Whether it is in the schoolyard, during gym class or on television, most elementary school students have had some experience playing and watching sports. Teaching science within the context of sports is a great way to take advantage of students’ existing interest in the subject, and to find real-life applications of science theory.

The Science of Sports is a free teacher resource package that enables students to explore science concepts and examine their application in sports. This digital learning kit presents concepts in a way that is accessible and interactive— combining hands-on activities, outdoor play and online discovery.

Modules included

The Human Body: This section explores the respiratory, circulatory and musculoskeletal systems, as well as why sweat is important in regulating body temperature.

Forces: In this section, students will review the classification of structures, define the centre of gravity, observe different forces acting on structures, and experiment with the force of friction by using the human body, or structures regularly found in sports, as the basis for their study.

Energy: In this section, students will explore different forms of energy, and will learn that energy is transformed from one form to another. Through experiments, students will observe that energy transformation is not a completely efficient process, and that some energy will always be transformed into a less desirable form.