ENERGY FUNDAMENTALS – LESSON PLAN 1.

Forces and Motion

This lesson is designed for 3rd – 5th grade students in a variety of school settings Public School
(public, private, STEM schools, and home schools) in the seven states served by local System Teaching
power companies and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Community groups (Scouts, 4- Standards Covered
H, after school programs, and others) are encouraged to use it as well. This is one
lesson from a three-part series designed to give students an age-appropriate, State
Science Standards
informed view of energy. As their understanding of energy grows, it will enable them to
• AL GLE 3.4.1 3rd
make informed decisions as good citizens or civic leaders.
• GA S4P3 4th
• KY SC-P-ET-U-1 3rd
This lesson plan is suitable for all types of educational settings. Each lesson can be • MS GLE 10.a 5th
adapted to meet a variety of class sizes, student skill levels, and time requirements. • NC 3.P.1 3rd
• NC 5.P.1 5th
Setting Lesson Plan Selections Recommended for Use • VA 3.2 3rd

Smaller class size, • The “Modeling” Section contains teaching content. Common Core
higher student ability, • While in class, students can do “Guided Practice,” complete the Language Arts/Reading
and /or longer class “Recommended Item(s)” and any additional guided practice items the teacher • KY 3.RI.1,2, and 8 3rd
length might select from “Other Resources.” • AL RI.3.1 and 2 3rd
• NOTE: Some lesson plans do and some do not contain “Other Resources.” • GA ELA.CC4.RI.1,2,and
8 4th
• At home or on their own in class, students can do “Independent Practice,”
• CCR.R.10 5th
complete the “Recommended Item(s)” and any additional independent practice
• Integration and
items the teacher selects from “Other Resources” (if provided in the plan). Knowledge of Ideas-
Average class size, • The “Modeling” Section contains teaching content. Cluster 7, 8, 9
student ability, and • While in class, students complete “Recommended Item(s)” from “Guided NC 5th
• Key Ideas and Details-
class length Practice” section.
Cluster 1,2, 3 NC 3rd
• At home or on their own in class, students complete “Recommended Item(s)”
from “Independent Practice” section. Common Core
Mathematics
Larger class size, • The “Modeling” Section contains teaching content.
• 3.OA.A.3-Al, KY, NC 3rd
lower student ability, • At home or on their own in class, students complete “Recommended Item(s)” • 4.OA.A.3-GA 4th
and/or shorter class from “Independent Practice” section.
length

Electrical Safety Reminder: Teachers should remind students that electricity is dangerous and that
an adult should be present when any recommended activities or worksheets are being completed at
home. Always obey instructions on warning labels and ensure one has dry hands when touching
electronics or appliances.

Performance Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• Describe force.
• Understand and describe types of forces, including gravitational
force and frictional force.

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 1.1 – FORCES AND MOTION Page 1 of 6

I. Anticipatory Set (Attention Grabber)
Essential Question

How do objects move?

Videos

Forces and Motion Video (1 min 27 seconds): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MztWyY9z1jY

Force and Motion Video (3 min 53 seconds) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iKhLGK7HGk

Energy and Work Videos (many to choose from): http://www.neok12.com/Energy-and-Work.htm

II. Modeling (Concepts to Teach)

Additional Information
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Tutorial/Newton-s-Laws

Forces
A force is defined as a push or pull. When a person writes, for example, he or she exerts a force on the pencil
because the person is pushing or pulling it across the paper.

Two equal forces acting in the same direction

If two people are pushing a table across the floor in the same direction, the two forces are added together. Adding
these two forces together is called the net force. In the case of the two people pushing the table, the net force is
unbalanced. When there is an unbalanced force there is a force that changes an object’s motion or causes it to

SEPARATE FORCES NET FORCE

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 1.1 – FORCES AND MOTION Page 2 of 6

accelerate. This can be shown with arrows; the wider arrow is the stronger of the forces.

Two equal forces acting in the same direction

When the forces are equal and act in opposite directions, they balance each other out. There is no net force in
this case. Using the example of two people pushing on a table, if there is a person on each of the opposite ends
of the table and they are both pushing on the table with an equal amount of force, they balance each other out to

SEPARATE FORCES

0
NET FORCE
a zero net force. This means the table will not accelerate.

Two unequal forces acting in opposite directions

When there are separate forces that are not equal and one force is more powerful than the other, they will not
balance out to zero net force. Because there is one force stronger than the other, the weaker force is not strong
enough to balance the other force. They are pushing in opposite directions, but one of them is pushing with a
greater force. The motion will occur in the direction that the stronger force is moving. If two people are pushing on
opposite ends of the table and one is pushing with more force, the table will accelerate in the direction that the
person with the stronger force is moving. If one person is pushing the table, there is another force to examine:
friction force. Friction force works against the applied force. If the force applied overcomes the friction force, then

SEPARATE FORCES NET FORCE

there is a net force on the table and it will move.

A net force is required to cause changes in motion (speed or direction). If an object is at rest, a net force is
required to put it into motion. If an object is in motion, a net force is required to slow it down/bring it to rest. This
change in motion is called acceleration. When an object increases its speed/direction (velocity) it is called

Types of Forces
Contact Forces Action-at-a-Distance Forces
• Frictional Force* • Gravitational Force*
• Tension Force • Electrical Force
• Normal Force • Magnetic Force
• Air Resistance Force Note that action-at-a-distance forces are the ones required by state standards for grades 3-5 and are
• Applied Force defined below. Definitions of the other forces listed can be found at
• Spring Force http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/Lesson-2/Types-of-Forces

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 1.1 – FORCES AND MOTION Page 3 of 6

*Gravitational Force
The force of gravity is a result of a massively large object, such as
the earth or moon, attracting to it other objects that have mass. By
definition, an object’s weight is due to the impact of gravitational
force. This is NOT to be confused with an object’s mass or size. An
object’s weight changes depending on the gravitational pull exerted
on it. A person’s weight on the moon is less than their weight on
Earth because the moon is less massive and exerts less
gravitational force. Their mass, however, never changes.

