Science Grade 1 Forces and Motion
Science Grade 1 Forces and Motion
GRADE-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS:
1. Things move in many ways, such as spinning,
rolling, sliding, bouncing, flying or sailing.
2. An object is in motion when its position is
changing. Because the sun’s position changes
relative to objects on Earth throughout the day, it
appears to be moving across the sky.
3. Motion is caused by a push or a pull. A push or
pull is called a force.
4. An object can be set in motion by forces that come
from direct contact, moving air, magnets or by
gravity pulling it down toward the earth.
5. Pushes and pulls can start motion, stop motion,
speed it up, slow it down or change its direction.
Common Misconceptions:
• Objects which are not in motion have no force applied to them.
• The surface on which an object rolls does not affect its motion.
Vocabulary Words:
Push, pull, force, data, organize, Venn diagram, weight, shape, round, edge, surface, balanced,
unequal, movement, gravity, earth, slope, flat
Connections to Literature:
Real Science 4 Kids, Rebecca Keller
Eyewitness: Force and Motion, Peter Lafferty
Motion, Darlene Stille
Experiments with Motion, Salvatore Tocci
Move It! Motion Forces And You, Adrienne Mason
Overview of Lessons:
Materials: two differently colored packs of sticky notes, marker, one clipboard
Procedure:
1. Review the previous lesson with the students. Ask them to define pushing and
pulling. Ask them to tell you some of the things they push or pull often.
2. Tell the students they will be going on a push and pull scavenger hunt today.
Show the students the two differently colored sticky notes. Tell them that one
color is going to stand for push, and one will stand for pull. Make sure to explain
that there are several things which can be pushed or pulled, so it’s ok if there is
more then one color sticky note on an object. Tell them they can work in groups
of three and go around the room. They can write the word push on one color
sticky notes and attach it to any thing they push, and do the same for anything
they pull with the other color notes.
3. Provide the students with enough time to label as many different things as
possible.
4. After the students have returned review where all the notes have been placed.
Some of the students can volunteer where they placed their notes and why they
thought the note was appropriate. During this time the teacher should correct any
misplaced notes.
5. Tell the whole class they did so well with that, you are going to go around the
school and place appropriate labels around the building.
6. Lead the class around the building, encouraging them to point out where they
think labels should be placed. As the children place labels, the teacher should
keep a list of all the locations we found where we push, pull, or both. The teacher
should suggest some places the kids miss, and ask for opinions.
7. After you return to the classroom, list off the places you put the notes, and have
the students try to remember if it was a push or a pull.
8. Ask the students how their lives would be different if we did not push or pull
these things. What would we no longer be able to do? Explain that by exerting
force upon these objects, we are able to move things in our environment.
Materials: chart paper with a blank Venn diagram, marker, “What Pushes and What
Pulls?” worksheet
Procedure:
1. Review the previous lesson with the students. Discuss all the things that you
found in the classroom (notes should still be up) and in the school (use the list
compiled by the teacher as a guide) that are pushed and pulled.
2. Tell the students that as scientists it is important that we organize our data.
Explain that data is information you have collected by observing. Tell them that
one way to organize data is with a Venn diagram. Ask the student if they are
familiar with a Venn diagram or where they may have seen one before.
3. After some responses, bring out a large piece of chart paper with a blank Venn
diagram. Title it “What Pushes and What Pulls”. Model for the students how to
fill out the diagram. Write the name of one object which pushes, one object which
pulls, and one which does both in the appropriate sections. Then allow the
students to fill out their own Venn diagrams.
4. After the students have filled out their own Venn diagrams, encourage them to
share where they have placed a variety of items on their Venn diagram, and as
they share responses write them on the diagram on the chart paper.
5. Remind students that the reason for making this type of diagram is to organize our
data, which means writing it in a way that it’s easy to understand quickly. Tell
them they will be using their Venn diagrams to do the next part of the lesson.
6. Pass out the Force Sentence Frames worksheet. Tell the students to reference their
Venn diagrams to complete their sentences (more advanced students may be able
to write the sentences without the frames).
7. Allow the students enough time to complete the sentence frames, and then share
them with the class. Explain to the students that organizing their data allowed
them to easily see which things are pushed, pulled, or both. Ask them to share
other places where data is organized (grade book, report cards, lunch menu,
graphs, etc.). Again, explain that the reason we organize data in these different
ways is because it makes information easier to understand. Ask the students how
it was easier to complete the sentences after they had a completed Venn diagram.
Name_____________________
Vocabulary: weight
Materials: “How Easy is it to Move?” worksheet, empty soda cans, full soda cans, empty
soup cans, full soup cans, empty and full water bottles, chart paper, marker
Procedure:
1. Review the previous lesson. Ask the students to name things that move, and see if
they can explain how those movements are the result of pushing or pulling.
Reinforce that all movement is the result of Pushing or pulling.
