Sliding Down a Slippery Slope

Challenge
Now that it is officially summer, it’s time to play outdoors! Where else to play outside but the playground where hopefully you can find some slides to go down. Have you ever noticed if all the slides were the same or made of different material? Have you ever wondered why one day you went down the slide really fast, but the next day you might have gone really slow? How can this be?
 
This month’s challenge will hopefully help you find out, and maybe even let you know a way to zoom down the slides faster. Your challenge is to find out which material works best to slide down the slides at the playground. Remember, each slide could be different and have a different solution. So make sure to conduct the challenge on each slide!
 
You can approach this challenge in two different ways, but always make sure both ways are approached in a safe manner. One way to conduct this challenge is to create your own mat to sit on to go down the slide using different materials. Another way could be to change the types of clothes you’re wearing on your legs. To find out how to get down the slide fastest, have a partner time you at the beginning of your descent and stop the time when your feet touch the ground at the bottom of the slide.  Good luck!

Materials

Different Clothes to Try	Different Materials for a Mat
jeans	carpet piece (use both sides)
athletic shorts	plastic sheet
dresses	newspapers taped together
skirts	yoga mat
shorts	wood
athletic pants	blanket
sweatpants	large piece of fabric

Hints and Tips for Success

1. Practice using a timing device by doing trial runs on the slide(s).
2. Do at least three trials for each of the pieces of clothing or materials mat to gather your data.
3. Connect to mathematics by averaging out the times and creating a graph of all the trials.
4. Connect to science and ELA by engaging in argument from using evidence about which piece of clothing or type of material is best for going down a slide or not going down a slide. Make a sales pitch to a company to make slide mats out of a certain material from your trials.
5. Also connect to science by discussing the concept of friction as it relates to the slide and material in contact with the slide.
6. Be safe!