Fgrav = m * g
where g = 9.8 N/kg (on Earth)
and m = mass (in kg)

*Frictional Force
Friction is the name given to the force that acts between materials
that are moving past each other. Friction happens because of
irregularities in the surfaces of sliding objects. Some surfaces have
more irregularities than others and therefore cause more friction
when objects slide over them. The friction force works against the
applied force and must be overcome in order to move an object
from rest. In addition, the friction force also slows a moving object
so that it will eventually come to rest. If friction were absent, a ball
moving horizontally would move forever.

acceleration, when an object decreases its speed/direction

(velocity) it is called deceleration.
Measuring Forces
Forces can be measured using a spring scale (force meter). Spring
scales contain a spring connected to a metal hook. The spring
stretches when a force is applied to the hook. The bigger the force
applied, the longer the spring stretches, thereby resulting in a larger FORCE METERS
reading.

The unit of force is called the Newton, and it has the symbol N. So

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 1.1 – FORCES AND MOTION Page 4 of 6

100 N is a bigger force than 5 N.

III. Checking for Understanding

REMEMBER What is an unbalanced force? What is a unit of force called? How is force measured?
(Class discussion)

UNDERSTAND Explain force using your own words. (Class discussion)

APPLY Apply your knowledge of a force and explain how something moves, accelerates, and
decelerates. (Class discussion)

ANALYZE Explain an unbalanced force. What is the result of a force being applied to an object?
What kind of force creates a net force? (Class discussion)

EVALUATE How must our force overcome frictional force to create a net force? (Class discussion)

CREATE How would you create movement? (Class discussion)

Teachers can ask students these questions to determine understanding of concepts.

IV. Guided Practice Ideas
Recommended Items
Newton’s First Law Using Balls (see below)

Experiments
Newton’s First Law of Motion Experiment Using Balls: http://www.metrofamilymagazine.com/July-
2012/Simple-Science-Experiments-Newtons-First-Law-of-Motion/

Games
Forces in Action Game: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/science/physical_processes/forces_action/play/

Activity
• Rolling a Ball: Teachers ask students to apply force to ball, putting ball into motion.
• Teachers start a game of tug-of-war and add students on each side to help demonstrate pull force and net
force.

Practice that uses math/reading standards:

• Math: Equation for force (Force = Mass x Acceleration)
http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/science/force_mass_acceleration/quiz389.html

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 1.1 – FORCES AND MOTION Page 5 of 6

• Reading: Article about force and motion, students write summary: https://suite.io/harvey-craft/624s2a6

V. Independent Practice Ideas

Recommended Item
At-home Activity: Find Push & Pull Forces at Home Worksheet and Answer Key provided

Other Resources
Personal Practice
Writing Activity: Teachers write the following question on the board and ask students to copy and answer the
question on a sheet of paper: Describe force in your own words.

Practice That May Involve Parents or Guardians

At-home Activity: Find Push & Pull Forces at Home Worksheet and Answer Key provided

VI. Assessment
This item provides a check for understanding so teachers can easily determine whether concepts need to be
reinforced. This item can be graded, if a grade is desired.
• Find Push & Pull Forces at Home Worksheet and Answer Key provided

VII. Materials Needed

The following materials are needed for the “Recommended Items” in Guided Practice & Independent Practice
sections.
• Soccer ball, basketball, or any bouncy ball
• Smaller bouncy ball (tennis ball or racquet ball)
• Assortment of other balls of various sizes for further experimentation

VIII. Closing the Lesson

In addition to the Essential Question shown below, teachers can reference Performance Objectives at the top of
the Lesson Plan.

Essential Question
How do objects move?

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 1.1 – FORCES AND MOTION Page 6 of 6

WORKSHEET FOR FORCES AND MOTION LESSON 1.1
NAME: _______________________

Find Push & Pull Forces at Home

Objective: Students will be able to understand and describe force, acceleration, and deceleration.

1. What types of forces can be used to open your bedroom door?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. Draw and label an example of a force being applied to push an object (use arrows to explain how
force is moving):

3. Draw and label an example of a force being applied to pull an object (use arrows to explain how force
is moving):

WORKSHEET: FIND PUSH & PULL FORCES AT HOME (FOR LESSON 1.1 FORCES AND MOTION) Page 1 of 2
4. Explain the difference between acceleration and deceleration.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

5. How does friction interact with objects?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

WORKSHEET: FIND PUSH & PULL FORCES AT HOME (FOR LESSON 1.1 FORCES AND MOTION) Page 2 of 2
Answer Key
ANSWER KEY FOR WORKSHEET: FIND PUSH & PULL FORCES AT HOME

1. What types of forces can be used to open your bedroom door?

Ex. Pull the handle to open the door or push the door open.
_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. Draw and label an example of a force being applied to push an object (use arrows to explain how
force is moving):

Example

3. Draw and label an example of a force being applied to pull an object (use arrows to explain how force
is moving):

Example

4. Explain the difference between acceleration and deceleration.

Ex. Acceleration = object increases its velocity; Deceleration = object decreases its velocity
_________________________________________________________________________________

5. How does friction interact with objects?

Ex. Friction works against the applied force and must be overcome in order to move an object at rest.
_________________________________________________________________________________

ANSWER KEY FOR FIND PUSH & PULL FORCES AT HOME WORKSHEET FOR LESSON 1.1 Page 1 of 1