• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Which way will it move? Predict from the forces). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. A book lies still on a table. Gravity pulls it down. Why doesn't it fall? (The table pushes up with an equal force, so the forces are balanced. / The book is holding on to the table. / The book is too light for gravity. / There is no gravity indoors.) → The table pushes up with an equal force, so the forces are balanced.Prompt: Is there a force pushing up as well as down?
2. True or false? An object with balanced forces must be still. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Compare the sizes and directions of the forces.
3. A cyclist pedals harder than the air and road push back. What happens? (The bike stays at exactly the same speed. / The bike speeds up. / The bike moves backwards. / The bike slows down.) → The bike speeds up.Prompt: Which way is the bigger force?

• Drop a sheet of paper and a scrunched-up sheet together and ask why one falls faster.
• Share the objective: Tug of war: add up forces and find the winner. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: In a tug of war, the Red team's pullers pull with 80 N, 120 N, 80 N, 110 N. What is the Red team's total pull?
• Step 1: 80 + 120 + 80 + 110 = 390
• Step 2: So the answer is: 390 N
• Answer: 390 N
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. In a tug of war, the Red team's pullers pull with 110 N, 80 N, 90 N, 70 N. What is the Red team's total pull? → 350 NPrompt: Forces pulling the same way add together.
2. Red team pulls left with 40 N, 60 N, 100 N. Blue team pulls right with 90 N, 70 N, 60 N. What is the size of the resultant (overall) force? → 20 NPrompt: Find each team's total first.

• Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
• Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. In a tug of war, the Red team's pullers pull with 100 N, 50 N. What is the Red team's total pull? → 150 NPrompt: Forces pulling the same way add together.
2. Red team pulls left with 70 N, 50 N, 50 N. Blue team pulls right with 70 N, 110 N, 70 N. What is the size of the resultant (overall) force? → 80 NPrompt: Find each team's total first.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-3.