Forces and Motion: Pushes, Pulls and How Things Move

Learning Objectives

• Explain that a force is a push or a pull and give examples.
• Describe how forces can start, stop and change the motion of an object.
• Explain that a bigger force makes a bigger change and that friction slows things down.

Lesson Procedure

• Use the lesson plan to teach the lesson in about 45 minutes.
• Print the worksheet for guided and independent practice.
• Use the quiz to check learning and the homework for practice at home.
• Use the rubric to record each student's level.

Assessment

Check the sorting and true or false activities for the main ideas. Students who say that only living things can make a force need real examples such as wind and magnets. Use the quiz and rubric for a record.

Differentiation

Support: give students the word bank and picture cards for push and pull. Challenge: ask students to explain why a heavy box is harder to push than a light box.

Classroom Activity Ideas

• Push and pull walk: students walk around the classroom and find five things that need a push or a pull to use.
• Ball roll: students push a ball gently and then harder and measure how far it rolls.
• Ramp test: students roll a toy car down a ramp with one book and then two books and compare how far it goes.

Teacher Tips

Use the word force again and again and always link it to a push or a pull. Let students feel a force with their own hands: push on a wall, pull on a door, and squeeze a ball. Tell students that a force can be big or small.

What's Included

• 12-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
• Key vocabulary list (8 words with meanings and examples)
• Student worksheet (7 activities)
• Quiz / assessment (4 parts)
• Homework practice page
• Printable flashcards (8 picture cards)
• Assessment rubric (4 levels)
• Lesson slides (editable PowerPoint)
• Editable Word version of all student pages
• Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)

Additional Files

• Lesson Slides (PowerPoint, editable) (PPTX)
• Editable Student Pages + Lesson Plan (Word) (DOCX)
• Printable Flashcards (PDF) (PDF)
• Answer Key (PDF) (PDF)

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