For students looking for supplemental learning activities during school closures, the Petersen Automotive Museum is offering free educational live streams and downloadable activities.
The daily presentations have consisted of a lecture and a hands-on activity. In addition to live stream programming, the museum will offer downloadable worksheets, projects and coloring sheets.
Although lessons are open to parents and children of all ages, the subject matter is targeted for children ages 12 and under. The program topics include:
Force and Motion—Cars are about motion. While it may seem simple to press a pedal and move forward, there are dozens of forces interacting that must be balanced to produce motion. From Newton’s laws to different types of energy, students will learn the simple physics behind the automobile.
Balloon Cars—For a car to move, a force must be applied. Students will explore propulsion and Newton’s Third Law of Motion by making their own balloon cars.
History of the Car—Cars have been in existence for more than a century (or longer, depending on when you start). Join the Petersen as it explores the evolution of the automobile.
License Plates—License plates identify vehicles as properly registered with the state but may also serve as a canvas. Students will create their own license plates and decorate them to show off something about their home state.
Animal Cars—Students will make a car of their favorite animal with materials found around the house.
The final pair of this week;s live streams will be held on Friday, March 20. The first session, at 10 a.m., will cover the design process. Utilizing the car, students will explore how things go from idea to finished product. At 1 p.m., students will create their own car models. A critical part of automotive design is creating a model. Students will create car models to show how the modeling process can help to explore design choices.
Future lessons will cover propulsion, aerodynamics, racing and a host of other topics.
“The Petersen Automotive Museum offers students an opportunity to gain an education during school closure and in between their digital course loads,” said Petersen Executive Director Terry L. Karges. “Our special programming will broaden kids’ knowledge and expose them to the world of the automobile.”
The museum will remain closed to the public until March 31, 2020, or until further notice.
