Named for Sir Isaac Newtons second law of motion (force = mass x acceleration) FMA Live! uses professional actors, original songs, music videos and interactive science demonstrations to teach middle school students Newtons three laws of motion and universal law of gravity.
Research shows that fewer people are pursuing science, math and engineering careers, while employment opportunities in these fields will increase three times faster than all other occupations. FMA Live! addresses key learning objectives identified by the National Science Education Standards to increase student interest and participation in the sciences.
The need for more minority scholars in science and mathematics has been a longstanding challenge for us and certainly is one of the biggest reasons behind our decision to establish a middle school here at Howard, said H. Patrick Swygert, president of Howard University.
FMA Live! is tailored to middle schoolers. During each performance, students, teachers and school administrators interact with three professional actors on stage in front of a live audience to experience Newtons laws firsthand. A large Velcro wall is used to demonstrate inertia, go-carts driven across the stage illustrate action and reaction, and extreme wrestling and a huge soccer ball show that force is determined by mass multiplied by acceleration. All three of Newtons laws are exemplified simultaneously when a futuristic hover chair collides with a gigantic cream pie.
