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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes

Which way will it move? Predict from the forces

Forces and motion

CCSS NGSS.3-PS2-1England: KS2 Y3 Forces and magnetsEngland: KS3 Physics: Motion and forces (balanced forces)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Which way will it move? Predict from the forces.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Balanced and unbalanced forces

Leads to: Tug of war: add up forces and find the winner; Use patterns of motion to predict what happens next; Contact forces and forces that act at a distance

Materials: Force meters, Toy cars and ramps, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Balanced and unbalanced forces). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Balanced forces: which statement is NOT true? (When forces are balanced, a still object stays still. / A still object has no forces acting on it. / A book resting on a table has balanced forces acting on it. / Forces are measured in newtons (N).) → A still object has no forces acting on it.Prompt: Can something move steadily with balanced forces?

Hook · 3 min

  • Drop a sheet of paper and a scrunched-up sheet together and ask why one falls faster.
  • Share the objective: Which way will it move? Predict from the forces. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: A cyclist pedals harder than the air and road push back. What happens?
  • Step 1: Unbalanced forward force makes the bike speed up.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: The bike speeds up.
  • Answer: The bike speeds up.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Two teams pull a rope equally hard. What happens to the rope? (It stays where it is. / It moves towards the bigger team. / It moves up into the air. / It snaps at once.) → It stays where it is.Prompt: Are the forces balanced or unbalanced?
  2. True or false? Balanced forces do not change how an object is moving. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Compare the sizes and directions of the forces.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • 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.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. True or false? Unbalanced forces can make an object start, stop, speed up or turn. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Compare the sizes and directions of the forces.
  2. Two teams pull a rope equally hard. What happens to the rope? (It moves towards the bigger team. / It stays where it is. / It moves up into the air. / It snaps at once.) → It stays where it is.Prompt: Are the forces balanced or unbalanced?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Balanced and unbalanced forces.
  • Use concrete materials: force meters.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Tug of war: add up forces and find the winner; Use patterns of motion to predict what happens next; Contact forces and forces that act at a distance.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

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

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Which way will it move? Predict from the forces

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Two teams pull a rope equally hard. What happens to the rope?

    • A. It moves towards the bigger team.
    • B. It stays where it is.
    • C. It snaps at once.
    • D. It moves up into the air.

  2. Question 2

    True or false? Balanced forces do not change how an object is moving.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  3. Question 3

    A box is resting on smooth ice. It is pushed with 35 N to the left and 55 N to the right at the same time. What happens?

    35 N55 N
    • A. moves to the left
    • B. stays still
    • C. moves to the right

  4. Question 4

    A rolling ball slows down and stops on grass. Which force caused this?

    • A. a push from the ball
    • B. magnetism
    • C. no force, it just ran out
    • D. friction from the grass

  5. Question 5

    True or false? Unbalanced forces can make an object start, stop, speed up or turn.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  6. Question 6

    A box is resting on smooth ice. It is pushed with 10 N to the left and 35 N to the right at the same time. What happens?

    10 N35 N
    • A. moves to the left
    • B. stays still
    • C. moves to the right

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Answer key: Which way will it move? Predict from the forces

  1. 1. B. It stays where it is.

  2. 2. A. True

  3. 3. C. moves to the right

  4. 4. D. friction from the grass

  5. 5. A. True

  6. 6. C. moves to the right