Mechanics Activities for Kids

Force, acceleration, velocity, pressure, energy…I know I’m a total nerd, but ever since high school, I’ve loved equations of motion. If I have a physics problem to solve that requires a control volume and Reynold’s Transport Theorem, I’m a happy girl. Like math problems and logic puzzles, solving these types of problems feels like a game to me. The rules are limited and well-defined, but there still needs to be a strategy behind your approach.

My kids are far too young to solve equations. They’re not old enough to multiply, let alone do the calculus required to fully understand mechanics. However, they are not too young to gain some intuition into the discipline by practicing critical thinking skills. They can start to understand Newton’s Laws of Motion. Even preschoolers and kindergartners can start to figure out conservation laws on their own. Most importantly, they can have fun while learning to think like a scientist.

Here are the physics projects related to mechanics on this site so far: