Phenomena Hub Navigation
Here are some examples to explore the same physical science phenomenon across grade levels with different driving questions. The possibilities are endless, but we must ensure that the learning is increasing in complexity. Writing an aligned driving question helps us do that.
Cookies Baking in the Oven
K–5: What can cause a substance to undergo an irreversible change?
6–8: Why are the properties of cookie dough different from the properties of cookies?
9–12: What molecular changes occur when cookies bake and chemicals react?
Pouring Water Over Dry Ice
K–5: Why does fog form when water is poured over dry ice?
6–8: Why does dry ice disappear when water is poured on it?
9–12: How do the properties of dry ice help with food preservation?
Spinning Amusement Park Ride
K–5: How can we predict the motion of an amusement park ride?
6–8: Why does changing the speed of an amusement park ride change the riders’ experience?
9–12: How can we use mathematical models to make predictions about the movement of riders on a spinning amusement park ride?
Rolling a Toy Car
K–5: How do different pushes and different surfaces affect the way a toy car moves?
6–8: Why does a toy car move differently on different surfaces?
9–12: How can we predict a toy car’s motion on different surfaces?
Moving Roller Coaster
K–5: How does energy move on a roller coaster?
6–8: How do roller coasters go up?
9–12: What materials and track designs maximize speed?
Rocket Launch
K–5: How is a rocket’s speed related to its energy?
6–8: How does energy change when a rocket is launched?
9–12: How can we maximize the distance a rocket travels?
Vibrating Speaker
K–5: Why does a speaker shake when music is played?
6–8: How can we use different materials — like paper, plastic, or foam — around a speaker to make the sound louder or quieter?
9–12: How do we design different speakers for different purposes?
Light Shining Through a Glass
K–5: How does light change when it passes through different materials?
6–8: Why does the shape or thickness of a glass affect the way light moves through it?
9–12: How can we predict how light waves will travel through different materials?