many phenomena in that environment that can be examined making use of basic concepts in science. This lesson allows the students to explore the concepts of motion, push and pull, shapes and mechanisms and relate these to well-known everyday phenomena. Furthermore, this lesson serves as an introduction to Algodoo and the scientific idea of modelling, i.e., the idea of representing the real world with a simplified model that can be examined to gain understanding and to make testable predictions.

Knowing about the concepts of motion, push and pull, weight and balance. The ideas of modeling, predicting and testing. Create computer models representing real or imaginary objects.

Ask the students to describe what motions can be observed and their relation to push and pull. Ask the students to describe their mechanisms or toy and lead them to use the concepts of weight and balance. Try to use the models to make a clear prediction that can be tested in the playground. Will it work out? Ask the student to describe what differences there are between their model and the real world. Encourage the students to follow the procedure Create – Predict – Interact – Evaluate.

The lesson can be followed up with a visit to the playground for testing the predictions. Another follow-up or extra exercise can be to invent a new playground using Algodoo. Let the students present their models for the class.