How Can We Predict Patterns of Motion? is part of Smithsonian Science for the Classroom, a brand-new curriculum series by the Smithsonian Science Education Center. It is aligned to a group of grade 3 standards. It has a focus on physical science with a secondary focus on engineering. In this module, students:

• Ask questions about what causes objects to move

• Predict patterns of motion of a pendulum

• Investigate forces that can act at a distance

• Investigate the properties of permanent magnets and electromagnets

• Design a solution to a problem that can be solved using a magnet

• Ask questions about and investigate how magnets affect a steel pendulum’s motion