When all groups present their results at the end, if the results greatly differ between groups, children cannot conclude what is correct after all. They cannot find any principle after all. Therefore we set some rules beforehand.
Every model of a paper bridge is supported at each end by 2 equal height of boxes. Each end of a paper bridge covers (is held by) the supporting box by 2 cm. Children should start to load the weights from the center of a bridge etc.
To set up an equal condition is the necessary process to conduct any experiment. Even so, we certainly can’t expect that small children follow these restrictions perfectly, and so we staffs pay attention on these points for them.
By the way, we used erasers as a weight. We could have used coins in a country where coins are used as a currency but in Cambodia only bills are used. I’d been wondering if I should use small hex nuts or something.
After thinking again and again what would be useful for children, I came up with an idea to use either candies or erasers. We chose erasers because it’s easy to pile up. After this activity, we can give them out children and donate to the school.
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