Kathy Hogan
1st grade
Hyattsville Elementary School


Name_____________________________Date______________
Experimenting with a Motion Detector

Today we will make some observations and talk about what we observe when
someone stands in front of a motion detector that is attached to a
computer.  A motion detector is something that can tell when another thing
is moving in front of it-it detects motion.  Think about those doors that
open all by themselves at the store.  There is a motion detector attached
to those doors that can tell when you are in front of it.  The motion
detector is attached to a motor that pulls open the doors.  

We will explore to find out how a motion detector works.  As we explore,
we will discuss what we see on the computer and why we think it is
happening.  Then we will write and draw about it.

As a person moves in front of the motion detector today, it will record a
line on the computer screen.  This line, along with the person who is
moving in front of the motion detector, will help us in our discussion and
help us make some predictions.

1.  Now that we have moved in front of the motion detector and have seen
    the lines we made, draw and write about it.  



    ____________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________

2.  Watch the computer screen as someone stands still in front of the
    motion detector.  What happened?
 
    When the person stood still in front of the motion detector
   
    ____________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________

    ___________________________________________________

3.  Watch the computer screen as someone walks towards the motion
    detector.  What happened?

    When the person walked towards the motion detector the line
    
    ____________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________ 

4.  Watch the computer screen as someone walks away from the motion
    detector.  What happened?

    When the person walked away from it ____________________

    ____________________________________________________

    ___________________________________________________.


5. Watch the computer screen as someone walks towards the motion detector
   and then away from it.  What happened?

   _________________________________________________

   _________________________________________________

   __________________________________________________
     




6. Think for a minute and then make a prediction.  What do
   you think the line will look like when someone walks away 
   from the motion detector and then towards it. 
   Draw what you THINK it will look like.





   Now draw what it REALLY looked like.  Were you 
   right?____________________


7. This box is for making your own line and trying to recreate it
   as you stand in front of the motion detector.

   Did you do it?  Write your answer here.

   ____________________________________________________



Name_____________________________Date______________
Homework

Today at school we played with a motion detector that was attached to a
computer and the Smartboard.  We observed and discussed what happened when
someone stood in front of it.  We wrote down our thoughts and made
predictions before and after someone moved in front of it.  

Look at your classwork paper.  Use the information you wrote down to
answer the questions.

1. Draw what the line looks like when someone is standing still in front
   of the motion detector.



2. Look at this drawing.  Is the person moving toward or away from the
   motion detector?  








3. Look at the next drawing.  Finish the drawing if the person went away,
   then toward, and then away again.






4.  Write a few sentences telling about this activity.  Tell what you
    did.  What was your favorite part?  Did you like doing it?  Would you
    like to do it again?
    ____________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________

    ____________________________________________________

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