MY FLEA CIRCUS

NAME: EXAMPLE ANSWER KEY

 Topic Creation Objective
Introduction Flea circus main Question:
structure • Where do we see science systems like simple machines and simple
circuits within the circus and how can we show that in our own flea
circuses?
What will I be doing?
• I will be introduced to the unit and what is expected of me
• I will begin to create the main structure of my flea circus
Lights TP role animal What will I be doing?
shadow tube • I will create shadow animals for my flea circus
• I will learn what light is and how we see it
• I will learn about what things light passes through
• I will learn about shadows
Simple Light circuit for What will I be doing?
Circuits their flea circus & • I will learn about and create circuit drawings for the flea circus
Circuit Drawing construction crew
• I will know how to set up a simple circuit
• I will create a simple circuit light that shows whether my flea circus is
open or not
Simple N/A What will I be doing?
Machine • I will learn about simple machines
Simple Flea Bicycle What will I be doing?
Machine 1 (Wheel and Axel • I will experiment with wheel and axel design
and incline plane) • I will create my own flea circus bicycle
• I will understand how the parts of a wheel and axel allow it to move
heavy loads from one place to another
Simple Ramp for flea What will I be doing?
Machine 2 bicycle tricks • I will learn how a heavier load can be moved further using an inclined
(incline plane) plane
• I will create my own ramp for the flea bicycle to roll down from
• I will understand how mass can be moved easier using an inclined
plane
Simple Catapult What will I be doing?
Machine 3 (Flea cannonball) • I will experiment with lever design
(Levers) • I will create my own catapult using the concept of the lever
• I will understand how the parts of a lever allow for a heavy load to be
flung into the air
Simple Axe Wheel What will I be doing?
Machine 4 (Wedges & • I will experiment with wheel and axel design, wedge design, and
Wheel & Axel & screw design
screws) • I will create their own spinning wheel
• I will understand how the wheel allows for the board to spin and how
the wedge shape allows for the axes to dig into the board
• I will learn how screws can be used in the wheel to bear weight much
greater than itself up
Simple Acrobat rope and What will I be doing?
Machine 5 weight (Pulley) • I will experiment with pulley design
• I will create my own acrobat weight distribution pulley system
• I will understand how the pulley allows for a heavy load to be lifted
one end through weight distribution
Final Flea Final model What will I be doing?
Circus • I will share my final flea circus model with my classmates
• I will hand in my completed worksheet booklet
• I will
 INTRODUCTION

In the following lessons I will be creating my own FLEA CIRCUS!

While creating my flea circus, I will learn about LIGHTS, CIRCUITS, and

SIMPLE MACHINES.

Two simple machines that I will be learning about are *2 OF THE

FOLLOWING and (AXEL & WHEELS, WEDGES, SCREWS,

PULLEYS, INCLINE PLANES, LEVERS).

The first thing I will create for my flea circus is the BUILDING.

All the props that will fill the circus will be created later, but the first thing I need

to do is decorate the box to look like a circus!

 LIGHTS

I will learn about what LIGHT is and how we see it, what produces light, and

what SURFACES light can or cannot pass through.

Light is a kind of ENERGY that moves in WAVES. It moves fast and always

in a STRAIGHT line. Light will stop moving in a straight line if something

blocks it or REFLECTS it. OPAQUE OBJECT (EX. WALL) would block

light. REFLECTIVE OBJECT (EX. GLASS) would reflect light.

Light can be made NATURALLY or artificially. The SUN and stars are

examples of natural light sources which happen without humans creating it.

LAMPS and televisions are examples of ARTIFICIAL light sources which

would not happen in nature.

 These are some light sources I know:

What Does Light Shine Through?

Materials can be TRANSPARENT, translucent, or OPAQUE.

Transparent means that light can PASS through the surface. Translucent

means that light can SOMEWHAT pass through the surface. Opaque means

that NO light can pass through the surface.

Experiment Sorting Sheet

TRANSPARENT

TRANSLUCENT

OPAQUE
 Shadow Predictions

I predict that when I shine my light through one end of my light projector, then a

SHADOW will be created on the WALL because of the opaque animal I will

stick to the transparent material.

I predict that if I move my light source further from my projector then

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I predict that if I move my light source and projector close to the wall

then_______________________________________________________________________________________

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 Circus Light Prop

I will be creating my own ANIMAL SHADOW PROJECTOR! It

creates a SHADOW by putting an opaque material in the shape of an animal

over a TRANSPARENT or TRANSLUSCENT material. When I use a

LIGHT SOURCE like a flashlight, the light only goes through some material,

and not others and creates a shadow on the wall!

This is a way that I can include ANIMALS in my flea circus without using or

HARMING real animals like what happened in the past.

Example:
 Light Self Assessment!

M I B N/A

I can list some sources of light!

I can tell the difference between

opaque materials, translucent
materials, and transparent materials!
I understand how my animal shadow
projector casts a shadow and can
predict how big my animal shadow
will be because of where my light is.
My notes about light and my animal
shadow projector are neat and
complete!
My work today shows my respect
and participation in class. I was on
task and payed attention!

I did my absolute best today!

Notes: