Daytona 500 Activities for Student Racing Fans

February brings the excitement of the Daytona 500 and provides a timely chance to engage students with real-world learning. These Daytona 500 activities connect science, social studies, and ELA concepts to students’ interests and support critical thinking, analysis, and hands-on learning.

Jump to:

• Science activities for students inspired by the Daytona 500
• Social studies lessons featuring NASCAR drivers and diverse perspectives
• ELA activities for exploring transportation and technology

[Science activities for students inspired by the Daytona 500](id-sci)

Science is the star of racing strategy, car design, and safety. Give students hands-on and real-world STEM connections through Daytona 500 activities to keep them motivated while strengthening their knowledge of essential science concepts.

Key takeaways:

• Racing concepts can make abstract science ideas concrete and relevant.
• Hands-on activities reinforce the relationships between speed, motion, force, and engineering.
• Newsela STEM content helps students visualize physics, forces, and energy through accessible, leveled texts.

What scientific principles shape the strategies drivers use during a race?

Racing involves physics, planning, and precision. Students can explore how drivers rely on calculations and consistent routines to stay efficient and safe. 

After students understand the “why” behind these habits, they can explore STEM initiatives connected to NASCAR. Use this Newsela STEM activity to drive (every pun intended) the concept home:

• Have students read about how and why race car drivers usually blink at the same places in each lap.
• Explore NASCAR’s initiatives to promote STEM education in the classroom.
• During the lesson, have students complete a Write-Pair-Share worksheet to track their observations.

Why does kinetic energy matter so much in racing?

Kinetic energy is what keeps a race car moving around the track. Students can learn how motion impacts speed, safety, and collision outcomes. Try these resources to teach the topic:

• A video that explains the properties of Kinetic energy.
• An article that explains how kinetic energy affects car crashes. 
• An article that compares kinetic energy to another type of energy: Potential.

How does energy transfer power a race car around the track?

Energy transfers help fuel convert into motion. Students can see the chain reactions that power every lap of the Daytona 500 by reviewing articles on topics like:

• An overview of what energy is.
• An explainer article that describes how batteries work.
• An article that explores the physics of bumper cars and how they’re different from driving a real car.

How do forces affect the movement of race cars?

Students can learn that forces—like pushes, pulls, and interactions—can affect things like acceleration and steering ability. These grounding concepts can help them understand the science behind speed, especially with the help of Newsela STEM resources on topics like

• The basics of forces.
• How to calculate force in physics.
• The six types of simple machines that work thanks to forces.

What’s the difference between the types of forces acting on a car during a race?

Students can break down concepts like balanced vs. unbalanced forces, magnetism, and electrical interactions. These comparisons help them understand stability and speed dynamics during the Daytona 500. To make the concepts stick, share resources on topics like:

There are many types of forces that work on a car and driver during a race. Help students better understand how these forces interact by exploring topics like:

• What balanced and unbalanced forces look like.
• The basics of electricity and magnetism.
• The properties of magnets and how they work.

How does friction affect a race car’s speed and grip?

Friction plays a huge role in tire performance and control. Students can connect everyday science to high-stakes racing, like at the Daytona 500, where friction can be the difference between a win and a loss. Teach this topic with the following lesson:

• Read about how scientists still study friction to learn more about its properties.
• Discuss what athletes like Olympic speed skaters do to minimize friction during competition.
• Pose the reflection question, “How does friction affect the position and/or motion of an object?”

How can students experiment with speed and energy like real engineers?

Hands-on activities help students understand energy and motion through experimentation. Try these STEM activities with your students to demonstrate the properties of energy and speed:

• Create a downhill rolling race with cardboard, balls, and cans.
• Build a rubber band-powered car.
• Make a balloon-powered car.

Why are race car tires made of rubber?

Tire material influences grip, weather performance, and safety. Students can explore why rubber is the top choice for making tires and consider how they could change race performance in the Daytona 500. Have them examine articles on topics like:

• If rubber protects cars from lightning strikes.
• Insulators and conductors.
• How manufacturers make and use rubber.

Could electric vehicles ever replace gas-powered race cars?

Electric vehicle innovation is transforming transportation. Students can think critically about the future of NASCAR racing and sustainability by exploring articles on topics like:

• How engines work.
• Why the California governor called for a ban on gas-powered vehicles in the state by 2035.
• Why major automakers rolling out electric cars could affect our planet’s emissions.

How can students explore car manufacturing with a virtual field trip?

A virtual visit to a Toyota factory gives students a behind-the-scenes look at how vehicles are built and designed. This experience can link engineering concepts to the real world and reinforce STEM learning. Try these activities during your virtual field trip:

• See how Toyota engineers cars to be safer for driving.
• Explore the lesser-known steps involved in manufacturing, like production and quality control.
• Discover how Toyota workers use the engineering design process.

Don’t forget to download your in-class worksheet that students can fill out during the trip to record their thoughts and observations!

How can I teach Daytona 500 science concepts with video?

Newsela STEM with Generation Genius science videos makes it easy to teach the concepts behind the Daytona 500 in a fun, engaging way. Try these selections from our library:

K-2 Science:

• The Five Senses
• Pushes and Pulls

3-5 Science:

• Balanced & Unbalanced Forces
• Energy Transfer
• Brain Processing of Senses
• Collisions
• Patterns of Motion & Friction

6-8 Science:

• Synthetic Materials
• Potential vs. Kinetic Energy
• Newton’s Laws of Motion

[Social studies lessons featuring NASCAR drivers and diverse perspectives](id-ss)

Students may wonder who gets to be a professional athlete and how their careers differ across sports and communities. Students can explore how the sport of car racing is evolving with these Newsela Social Studies activities.

Key takeaways:

• Representation and access in sports can deepen important social studies conversations.
• Students can learn how drivers like Rajah Caruth are shifting the sport’s culture.
• Newsela Social Studies texts highlight diverse voices and historical context.

What does Rajah Caruth’s journey reveal about inclusion in racing?

Rajah Caruth’s story gives students a modern example of persistence, training, and breaking barriers. His experience in the Drive for Diversity Development Program shows how opportunities are expanding within the sport. Students can learn more about this topic by reading articles on topics like:

• Caruth’s experience in NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Development Program.

• How video games help keep people connected during times apart.
• Isaac Burns Murphy, a former enslaved man, was the first person to win the Kentucky Derby three times.

[ELA activities for exploring transportation and technology](id-ela)

The Daytona 500 is built on innovation, making it a way to introduce ELA discussions and debates about emerging technologies, ethics, and future careers.

Key takeaways:

• Transportation texts help students practice reading comprehension and argumentative writing.
• Self-driving car debates tie into real-world issues and racing innovation.
• Newsela ELA articles make technical topics accessible at multiple reading levels.

Will self-driving technology change the future of racing and everyday travel?

Students consider whether autonomous vehicles could eventually replace human drivers on the road and in motorsports. This ELA debate can open the door for critical thinking, evidence evaluation, and debate. Try it with these ELA resources:

• An article that looks at Orlando, Florida’s self-driving shuttle service.
• An interactive video about the history of transport and travel around the world.
• A pro/con discussion about the risks and benefits of allowing autonomous vehicles on the road.

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