Fourth grade students in Ms. Hickey’s class at Susan E. Wiley Elementary School recently took part in a hands-on science lesson to explore the concept of energy through an engaging domino experiment.

Working in small groups, students used dominos to learn about potential and kinetic energy. Before testing their designs, they sketched different layouts for their domino arrangements, encouraging them to think critically and plan their experiments. 
The young scientists then observed what happens to energy when the dominos are standing still, identifying this as potential energy. After setting them into motion, they learned how the energy transforms into kinetic as the dominos fall. By testing various setups, the fourth graders made observations about how the energy changed when dominos were placed closer together or farther apart.

The activity allowed students to see scientific concepts in action while building problem-solving and collaboration skills. Through trial and error, students learned how energy can be stored, transferred and transformed in a fun and interactive way.