Studio Red: daily do & draw 5/8

Dear Studio Red,

Today we invite you to play like a physicist!  We invite you to experiment with motion.  We invite you to experiment with objects you find and test which spin the best.

Love, Lauri and Emily

do & draw

DO

Which objects spin the best?

You will need to begin with a search, a search for objects around your house.  Be sure the objects you choose are ones that are safe to spin.  Sometimes when experimenting, objects move in unexpected ways and we do not want you to get hurt or any object to break.  Which shapes might you look for?  You may also want to try and build objects that spin well.  Do you have any materials that connect?  If you are looking for some ideas, we list a few below.

Wheel from a Lego set
Bottle
Game die cube
Jar lid
Plastic egg
CD
Toy spinning tops
Coin

Watch and wonder, how does each object move?  Why do some objects spin better than others?

A note to parents:  

Extend this experiment by introducing measurement.  How long does each object spin?  Can your child measure by counting aloud or with a timer?  Name the shapes you notice and the directions you observe the objects move.

DRAW

How can you use drawing as you experiment?

Drawing is a tool you can use in all sorts of ways.  Do you want to make a chart to record your findings?  Might you draw on an object to watch what happens to the lines and colors as it spins?  Can you mark the pathways each object takes as you spin it on a big piece of paper or outside on the pavement?

A note to parents:  

If your child is not eager to record their findings, we invite you to do so!  Perhaps an older sibling joins the effort!  Modeling how to organize observations is powerful.  Think aloud as you work.  How will you draw the object?  What shapes will you put together?  How will you sounds out the word to write the beginning sound.  One letter can stand for a word!  Playing and wondering alongside your child can help them see the potential of a new exploration.  Engaging for a short amount of time may lead them to explore for longer on their own.