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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 minutes

Use patterns of motion to predict what happens next

Forces and motion

CCSS NGSS.3-PS2-2England: KS2 Y3 Forces and magnetsEngland: KS2 Y5 Forces

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Use patterns of motion to predict what happens next.

  • 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: Which way will it move? Predict from the forces

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

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 (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 rolling ball slows down and stops on grass. Which force caused this? (friction from the grass / magnetism / no force, it just ran out / a push from the ball) → friction from the grassPrompt: Something acted against the motion.
  2. True or false? A still object stays still if the forces on it are balanced. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Compare the sizes and directions of the forces.
  3. 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?

Hook · 5 min

  • Drop a sheet of paper and a scrunched-up sheet together and ask why one falls faster.
  • Share the objective: Use patterns of motion to predict what happens next. 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: A playground swing takes 3 seconds to swing forward and back once. The pattern repeats. How many complete swings will it make in 24 seconds?
  • Step 1: 24 ÷ 3 = 8
  • Step 2: So the answer is: 8
  • Answer: 8
  • 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. A pendulum on a string takes 3 seconds to swing forward and back once. The pattern repeats. How many complete swings will it make in 15 seconds? → 5Prompt: Each swing takes the same time.
  2. A ball is dropped from 144 cm. It bounces to 72 cm, then 36 cm. Each bounce reaches half the height of the one before. How high will the next bounce be? → 18 cmPrompt: Look at how each height compares to the one before.

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 8 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. A ball is dropped from 160 cm. It bounces to 80 cm, then 40 cm. Each bounce reaches half the height of the one before. How high will the next bounce be? → 20 cmPrompt: Look at how each height compares to the one before.
  2. Scientists can predict where a planet will be next year. What lets them do this? (Planets never move. / Its motion follows a regular, repeating pattern. / They guess. / Planets move randomly.) → Its motion follows a regular, repeating pattern.Prompt: How do we predict sunrise times?

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: Which way will it move? Predict from the 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

  • 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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Use patterns of motion to predict what happens next

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    A pendulum clock ticks once every second. How do clockmakers make a pendulum swing more slowly?

    • A. make the pendulum longer
    • B. paint it gold
    • C. make it shorter
    • D. push it harder each time

  2. Question 2

    A ball is dropped from 136 cm. It bounces to 68 cm, then 34 cm. Each bounce reaches half the height of the one before. How high will the next bounce be?

    Answercm

  3. Question 3

    A pendulum on a string takes 3 seconds to swing forward and back once. The pattern repeats. How many complete swings will it make in 9 seconds?

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    A seesaw goes up and down in a regular rhythm. If Sam's end is up now, where will it be after one more full up-and-down?

    • A. down
    • B. in the middle for ever
    • C. it cannot be predicted
    • D. up again

  5. Question 5

    A ball is dropped from 80 cm. It bounces to 40 cm, then 20 cm. Each bounce reaches half the height of the one before. How high will the next bounce be?

    Answercm

  6. Question 6

    A playground swing takes 4 seconds to swing forward and back once. The pattern repeats. How many complete swings will it make in 20 seconds?

    Answer

  7. Question 7

    Scientists can predict where a planet will be next year. What lets them do this?

    • A. They guess.
    • B. Its motion follows a regular, repeating pattern.
    • C. Planets never move.
    • D. Planets move randomly.

  8. Question 8

    A ball is dropped from 128 cm. It bounces to 64 cm, then 32 cm. Each bounce reaches half the height of the one before. How high will the next bounce be?

    Answercm

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Answer key: Use patterns of motion to predict what happens next

  1. 1. A. make the pendulum longer

  2. 2. 17 cm

  3. 3. 3

  4. 4. D. up again

  5. 5. 10 cm

  6. 6. 5

  7. 7. B. Its motion follows a regular, repeating pattern.

  8. 8. 16 cm