RAPA NUI / FRICTION LESSON PLAN
COLORADO STATE STANDARDS
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
1. Identify and calculate the direction and magnitude of forces that act on an object, and explain the
results in the object’s change of motion
Students can:
a. Predict and evaluate the movement of an object by examining the forces applied to it
b. Use mathematical expressions to describe the movement of an object
LIFE SCIENCE
1. Human activities can deliberately or inadvertently alter ecosystems and their resiliency
Students can:
e. Examine, evaluate, question, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and
media to investigate an environmental issue
5E LEARNING CYCLE
A. ENGAGE
Video: YouTube video: National Geographic channel’s Easter Island Underworld
(1:20-3:00 minute)
Map: Show context of Rapa Nui/Easter Island
Reading: Selection from Jared Diamond’s Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
(Page 79)
Online Virtual Tour: http://www.mysteriousplaces.com/Easter_Isld_Pge.html
Pose inquiry questions:
How did Easter Islanders build the moais?
What happened to their culture?
B. EXPLORE
Introduce vocabulary and equations
S = FS / FN
Coefficient of Static Force
Static Force
Normal Force
K = FK / FN
Coefficient of Kinetic Force
Kinetic Force
Normal Force
Collect friction data
C. EXPLAIN
Discussion: Why do certain objects have different coefficients of friction?
D. ELABORATE
Which movement technique has the least/smallest coefficient of friction and thus needed the least force/effort to
perform the work?
Look at exemplars on NOVA Online
Secrets of Easter Island http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/easter/
Create/Adapt/Borrow Construction Technique
Why do you think this design has the least coefficient of friction?
Test various styles of moai and ahu construction to see which uses the least effort. Share average coefficient of friction.
E. EVALUATE
Which design was the most effective?
Quiz on Rapa Nui, Friction equations
Video: YouTube video: National Geographic channel’s Easter Island Underworld
(3:00-15:57)
Reading: Pages 118-9 from Jared Diamond’s Collapse
Discussion:
Deforestation, overpopulation, and learning from the past.
What lessons can we take away from Rapa Nui Easter Island?