How to Localize: Law of Acceleration

Push that log!

Teaching students the concept of force is quite challenging. Over the years I have tried various strategies, but I was never quite satisfied that students really get it.

Since my transfer in Bugang Integrated School, this challenge grew even more. Our school does NOT have any scientific instruments or apparatuses.

However, we do have a stony beach in our backyard, filled with everything nature and man and sea current can provide.

The stony beach of Sagay, Camiguin filled with a lot of teaching materials.

Inspiration dawned on me because of these driftwood that got washed up in the beach. I thought,  "What better way to teach them the relationship between mass, force, and acceleration than by letting them experience it?!"

The Activity: PUSH THAT LOG

Materials: Small logs, big logs placed away from each other

Goal: Determine the relationship between mass, force, and acceleration

Procedure:
1. Call one student to try to move the small log and the big log to arrange them such that it forms a rectangle.
2. Once the student show difficulty in moving the log, ask other students to help.
3. There will be students who will not help. Have them move the other logs.
4. When the logs are arranged, have the students take a seat and answer the following questions orally.
Which is easier to push, the small or big log?
When is it easier to push, alone or together?
When pushing together, what is the best way?

Boys had to push a heavier log.

During the next meeting, I introduced the concept of force, mass, acceleration and their relationship. It became easier for them to understand because they experienced it firsthand.

More than just teaching them about the law of acceleration, the activity provided an experience that the students can cherish as they learned not only about the laws of motion but the laws of teamwork and cooperation as well.

Caution:
This activity is suitable to a small class of mostly well behaved students.