2. Explain to the students that some things may be easier to move than others. Show
the students the T-chart on chart paper titled “How Easy is it to Move”. Briefly
demonstrate how to fill out the chart (book goes under easy, couch goes under
difficult). Then pass out the “How Easy is it to Move?” sheet, and allow the
students time to brainstorm things which are easy to move and things which are
difficult to move.
3. Monitor the class and make sure that they are not having trouble coming up with
ideas.
4. After they have had enough time to fill out an appropriate amount of the chart,
have them share responses they came up with. As they reply, record their
responses on the chart paper.
5. Ask the students if they can see any patterns. Lead the discussion to the
conclusion that heavier things are more difficult to move than lighter things. Ask
the students to identify several things which are heavy and difficult to move, and
then several things which are light and easy to move. Tell students we will be
doing an experiment with pushing and pulling heavy and light objects.
6. Break students up into groups of three or four. Pass out corresponding (empty and
full) types of different types of round bottles (as many as you could gather). Tell
the students to test how these different things move when they are pushed or
pulled. They should make sure to push the bottles with the same amount of force
(explain what this means).
7. After they have had time to experiment, ask them to share their findings. Listen to
several responses, and then guide the discussion to reach the conclusion that
heavier objects do not move as far as lighter objects when the same force is
applied to them. Explain that this force could be pushing or pulling, and
demonstrate both. Also demonstrate exerting force on a variety of similar objects
with different weights, and show the students that if the same force is exerted on
heavy and light objects, the light objects will move more easily.
8. After the students understand this concept, you can show them that although
heavier objects require more force to move, they can also require more force to
stop. Roll a full bottle into someone’s hand and an empty version of the same
bottle. Ask them which one presses up against them with more force. Remind
them that this force they feel is a form of pushing.
Name_______________
Easy Difficult
Lesson Six: Shape, Force, and Movement
Student Goal:
1. The students will understand the effect shape has on movement and force.
Name_______________
How did the bottle move when How did the bottle move when
you exerted force on the round you exerted force on the side
side? with an edge?
Procedure:
1. Review the last two previous lessons. Ask the students to explain in their own
words how weight and shape can affect the way an object moves when it is
pushed or pulled.
2. Ask the students if they can think of any other factors which might affect the way
that an object moves when force is exerted on it. If they need some prompting ask
them if they can ride a sled on the snow in the winter (yes). Then as if they can
ride the same sled on the grass in summer (no). Ask them if they can identify why
not. Lead the discussion to come to the realization that the surface on which an
object travels can affect its movement. Tell the students that this is what we will
be experimenting with today.
3. Break students up onto pairs or groups, and ask the students to get their jackets
out of the closets, and spread one out on their desks (if it’s warm out and the
students don’t all have jackets, you can take them outside provided there is flat
grassy and paved are they can use).
4. Pass out water bottles to each group, and tell them that they will be experimenting
with rolling the bottles on different surfaces and seeing how the bottles move
differently. Tell them to place the bottles on their round sides, and roll them on
their desks covered with a jacket (or the grass if you’re outside). Make sure every
student has a chance to try at least a few times. Ask them to describe in their own
words how the bottle moves.
5. Then instruct the students to take the jacket off the desk (or move to the paved
area) and repeat the experiment. Make sure they understand that for the
experiment to work they need to push the bottle with the same amount of force.
Ask them again to describe in their own words how the bottle moves. Again,
make sure each student has an opportunity to try.
6. After enough time has passed ask the groups to share their results. See if they can
explain in their own words that the bottle rolls easier on a flat and smooth surface,
and stops sooner on a bumpier or rough surface. Explain to the students that
something which stops an object from moving as far is called resistance. The less
resistance there is the farther an object will travel when the same force is applied.
Procedure:
1. Review the previous lesson with the students. Ask them to name the different
things you have learned about so far which can change the way an object moves
when force is exerted on it (weight, shape, surface / resistance).
2. Explain to students that what we have seen to far is that when something is
pushed or pulled, it moves. Ask the students if they can think of a time in which
something would not move even if it was being pushed or pulled. Some responses
might include if it is not being pushed or pulled hard enough, or if it is stuck.
3. Tell students that this can also happen if the force (push or pull) on an object is
being balanced by an opposite force (push or pull). Give a demonstration. Ask a
student volunteer to come up to the front of the class. Ask them to take one end of
a jump rope while you take the other. Ask the student to pull (not too hard) one
their end while you pull on the other. Each of you should be pulling on the rope,
but not so hard that either of you move or fall over.
4. Ask the students if they can tell if you are pushing or pulling. After they respond
“pulling” ask then why the rope is not moving if you are both exerting force on
the rope. Lead the discussion to the fact that the rope is not moving because you
are both pulling with the same force. Explain that this means the forces are
balanced.
