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

Friction

Forces and motion

CCSS NGSS.3-PS2-1England: KS2 Y3 Forces and magnetsEngland: KS2 Y5 Forces

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Friction.

  • 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: Pushes and pulls

Leads to: Air resistance and water resistance

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 (Pushes and pulls). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this a push or a pull: shutting a door? (push / pull) → pushPrompt: Does the thing move away from you or towards you?
  2. Which needs a bigger push to start moving? (a feather / a full shopping trolley (cart) / an empty shopping trolley (cart) / a balloon) → a full shopping trolley (cart)Prompt: Which one is heaviest?
  3. Pushes and pulls: which statement is true? (A force can stop a moving object. / Things can start moving all by themselves with no force. / A gentle push makes a ball go faster than a hard push. / Opening a drawer is a push.) → A force can stop a moving object.Prompt: What can a force do to an object?

Hook · 3 min

  • Drop a sheet of paper and a scrunched-up sheet together and ask why one falls faster.
  • Share the objective: Friction. 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: On which surface would you slide furthest in your socks?
  • Step 1: Smooth surfaces have less friction, so you slide further.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: a polished wooden floor
  • Answer: a polished wooden floor
  • 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. What is friction? (a force that only acts in water / a kind of magnet / a force that pulls things down / a force that acts against motion when surfaces rub together) → a force that acts against motion when surfaces rub togetherPrompt: Rub your hands together quickly. What do you feel?
  2. Friction: which statement is NOT true? (Rough surfaces usually give more friction than smooth ones. / Friction speeds things up. / Friction acts in the opposite direction to movement. / Friction can make surfaces warm up.) → Friction speeds things up.Prompt: Think about walking on ice.

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. Friction: which statement is NOT true? (Friction acts in the opposite direction to movement. / Friction is always unhelpful. / Friction can make surfaces warm up. / Bicycle brakes use friction to slow the wheels.) → Friction is always unhelpful.Prompt: Think about walking on ice.
  2. What is friction? (a force that pulls things down / a force that acts against motion when surfaces rub together / a kind of magnet / a force that only acts in water) → a force that acts against motion when surfaces rub togetherPrompt: Rub your hands together quickly. What do you feel?

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: Pushes and pulls.
  • 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: Air resistance and water resistance.
  • 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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Friction

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    What is friction?

    • A. a force that only acts in water
    • B. a kind of magnet
    • C. a force that pulls things down
    • D. a force that acts against motion when surfaces rub together

  2. Question 2

    Friction: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Friction acts in the opposite direction to movement.
    • B. Rough surfaces usually give more friction than smooth ones.
    • C. Ice has more friction than sandpaper.
    • D. Friction can make surfaces warm up.

  3. Question 3

    A toy car was rolled down the same ramp onto different surfaces. The chart shows how far it went (cm). Which surface had the LEAST friction?

    Distance travelled (cm)050100150200250120ice230grass150wood floor40carpet
    • A. ice
    • B. grass
    • C. wood floor
    • D. carpet

  4. Question 4

    Why do football boots have studs?

    • A. to increase friction so players don't slip
    • B. to make a noise
    • C. to make them lighter
    • D. to reduce friction

  5. Question 5

    Why do people oil a squeaky bicycle chain?

    • A. to make it heavier
    • B. to make it magnetic
    • C. to reduce friction
    • D. to increase friction

  6. Question 6

    A toy car was rolled down the same ramp onto different surfaces. The chart shows how far it went (cm). Which surface had the MOST friction?

    Distance travelled (cm)05010015020025090grass60carpet230sandpaper190wood floor
    • A. carpet
    • B. grass
    • C. wood floor
    • D. sandpaper

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Answer key: Friction

  1. 1. D. a force that acts against motion when surfaces rub together

  2. 2. C. Ice has more friction than sandpaper.

  3. 3. B. grass

  4. 4. A. to increase friction so players don't slip

  5. 5. C. to reduce friction

  6. 6. A. carpet