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Science lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 45 minutes

Gravity

Forces and motion

CCSS NGSS.5-PS2-1CCSS NGSS.MS-PS2-4England: KS2 Y5 Forces

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Gravity.

  • 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: Air resistance and water resistance; Mass and weight (W = mg); Levers, pulleys and gears: small force, big effect

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

Warm-up · 5 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. / When forces are balanced, a moving object keeps moving at the same speed in the same direction. / A book resting on a table has balanced forces acting on it. / A still object has no forces acting on it.) → A still object has no forces acting on it.Prompt: Can something move steadily with balanced forces?

Hook · 5 min

  • Drop a sheet of paper and a scrunched-up sheet together and ask why one falls faster.
  • Share the objective: Gravity. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which way does gravity pull objects near Earth?
  • Step 1: Gravity pulls everything towards the centre of the Earth.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: down, towards the centre of the Earth
  • Answer: down, towards the centre of the Earth
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 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. People in Australia do not fall off the Earth. Why? (They wear heavy shoes / Gravity pulls everyone towards the centre of the Earth / Australia has no gravity / They hold on tightly) → Gravity pulls everyone towards the centre of the EarthPrompt: "Down" means towards the centre of the Earth, wherever you are.
  2. Gravity: which statement is true? (Gravity is weaker on the Moon than on Earth. / There is no gravity in space. / Heavy objects always fall faster than light ones. / Gravity only acts on things that are falling.) → Gravity is weaker on the Moon than on Earth.Prompt: What keeps the Moon going round the Earth?

You do: independent practice · 10 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 · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Gravity: which statement is NOT true? (Astronauts float in the space station because there is no gravity there. / The Earth's gravity keeps the Moon in orbit. / Gravity is a force that attracts objects with mass towards each other. / Without air resistance, a heavy and a light object fall at the same rate.) → Astronauts float in the space station because there is no gravity there.Prompt: Why does the space station stay in orbit?
  2. Who is famous for describing gravity after watching things fall? (Charles Darwin / Marie Curie / Isaac Newton / Thomas Edison) → Isaac NewtonPrompt: A story says an apple fell near him.

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: Air resistance and water resistance; Mass and weight (W = mg); Levers, pulleys and gears: small force, big effect.
  • 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

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Gravity

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    People in Australia do not fall off the Earth. Why?

    • A. Australia has no gravity
    • B. Gravity pulls everyone towards the centre of the Earth
    • C. They hold on tightly
    • D. They wear heavy shoes

  2. Question 2

    Gravity: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Gravity is a force that attracts objects with mass towards each other.
    • B. There is no gravity in space.
    • C. Without air resistance, a heavy and a light object fall at the same rate.
    • D. Gravity is weaker on the Moon than on Earth.

  3. Question 3

    Gravity: which statement is true?

    • A. There is no gravity in space.
    • B. Gravity only acts on things that are falling.
    • C. Without air resistance, a heavy and a light object fall at the same rate.
    • D. Heavy objects always fall faster than light ones.

  4. Question 4

    Which way does gravity pull objects near Earth?

    • A. towards the Sun only
    • B. sideways
    • C. down, towards the centre of the Earth
    • D. up, towards the sky

  5. Question 5

    Who is famous for describing gravity after watching things fall?

    • A. Isaac Newton
    • B. Thomas Edison
    • C. Marie Curie
    • D. Charles Darwin

  6. Question 6

    On the Moon, an astronaut dropped a hammer and a feather at the same time. What happened?

    • A. They floated away
    • B. The feather landed first
    • C. The hammer landed first
    • D. They hit the ground together

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Answer key: Gravity

  1. 1. B. Gravity pulls everyone towards the centre of the Earth

  2. 2. B. There is no gravity in space.

  3. 3. C. Without air resistance, a heavy and a light object fall at the same rate.

  4. 4. C. down, towards the centre of the Earth

  5. 5. A. Isaac Newton

  6. 6. D. They hit the ground together