Forces and Motion

In this unit, students explore how forces cause an object’s motion to change. They begin by exploring how objects move in different directions when they are pushed or pulled, and then investigate how changing the strength of a force changes the distance an object moves.

This page is a high-level extract from lesson two during which students plan and conduct an experiment to observe how the distance a cup moves across the floor changes when it is pushed by a large force compared to a small force.

Science Background for Teachers:

The science background gives teachers a deeper explanation of the scientific phenomena that students discover in the unit. It seeks to answer more complex questions that teachers may need to know to be able to facilitate students’ inquiries and discussions.

There are two types of forces: non-contact forces and contact forces. Non-contact forces involve forces that act on objects without having to come into contact with them. Gravity is an example of a non-contact force, as are magnetic forces.

This unit focuses on contact forces, which act on objects when objects touch or collide. Any sporting event that involves a ball or puck is a good example of how contact forces change the motion of an object. In curling, the granite stone can only begin to move when someone pushes it across the ice. In soccer, the ball will remain at rest on the ground until someone kicks it, pushing it away from them. The stone and the soccer ball only move when a person comes into contact with them and applies a force.

Supports Grade K

Science Lesson: Discovering Forces and Motion

In this unit, students explore how forces cause an object’s motion to change. In this lesson, students plan and conduct an experiment to observe how the distance a cup moves across the floor changes when it is pushed with a large force compared to a small force.

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Science Big Ideas

  • How strongly one pushes or pulls something (how much force they apply) will affect how far that object will go.
  • More massive objects (those that are heavier) produce more force (give a stronger push) than less massive objects.

Sample Unit CTA-2
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Science Essential Questions

  • How do you get an object to move?
  • How could you get the object to go a different direction?
  • How could you get that same object to move farther? How could you get the object to move just a short distance?
  • Does a cup move farther when pushed on with a large force or a small force?
  • If you wanted someone in a swing to move high into the air, what type of push would you give them: a push with a small force or a push with a large force? Why?

Common Science Misconceptions

Misconception: Constant motion requires a constant force.

Fact: Once a force causes an object to move, that object will continue to move until another force acts on it, causing it to change its motion.

Misconception: Moving objects stop when the force moving them “runs out.”

Fact: Objects only change their motion by force. For example, objects slow down because of the force of friction. Without a force to change its motion, a moving object would continue moving forever.

Science Vocabulary

Force : a push or a pull that changes an object’s speed, direction, or shape

Motion : the movement of an object or living thing from one place to another

Pull : to move an object toward you

Push : to move an object away from you

Lexile(R) Certified Non-Fiction Science Reading (Excerpt)

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Hands-on Science Activity

In this hands-on activity, students conduct an experiment to explore how different forces affect motion. Students work in partners to make a prediction/hypothesis about how they think the motion of a plastic cup will change when pushed on with a large force compared to a small force, based on personal experiences. After sharing their predictions with the class, students collaborate to come up with a plan to test their hypotheses. Then, students conduct the experiment using materials such as marbles and ramps. They complete the activity by discussing the results of their experiment and assessing any misunderstandings. Students continue their study of motion in the next lesson in which they explore how friction affects motion.

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Science Assessments

KnowAtom incorporates formative and summative assessments designed to make students thinking visible for deeper student-centered learning.

  • Vocabulary Check
  • Lab Checkpoints
  • Concept Check Assessment 
  • Concept Map Assessment 
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Science Standards

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Standards citation: NGSS Lead States. 2013. Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it.

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