Students first become familiar with the terms digital and analog and connect many real life examples to both types of technology. They make and use a string telephone to experience the benefits (and disadvantages!) of analog technology and then compare and contrast digital and analog photos. Finally, students model analog and digital wave transmission with a drawing activity and provide evidence for the claim that digital signals are more reliable.

Students reflect on the physics of their favorite childhood activity and play with toys (balls, marbles, toy cars, ramps and anything else you have!) to construct their own understanding of force and motion. Then, students use the PhET simulations Balancing Act and Force and Motion to increase their knowledge of Newton's first and second laws. Students practice calculating the net force on an object. Then, they plan and carry out their own investigation to answer the question “How do mass and force affect an object’s motion?” Finally, students share what they learned in a written claim, evidence and reasoning.