Rubber Ramp Tower

My name is Mike Holman and I am a TK Teacher at Paden Elementary. I received an AEF grant to purchase a Rubber Ramp Tower set for my new TK classroom. Please see below for photos of some students using the new awesome material!

The Rubber Ramp Tower set has allowed my TK students to explore and experiment in so many unique and interesting ways! They have learned how to work together to setup the rubber ramps on the tower. They have explored some of the laws of physics like gravity, speed, and acceleration when the race balls down the rubber ramps. They have also experimented with trying different objects going down the ramps. They figured out that hexagons don’t roll well enough to stay on the track and that balls from other classroom materials (like magnet balls or marbles) roll down wonderfully. They have also experimented with modifying the ramps with wood blocks placed either under or over the ramps. They have figured out that raising the start of the ramp higher makes the balls go faster. They also did some problem solving because the balls would get lost under tables in the classroom after leaving the end of the ramps. This led the students to conclude that they needed to have the ends of the ramps go into a plastic bin to collect them once they complete the track.

Learning physics enables my TK students to problem-solve and use their critical thinking abilities, foster curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the natural world, and improve their scientific literacy and ability to understand complex technologies. It encourages interdisciplinary thinking, connects scientific concepts to everyday experiences, and helps build a stronger, more positive relationship with science.

Thank for the grant and for creating these wonderful learning opportunities for the students at Paden!

Mike Holman
Paden Elementary