RWO: Real-World Observations
The illusion of life is grounded in the observation of life.
You will need a collection of different balls and an open space to bounce them. If the weather is nice, this is a great change to go outside!
Organize students into groups of three (I find three to be the magic group size for most activities). Each group should choose two balls from the collection and move to a space where they can safely bounce and throw them around.
Throw the balls multiple times, and in different ways. Record your observations in your sketchbook, noting the following:
- Observe the shape of the arc for each bounce. Is it symmetrical? Does it change over time? If so, what causes the change?
- Note how much height a ball loses with each bounce.
- Note how far a ball travels with each bounce.
- Time each bounce. How long does the ball take to come to a stop? How many bounces are there in a full sequence? Does the timing change as the bounces get lower?
- Try bouncing the ball of a wall or in a corner. What happens? How are the angles of the surface and the arcs of the bounce related?
- How does spin or backspin affect they way a ball bounces?
Students should make their own observational sketches but can discuss and compare notes as they do so. Groups can trade balls to make more comparative observations as well. Video footage can be helpful for future reference and is encouraged.
Discussion: When returning to the classroom, discuss some of the common observations groups had. If time allows, post your best observational sketches and review. Look for commonalities and differences, particularly if two groups use the same type of balls.
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