Are you looking for a fun easy way to teach science and get kids moving? Check out the Science Relay Races that we developed and did at SHSU Charter School at Brighton Academy! The students learned about the laws of motion, lab safety equipment, magnetism, comets, and how to build engineered structures on Mars!
Scientist Races (Kinder thru 6th grade)
All you need are goggles, a lab coat, and a cup full of Mardi Gras beads! We discussed why scientists need safety gear and what happens during a chain reaction when inertia causes the Mardi Gras beads to leap out of the cup! 
The students took turns putting on the labcoat and goggles and racing to the finish line to see which class won!
Magnetic Race (Kinder thru 6th grade)
See how fast it takes kids to transfer a bowl of paper clips with a small magnet. Easy peasy!
Center of Gravity (Kinder thru 3)
Balancing a frisbee on a pool noodle seems easy enough but you have to find the center of gravity to win the race!
Balloon Rocket Races (Grades 3rd thru 6)
This is one of our favorite Halley Harper experiments! Discuss what it takes to blast off to Mars and how the laws of motion are involved with an equal but opposite reaction for this race.
Comet Toss (Grades Kinder – 3rd)
Have students heard of Halley’s Comet? They will be adults when Halley returns – why not get them ready with a sock and a hula hoop to see who can get Halley’s “sock-comet’ close to the hula hoop sun?
Mars Colony Build (Grades 3-6)
Grab some index cards and tape for this easy challenge to see who can build the highest engineered structure with index cards for a Martian colony!
If you want to see these races in action – check out this video here made by SHSU Charter School at Brighton Academy! The students ranged from Kinder to 6th grade and I think I had just as much fun as the kids did with these Science Relay Races!
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