Materials
boards or ramps
blocks ice cubes ice cube trays food coloringInstructions
1. Before freezing ice
cubes, add food
coloring to
distinguish the
cubes.
2. Keep the ice cubes
in the freezer or
cooler until the
children are ready
to use them.
3. Help the children
make ramps of
various materials and
heights using blocks and a
variety of ramp materials,
such as wood, vinyl,
Formica-type surface, or
plastic.
4. Let two children at a time
choose an ice cube and
"race" them down the
ramp. Encourage them to
experiment with different
types of ramps and
heights.
5. Afterward, discuss what
they observed. On which
surface did the cubes go
down fastest? Slowest?
What changes happened
to the cubes? How did the melting affect the speed? How did the height
of the ramps affect the speed?