Third Grade Science
Energy and Matter

California State Standard: Students know that all things that move convert stored energy to motion and heat.
Goal(s): Students will know that all things that move use energy.
They will know that all living things move.
They know that machines move.

Population: This lesson contains adaptations for students with mental retardation, aphasia, autism, and visual impairments.
Adaptations: Use of tactile materials, repetition, augmented communication devices, Sign, braille, reinforcers.

Materials: Machine or toy for each student or two students that moves, vibrates,or makes noise and uses batteries.
Reinforcers: Mand Ms, jelly beans, goldfish, etc.
Poster board for word wall
Sharpie or marker

Procedure: Each child is given a machine and shown how to turn it on. Students play with machines for five to ten minutes. Teacher takes each machine, turns it off, and has the student help him/her remove battery (ies). The children look at, touch, and otherwise examine the batteries. They then put them aside and attempt to turn on the machines.
Question: do the machines work?
Answer: no
Question: why?
Answer: we took out the batteries. No batteries.
A few reinforcers are given to children who respond, correctly or incorrectly. Children are encouraged to discuss. Children who do not participate may be encouraged by use of direct address.
Johnny, does your machine work? The teacher has the discretion to accept non verbal answers or Sign or preprogrammed augmentative communication devices. Children who refuse to respond are not given reinforcers, but are given many chances to respond.

Teacher: That's right. The machines needs batteries to work. Why do you think that is? ( The children may have no idea. If there is no response, move on.) Discuss responses including incorrrect ones. The batteries store energy. Everything that moves needs energy. That is a word for our word wall. Write energy on word wall. Do you think machine belongs on our wall, too? Write machine on the word wall. That is why our machines do not work without the batteries. The energy they need to move and make noise is in the batteries. Let's put the batteries back in. Help children replace batteries and turn machines on. You may play with the machines for a few minutes. (Children play with machine for five to ten minutes.)

Assessment: Turn off machines and ask class. What have you been playing with. Answer: machines
Question: What do the machines do?
Answer: Move, make noise
Question: What makes machines move ?
Answer: Energy or batteries.
Question: What do batteries store?
Answer: Energy

Teacher:Good, next time we will talk about where we get energy and how we store it.
You may now experiment with your machines for ten minutes. Here are a few more M&Ms. (or other reinforcer)