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EngineeringScienceMath

Sports Equipment Innovation Lab

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Grades 3-560-75 minSource: Creative Dad Company

Kids test different materials for grip, bounce, or cushioning to redesign a piece of sports gear, like a ball, helmet pad, or shoe sole, for better performance. It's a great fit for sporty kids who want science to feel like practice.

Budget levels

Materials list coming soon to members

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change. As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Quick Start

Digital downloads only. $0 to buy. Printing is noted separately.

Materials list coming soon.

Student time: one class period, one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one class period on a single day.

Scale back: Fit it into a shorter period, use fewer effects, or run a demo instead of a build.

Scale up: Add one extra effect, or spread the share-out across another day.

Ambiance video

Ambiance video coming soon from Creative Dad Studio

Full Experience

Up to $25 per class (class of about 30, 6 groups).

Materials list coming soon.

Student time: one day.

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one school day.

Scale back: Fit the build into one period with fewer effects.

Scale up: Spread the work across days, or add more effects.

Total Transformation

The bigger kit, priced per class (class of about 30, 6 groups).

Materials list coming soon.

Student time: one day (one session, one-day event).

Teacher prep / build-ahead: separate from student time.

Scale it

The default plan is one session, a one-day event.

Scale back: Shorten the event, or run a demo for a smaller audience.

Scale up: Spread the build and the event across days, or invite a bigger audience.

Choose your version

Every level teaches the same core idea — pick the one that fits your time, budget, and energy today.

Student time: 45 min, one class periodTeacher prep / build-ahead: 10 min$0 to buy. Printing noted separately.One table or a clear section of floorBeginner-friendly

Setup

Place common or recycled supplies for Sports Equipment Innovation Lab on one work surface and choose a safe area for the test. Read the four activity directions aloud; drawings, paper models, and household substitutes may replace specialized materials, and no digital tool is required.

Activity

  1. Test a few sample materials for bounce, grip, or cushioning and predict which would improve a chosen piece of sports gear.
  2. Build a redesigned version of the gear using the best-performing materials from the test.
  3. Test the new gear's performance with a measurable trial, like bounce height or grip strength, then redesign a part when it underperforms the original.
  4. Present the improved gear to the group with before-and-after performance data.

Ambiance video

Ambiance video coming soon from Creative Dad Studio

Done when: The group produces the Sports Equipment Innovation Lab solution, completes the described test, makes the revision called for by the evidence, and supports its final explanation with an observed or measured result.

Materials

foam scraps, rubber bands, tape, various balls, felt or fabric scraps, ruler, stopwatch

Shown for the Quick Start version — switch tabs above to see what changes.

Materials links go to Amazon. Prices are estimates and may change.

As an Amazon Associate, Creative Dad Company earns from qualifying purchases.

Steps

  1. Test a few sample materials for bounce, grip, or cushioning and predict which would improve a chosen piece of sports gear.
  2. Build a redesigned version of the gear using the best-performing materials from the test.
  3. Test the new gear's performance with a measurable trial, like bounce height or grip strength, then redesign a part when it underperforms the original.
  4. Present the improved gear to the group with before-and-after performance data.

Standards mapped

  • NGSS · 5-PS1-3

    Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.