Teaching Forces and Motion Through Soap Box Derby Racing

I designed a project-based learning experience for my 8th grade students with the driving question: How can we use our knowledge of Newton's Laws of Motion to design a car that will win a race?

Students first experimented with "mini-car" prototypes to determine the variables that affect a car's motion. Then, in teams of 8-10 students, they designed full-size Soap Box Derby cars and competed against other teams in the 8th grade for the championship.

This project was very materials heavy, so I sought out community members & organizations to sponsor cars, ramps, weights, and extra parts. Below is an example of a flyer I passed out at school and community events.

Here are a some photos and videos of their final car designs:

Here are some student-facing materials I created to support my instruction during the project: