Dalton News

Energy, Music, and Simple Machines, Oh My!: Dalton’s 4th Graders Explore Energy Transfers and Transformations

Dalton’s 4th graders started the school year with an Assignment all about energy. Through numerous hands-on inquiries, students explored the differences between the two major forms of energy: potential and kinetic energy.
Students also learned about the types of energy categorized under each major form. Finally, students had to apply their understanding of energy transfers and transformations to build musical instruments in science class.

Then, in collaboration with the music department, and according to Dr. Bill Solomon during music class, "Students were instructed to explore the full sonic range of each instrument, and then had a class-wide improvisation.”    

Next, as a part of the Simple Machines Assignment, students explored the six simple machines: lever, pulley, inclined plane, wheel and axle, wedge, and screw. For the culminating task for the Simple Machine Assignment students built a Rube Goldberg Device, applying their understanding of energy transfers and transformations. Students practiced critical engineering skills and emphasized the necessity of multiple design iterations (embracing failure!), effective team communication, flexible and creative thinking, and perseverance throughout the project's building phase. Named after American cartoonist Rube Goldberg, the machine is a chain reaction-type machine or contraption intentionally designed to perform a simple task in an indirect and overly complicated way.

As you’ll see in these photos and videos (Music, Rube), plenty of fun abounded in all of their inquiries! A huge thanks to 4th Grade Music Teachers Jordan Brown, Elizabeth Cruz, Ya-Chin Pan, and Bill Solomon for collaborating on the musical instrument/sound energy project. Special thanks to Joey Velazquez from the 89th Street Maintenance team and Larisa Oldmixon-Berson from the Engineering Department for helping to provide some of the supplies for both projects!       

Submitted by 4th Grade Science Teachers: Hyun Davidson, Sarah Goodman, and Alicia Reid    
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