The Wheel Deal

Big Idea: Wheels move objects

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Materials:

• Wagon or cart, bicycle, scooter or stroller
• Other objects that have wheels, or are shaped like a wheel – such as toy cars, paint containers, spools, cups, crayons, rolls of tape, etc.
• Objects that do not roll – such as blocks that are cubes or cones, books, paper clips, glue bottles, etc.

Setup

Open space on the floor or on the ground outside

Activity Directions:

1. 1. Turn the wagon or large object you are using upside down, with its wheels up in the air.
   2. Ask a child to sit on the wagon.
   3. Try to pull the wagon.
   4. Turn the wagon over so that the wheels touch the ground. Pull the wagon. Discuss how the wheel and axle works.
   5. Introduce the idea of friction.
   6. Try other objects.
   7. Compare the objects that roll to the objects that do not roll. (Use an inclined plane if you’d like.)

Investigation Questions:

Q. Why is the wagon difficult to pull? (the wagon is upside down)
Q. How can we make it easier to pull? (turn the wagon over)
Q. Who thinks it will be easier and who thinks it will be more difficult to pull? Why? (the wagon is upright on wheels)
Q. Is there more friction when you turn the wagon upside down, or on its side? Why?
Q. What happens when you try to push a container of paint that is sitting upright? What happens if you turn it on its side? Why does it roll? Is it easier to move it this way?