Title: Calculating speed Class/Subject: Science Grade 7

Learning Goals:
Understand the concept of distance and speed,
as well as using appropriate units.
Materials:
Measuring tape
Stop watch
Students should bring running shoes
Essential Questions:
- What factors affect a persons speed?
- How can we measure speed?
Description:
The purpose of this lesson is to have students understand how to measure distance and how to make speed
calculations using distance and time. Students will also learn appropriate units (m/s) and how to convert
them to other units (km/h).
Time: Procedure:
5 Hook (Group): Who is the fastest student in the class and how fast are they?
- Students vote on who is the fastest and discuss ways to find out.
- Students estimate the speed, using whatever units they deem appropriate.
- Students discuss factors that might affect speed (gender, height, wind, etc.)
- Write several students speeds on the board to compare with actual results.
25 Informal Lab(Class): Speed Inquiry
- Relocate to the athletic field and measure out a start line and a finish line 50 meters away.
- Record the times it takes students to complete the 50 meters.
Extension:
- Have students complete the 50m in different ways (backwards, three-legged race, relay etc)
10 Calculations:
- In groups, speed calculations are made of each student and compared to student estimates.
- Convert their speed in m/s into km/h, and compare to objects of everyday life (cars, trains,
animals etc.)
- Give students information and get them to calculate speeds or time. (If a cheetah takes 5
seconds to finish, how fast does it run? A horse can run at 20m/s. How long does it take to
finish?)
5 Wrap up:
-Discuss and resolve questions students may have with material.
- Stress importance of units and errors that can occur when using wrong errors.
Assessment/Evaluation:
- density lab sheet
- spot questions
Homework:
- Any extension questions which have not been solved.