the Engage videos on our online platform, then use our inquiry prompts to guide a discussion.

Explore: After selecting their roles, teams set out to build a coaster with two loops and one jump. Students gather data to calculate the speed of their coaster car (a marble).

Explain: The Explain videos feature Sir Isaac Newton and his Laws of Motion, while inquiry prompts help students unpack the concepts of gravity and friction.

Elaborate: Teams prep their coasters to welcome new “riders” and see how mass impacts their design. Is it still a success or in need of repairs? Our Elaborate videos highlight careers that use physics to tackle real-world problems.

Evaluate: Step right up—the final roller coasters are ready! Teams talk through their choices and design process. Our Evaluate videos help connect everything back to the Lab’s key concepts.

6.1A, 6.1B, 6.2A, 6.2B, 6.2C, 6.2D, 6.2E, 6.3D, 6.8A, 6.8B, 6.8C,
7.1A, 7.1B, 7.2A, 7.2B, 7.2C, 7.2D, 7.2E, 7.3D,
8.1A, 8.1B, 8.2A, 8.2B, 8.2C, 8.2D, 8.2E, 8.3D, 8.6A,8.6B