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VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP

 

 

The Science Behind Crashes

 

Our mission at PocketLab is to remove barriers to more engaged science classroom.

 

 

 

Chat Transcript

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What Your Students Will Learn

In this 90-minute virtual field trip, your students will experience the science of car crashes like never before—live from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Vehicle Research Center:

  • See a real crash test happen live, from launch to impact, with student reactions captured from the gantry and crash floor

  • Go behind the scenes in the crash dummy lab to explore how different dummies, sensors, and biology-based design help keep people safer on the road

  • Watch hands-on physics demos—including egg drops, paper car crashes, and G-Force crash cushions—using PocketLab sensors to capture real acceleration and impact data

  • Discover how to bring Crash Science in the Classroom lessons back to your school, with ready-to-use student worksheets, data investigations, and a chance for your class to win a PocketLab G-Force in the post-event raffle 

 
PocketLab makes teaching easier

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Modern Probeware
 
Easy to use multi-function sensors for the STEM classroom. Spend less class time prepping and more time teaching, learning, and applying.
 

Notebook

Curriculum & Lab Support

In addition to wireless data collection and visualization, this FREE web app includes thousands of interactive, standards-aligned lessons and resources rich with time-saving AI tools for teachers.

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Community
 
Our Science is Cool (ScIC) community offers free PD, virtual field trips, podcasts, and events that keep STEM teaching fresh and inspiring.

 

Virtual Field Trip Highlights

* All times listed in ET

 

10:00AM

Welcome from PocketLab and the Insurance Institute for Highway Saftey

10:05AM

The Dummy Lab

Griff and Becky from the IIHS, introduce crash test dummies, sharing how they mimic human bodies and share more about the sensors inside them. Clif demos a PocketLab sensor, integrating a pendulum and dummy, and Griff demos Crashing Spheres. Viewers are invited to recreate these experiments with Crash Science in the Classroom resources.

10:20AM

On the Gantry

Dave, Raul, and Becky field questions from viewers while the IIHS team makes final test preparations. Raul gives an overview of the upcoming test, how it's set up, how data is recorded, and why crash tests help advance vehicle safety.

10:30AM

LIVE Crash Test

The main event! Viewers from classrooms around the world and our in-person student guests will watch as the IIHS crash tests a Toyota Landcruiser! 

10:40AM

Post Crash Analysis

We'll meet at the crash scene to examine the vehicle alongside IIHS staff, and often, vehicle manufacturer representatives. Students will share observations and we'll field questions from viewers. Becky and Raul review sensor technology, and indication markings, while Clif and Griff connect crash physics (Gs, deceleration, forces) to safety features like crumple zones, airbags, and seat belts.

10:50AM

Classroom Activities

Watch on as Clif and Griff connect the live crash test to classroom learning. Now that students have seen a real crash, they’ll see how the same phenomena become hands-on experiments. They introduce core concepts like the “three collisions” present in a single crash and for those interested, how to extend learning with resources from IIHS and PocketLab.

Next on data-powered demos!

In an Egg Drop activity, students on site will drop an egg and a PocketLab while comparing cushion designs, make predictions and analyze impact data.

In the Paper Car Crash activity students observe cars traveling down a ramp, one containing an egg and one containing a PocketLab sensor, and make observations.

Finally, in the G-Force Crash Cushion challenge, teams test their crash cushion designs with PocketLab G-Force which will wirelessly log data into PocketLab Notebook to analyze and compare results. Students will reflect on which cushion worked best- and why.

11:25AM
Closing Remarks

Behind the Demos

PocketLab Sensor Family

  • Instantly record 30 different measurements such as acceleration, speed, distance, pH, air quality, temperature, humidity, magnetic fields, CO2 and more
  • Multi-function, compact and wireless
  • Intuitive design facilitates quicker lab prep. Learning just one sensor prepares students for them all.
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Free Notebook Web App 🔗

  • Wirelessly connects with any PocketLab sensor

  • Hundreds of ready-to-use lessons included

  • Built-in AI tools help differentiate lessons

  • Real-time data visualization for inquiry learning

Notebook

IIHS Crash Science in the Classroom Curriculum

  • Free, classroom-ready units built around real IIHS crash tests and vehicle safety research

  • Student worksheets, videos, and teacher guides that bring forces, impulse, momentum, and energy transfer to life

  • Designed for middle and high school physical science, physics, and engineering classes

  • Pairs perfectly with PocketLab activities from the virtual field trip so students can recreate crash investigations back in the classroom

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Resources

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