Back to the lesson plan builder
Lesson length30 min45 min60 min
Questions🔀 New questions

Print the plan for yourself; the student sheet prints on its own page after it.

Science lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 30 minutes

Air resistance and water resistance

Forces and motion

CCSS NGSS.MS-PS2-2England: KS2 Y5 Forces

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Air resistance and water resistance.

  • 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: Friction; Gravity

Leads to: Newton's laws of motion

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 (Friction; Gravity). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which way does gravity pull objects near Earth? (up, towards the sky / sideways / towards the Sun only / down, towards the centre of the Earth) → down, towards the centre of the EarthPrompt: What happens when you drop a ball?
  2. What is friction? (a force that acts against motion when surfaces rub together / a force that pulls things down / a force that only acts in water / a kind of magnet) → a force that acts against motion when surfaces rub togetherPrompt: Rub your hands together quickly. What do you feel?
  3. People in Australia do not fall off the Earth. Why? (Australia has no gravity / They wear heavy shoes / Gravity pulls everyone towards the centre of the Earth / They hold on tightly) → Gravity pulls everyone towards the centre of the EarthPrompt: "Down" means towards the centre of the Earth, wherever you are.

Hook · 3 min

  • Drop a sheet of paper and a scrunched-up sheet together and ask why one falls faster.
  • Share the objective: Air resistance and water resistance. 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: Why are fish and boats streamlined (smooth and pointed)?
  • Step 1: Streamlining reduces water resistance, so they move faster using less energy.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: to reduce water resistance
  • Answer: to reduce water resistance
  • 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. Which falls slowest: a flat sheet of paper or the same paper screwed into a ball? (the flat sheet / the ball of paper / neither falls / they always land together) → the flat sheetPrompt: They have the same mass. What is different?
  2. Why is it harder to walk through water than through air? (Air pushes you forward / Gravity is stronger in water / Water resistance is much bigger than air resistance / Water has no particles) → Water resistance is much bigger than air resistancePrompt: Water particles are much closer together than air particles.

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. Air and water resistance: which statement is NOT true? (Streamlined shapes reduce air and water resistance. / Air resistance pulls falling objects downwards. / Air resistance acts against the direction of motion. / A parachute with a bigger area falls more slowly.) → Air resistance pulls falling objects downwards.Prompt: Which way does air resistance act on a falling object?
  2. Which falls slowest: a flat sheet of paper or the same paper screwed into a ball? (the flat sheet / neither falls / the ball of paper / they always land together) → the flat sheetPrompt: They have the same mass. What is different?

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: Friction.
  • 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: Newton's laws of motion.
  • 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-5.

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

eurekami

Air resistance and water resistance

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Why does air resistance increase as a cyclist goes faster?

    • A. The air gets heavier
    • B. Gravity gets stronger
    • C. The cyclist hits more air particles each second
    • D. The bike gets bigger

  2. Question 2

    Cyclists crouch low over their handlebars in races. Why?

    • A. to see the road better
    • B. to make the bike heavier
    • C. to reduce air resistance
    • D. to increase friction with the road

  3. Question 3

    Air and water resistance: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Streamlined shapes reduce air and water resistance.
    • B. Air resistance pulls falling objects downwards.
    • C. Air resistance is a type of friction.
    • D. A parachute with a bigger area falls more slowly.

  4. Question 4

    Which is the best shape for a fast racing car?

    • A. low and streamlined
    • B. flat and wide like a sheet
    • C. tall and square
    • D. covered in flags

  5. Question 5

    Why is it harder to walk through water than through air?

    • A. Air pushes you forward
    • B. Water has no particles
    • C. Water resistance is much bigger than air resistance
    • D. Gravity is stronger in water

  6. Question 6

    A skydiver falls at a steady top speed (terminal velocity). What is true about the forces?

    • A. There is no air resistance
    • B. Air resistance is bigger than weight
    • C. There is no weight
    • D. Weight and air resistance are balanced

Free from eurekami.com

for the adult only

Answer key: Air resistance and water resistance

  1. 1. C. The cyclist hits more air particles each second

  2. 2. C. to reduce air resistance

  3. 3. B. Air resistance pulls falling objects downwards.

  4. 4. A. low and streamlined

  5. 5. C. Water resistance is much bigger than air resistance

  6. 6. D. Weight and air resistance are balanced