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Jumping Cars
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Lion – Kindergarten
Gizmos and Gadgets
Elective
Requirement 1

Jumping Cars

Lion – Kindergarten
Gizmos and Gadgets
Elective
Requirement 1

Jumping Cars

Snapshot of Activity

Use Hot Wheels™ cars to conduct some tests of motion.

Indoor
2
4
3
If you want to know more about The Adventure Activity Key click here.
  • Hot Wheels or other die-cast cars, one per Cub Scout and adult partner
  • 1 – 6” long 5” wide vinyl rain gutter
  • Table, any size
  • Duct tape
  • Shoebox ramp, see photo in Additional Resources
  • Utility knife
  • 1” blue painter’s tape

Before the meeting:

  1. Build the shoebox ramp.
  2. Set up an area with the table and attach the rain gutter to the table using duct tape. Attach the shoebox ramp to the bottom of the rain gutter using duct tape.
  3. The space should allow for cars to race down the rain gutter, jump the ramp and a clear area for cars to land.
  4. Identify an area where there is a smooth surface for Cub Scouts and adult partners to run cars on. Place a one-foot-long strip of blue painter’s tape on the floor and another one-foot-long strip 10 feet apart to create a start and finish line. Set up a set of start and finish lines for each Cub Scout and adult partner pair.
  5. Review the concepts of motion by watching this YouTube video, “FORCE & MOTION How Things Move *Explained*.”

During the meeting:

  1. Gather the Cub Scouts and adult partners and share with them the concepts of motion.
  2. Hold up a Hot Wheels car and ask the Cub Scouts how some ways are we can make this car move. Give time for answers.
    • To make this car move we have to apply force and there are two ways we are going to do that. The first is to apply the force ourselves by pushing the car.
    • The second way we can apply force is to allow gravity to do the work.
  3. Share with the Cub Scouts and adult partners that first we are going to apply the force ourselves. Pass out a car to each Cub Scout and each adult partner. Have each Cub Scout and adult partner pair pick a spot with a starting line and a finish line. Have adult partners and Cub Scouts race their cars against each other as the push their cars to go from the finish to the start line.
  4. Next gather the Cub Scouts and adult partners to the rain gutter jump ramp. Share with them that everyone will get a chance to jump their car.
  5. Have Cub Scouts and adult partners place their car at the top of the rain gutter and let it go, allowing gravity to do all the work.
  6. When everyone has had a chance to jump their car using gravity, let everyone take a second turn. This time allowing them to push their car down the rain gutter.
  7. When everyone has had a second chance to jump their cars, ask Cub Scouts what they like best and what they notice about how their cars moved based on the different activities.

Additional Resources

jump-5
jump-6
jump-1

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Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.