Rolling and sliding

Objectives:

To describe and sort 3-dimensional objects according to the following criteria:• whether they have curved or flat surfaces

• whether they can roll or slide

You will need: • 6 empty 500ml bottles or a set of small plastic skittles• a tennis ball or other small ball• a small piece of paper or cardboard for each student• crayons or pencils• permanent marker• 3 dimensional objects (cone, pyramid, cube, cylinder,

sphere, rectangular prism)• flashcards• a book and small box or brick for each pair of learners, • copy of the worksheet for each student• variety of balls and beanbags.

Preparation:

• Write numbers, e.g. 30, 20, 10, 5, 3, 2, on the the bottles with a permanent marker.

• Set up the bottles or skittles (3 bottles in the back row, 2 in the middle and 1 in front) in the classroom or corridor.

• Write the names of the 3-dimensional objects onto the flashcards with a permanent marker.

• Write the following words onto flashcards : straight, flat, curved, round.

Activity:

Stand the students a few metres away from the bottle “skittles”. Allow eachstudent in the group a turn to roll a ball to knock down the skittles. The student must then add up the numbers on the skittles they manage to knock down and write the total on a piece of card. When all the students in the group have had an opportunity to roll the ball ask them to sit in their group and arrange the cards with their totals in order from smallest to largest. Ask the students who got the highest/lowest score. Give each student a set of 3-dimensional objects. Arrange the flashcards with the object names where all the students can see them. Ask the students to read the names of the objects and to identify each object from the objects they have before them. Allow the students an opportunity to identify further objects that are the same in the classroom environment. Ask the students to think carefully about the “skittles” game. Can they name the object that they rolled to hit the skittles? (ball or sphere) Why did this object roll well? (It has a round/curved surface.) Ask the students if any of the other objects they have before them would work to play skittles. Why or why not? (Allow the students to test any objects they think may work.)

Discuss the properties of each of the objects before them. Show the students the flashcards with straight, flat, round and curved written on them. Ask the students to sort the objects into those with curved or round surfaces and those with flat or straight surfaces. Ask if there are any shapes that belong in both groups. (cone, cylinder) We say that objects with round or curved surfaces ‘roll’. Ask the students if they can describe the way objects with flat or straight surfaces would move along a flat surface e.g. the floor. (slide) Demonstrate for the students how to set up a “ramp” by resting the end of a book on top of a small box or brick. Explain to the students that you would like them to work in pairs to assess whether the 3-dimensional objects are able to roll or slide. Show them the worksheet and explain how they should complete the table with the relevant information and then use the information represented in the table to answer the questions.

Follow-up activities:

• Allow the students to explore ways in which their own bodies can roll or slide along different surfaces.

• Use a variety of balls and beanbags to roll, throw, slide and catch. Let the students stand in pairs and explore different ways to pass the balls or beanbags to their opponent.

• Discuss and experiment with the principles of friction and push and pull forces with the students.

Rolling and slidingSet up a small “ramp” to assess whether these objects roll or slide. FIll in the table with your results

and then answer the questions.

1. How many objects can roll? ___________2. Why do these objects roll?_________________________________

_____________________________________________________3. How many objects can slide? ___________4. How many objects can both roll and slide? __________5. Which objects can both roll and slide? _______________________

_______________________________________________________

This activity was

Name of objectNumber of

fl at or straight surfaces

Number of curved or

round surfaces

This object can roll

This object can slide

Rolling and slidingSet up a small “ramp” to assess whether these objects roll or slide. FIll in the table with your results

and then answer the questions.

1. How many objects can roll? ___________2. Why do these objects roll?_________________________________

_______________________________________________________3. How many objects can slide? ___________4. How many objects can both roll and slide? __________5. Which objects can both roll and slide? _______________________

_______________________________________________________

This activity was

Name of objectNumber of

flat or straight surfaces

Number of curved or

round surfaces

This object can roll

This object can slide