5. Put the students in pairs and give each pair a jump rope. Remind them that they
should not be pulling on the rope too hard, or the forces will not be balanced.
Allow them time to experiment.
6. After some time pass out the “Balanced and Unbalanced Forces” worksheet. Have
some students come up and model balanced pulling on the rope. If they do it
correctly have the students draw what it looked like when the forces were
balanced. They can write the words “no movement” above the picture.
7. Ask the students if while they were experimenting they ever had unbalanced
pulling. If so, ask them to describe what happened. Then ask a student to
volunteer while you give a demonstration of unbalanced forces. To do this you
will have to pull with more or less force than the student volunteer. Lead a
discussion to again reinforce that when the forces are unequal an object (the rope)
will move, but when forces are equal (balanced) the object will move. Students
can then record what happened on their “Balanced and Unbalanced Forces”
worksheet. They can write the word “movement” over the picture.
Name_________________
Procedure:
1. Hold up a pencil and drop it to the ground. Ask the students if they can explain
why the pencil fell to the floor. Remind them that we have already learned that
nothing moves unless it is pushed or pulled. Ask them if they can guess what is
pushing on the pencil. Allow a few students to respond, and then ask them if they
have ever heard of the word “gravity”.
2. Explain to the students that gravity is a force on earth which pulls everything to
the ground. Make sure they understand that gravity pulls on all objects on earth,
even though we cannot see what is causing this pull like we could see who was
pulling on the rope.
3. Tell students that gravity is not the same on other planets. On some there is very
little gravity which means nothing is really pushed to the ground at all. Ask them
if they can imagine how things would be different if there was no gravity on earth.
Lead a discussion in which they envision this.
4. Pass out the “Zero Gravity Classroom” worksheet. Allow some time for the
students to draw what they think their classroom would look like if there were no
gravity and nothing was pulled to the ground. When they are finished allows some
students to come up to the front of the class and share their pictures. They should
be able to explain why they drew specific parts of their picture.
5. Ask students to imagine what it would be like if there was even more gravity on
earth than we really have. Remind them that gravity is a force that pulls us down,
so they have to imagine what it would be like if everything was very heavy. Lead
a discussion about how things would be different.
6. Tell students that they will be watching a video about gravity. Go to
www.unitedstreaming.com and play the video titled “The Magic School Bus
Gains Weight”. If one is available, you can hook up the computer monitor to an
overhead projector for better visibility. If there is no projector click the button to
view the video in full screen mode so students can see.
7. After the video review the major concepts covered today about gravity.
Name__________________
Procedure:
1. Review what the students learned yesterday about gravity. See if they can explain
what it is in their own words.
2. Tell the students that they are going to be experimenting with some of the ways
that gravity can affect how things move. Put the students in pairs or groups and
tell them to go back to their desks. Make sure the desks are cleared off. Have the
students place a pencil at the top of the desk, but not in the indentation made for
the pencil to stay in. ask them if the pencil moves (no). Ask them to give the desk
a little shake, and see if the pencil moves any more.
3. Now take the blocks and put one under each of the back legs of the desk so the
desk is on a slant. Explain to students that this is called a slope. Ask the students
to predict what will happen when they place the pencil at the top of the desk now
(again, not in the notch meant for the pencil). Listen to a few responses and then
allow them time to try. If the pencil does not roll right away, encourage them to
give the desk a little shake to get it started.
4. After all students have had time to experiment ask them what they saw. Guide a
discussion to reach the conclusion that the pencils rolled on the sloped desks, but
not the flat desks.
5. Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 with the ping pong balls.
6. Ask the students to make guesses about why this happened. If they are having a
hard time, tell them to think about how gravity pulls things down. Lead a
discussion to reach the conclusion that objects move easier on a slope because
gravity pulls them down, and the slope of the surface pushes them forward.
7. Have the students share several places where they have seen slopes. Discuss the
different reasons people use slopes.
Culminating Activity
Materials: full and empty water bottles, full and empty soda cans, different types of balls,
chalkboard erasers, empty DVD cases, blocks, any other materials which were used
during this unit, any supplemental objects you would like to add
Procedure:
1. Tell the students that today they will be using what they have learned so far about
how things move. Tell them that each student will be setting up a movement
station at their desk. Point out the supplies at the front of the room. Tell them they
can use whatever they would like to create a station in which whatever object they
select moves the farthest with the least amount of force (pushing and pulling).
2. The students may choose to use any of the objects and set up their desks any way
they like. Provide enough time for the students to experiment with a variety of
objects and setup, and then when they are done they should draw a picture of their
setup and label it on the My Motion Station” worksheet.
3. When the students are finished have them explain to the class (or just the teacher)
how their station works. They should be able to explain how they used the
elements of weight, surface resistance, shape, and gravity to create a station where
the least amount of pushing or pulling is required to make their object. Use their
explanations to assess their understanding of these concepts.
1 2 3 4 5
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