Learning about force with cars

We recently had the cardboard out during our police play to create a police car. We had left the cardboard in the classroom hoping that it would be a trigger for children to use it in their play. Today Mason and Dylan placed the cardboard over a chair to create ramps for their mobilo. 

At first, they gave the cars a really heavy push, a large amount of force, to send them over the jump and down the other side. Then I heard them talking about how far they went and what would happen if they pushed the cars lighter, less force. Both children made a prediction, by now there were more children coming over to join in. The boys went back and tried it again with a little less force to test if their predictions of the car making it to the other ramp were correct.

Their mobilo was still not making it. So they decided to test different shaped and weight cars. The boys went back to the creation table to adapt their mobilo. They went back to the testing. Instantly they discovered that the lightweight cars went further with a small push and the heavier cars needed a bigger push to go the same distance. But still no car had landed on the other side.

Lastly the group thought maybe if they pushed the ramps further apart.....BINGO!!!! Dylan's next car went up the first ramp and down the next one. It was so exciting to watch this group of children plan, test, reflect and modify their play to get the outcome they wanted.