Get students thinking like engineers with this hands-on ramp racers STEM challenge! In this section of the Energy & Friction Engineering Unit, students design, build, and test ramp racers to investigate how ramp friction changes energy, motion, and distance traveled.

Students will explore the relationship between friction and energy while collecting data, making predictions, testing designs, and improving their racers through the engineering design process.

🏁What’s Included

• Teacher Guide & Lesson Plan
• Student Design Brief
• Engineer’s Log / Data Collection Worksheet
• Presentation Slides including real-world tie-in
• Reflection & Discussion Questions

Engineering Concepts & Skills Covered

• Friction
• Energy
• Engineering Design Process
• Prediction & Observation
• Data Collection / Recording
• Problem Solving
• Testing & Improvement
• Cause & Effect Relationships

⭐ Why Teachers Love It

• Low-prep setup using simple classroom materials
• Highly engaging hands-on STEM activity
• Encourages teamwork and discussion
• Supports engineering and science practices
• Clear step-by-step structure for easy implementation
• Professionally designed student pages and slides

Materials

• Toy cars/racers
• Books or blocks
• Ramp materials (cardboard, foam board, wooden plank, etc.)
• Surface Materials (cardboard, felt, sandpaper, etc.)
• Tape
• Measuring tape or ruler

Standards Alignment

This resource aligns with:
NGSS MS-PS3-5
Construct, use, and present arguments to support the claim that when the kinetic energy of an object changes, energy is transferred to or from the object.

Coming Soon in the Energy & Friction Engineering Unit

🏎️ Momentum - Students explore how mass affects energy.

Perfect For:

• STEM Labs
• Science Centers
• Engineering Challenges
• Energy & Friction Units
• NGSS-Aligned Science Lessons
• Grades 5-8 Classrooms
• Homeschool STEM