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Science lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 45 minutes

Contact and non-contact forces

Forces and motion

CCSS NGSS.MS-PS2-2CCSS NGSS.MS-PS2-5England: KS3 Physics: Motion and forces

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Contact and non-contact 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: Pushes and pulls; Gravity

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 (Pushes and pulls; Gravity). 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: pulling a wagon? (push / pull) → pullPrompt: Does the thing move away from you or towards you?
  2. Which way does gravity pull objects near Earth? (towards the Sun only / sideways / up, towards the sky / down, towards the centre of the Earth) → down, towards the centre of the EarthPrompt: What happens when you drop a ball?
  3. A rolling ball hits a wall. What does the push from the wall do? (It makes the ball heavier / It changes the ball's direction / It makes the ball bigger / Nothing) → It changes the ball's directionPrompt: Which way does the ball go after it hits the wall?

Hook · 5 min

  • Drop a sheet of paper and a scrunched-up sheet together and ask why one falls faster.
  • Share the objective: Contact and non-contact forces. 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: Is this a contact force or a non-contact force: air resistance?
  • Step 1: Contact forces act when objects touch.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: contact force
  • Answer: contact force
  • 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. Is this a contact force or a non-contact force: magnetic force? (contact force / non-contact force) → non-contact forcePrompt: Do the objects have to touch for the force to act?
  2. A boat floats on a lake. Which force from the water holds it up? (tension / magnetic force / upthrust / weight) → upthrustPrompt: The water pushes up on the hull.

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. Is this a contact force or a non-contact force: tension in a rope? (contact force / non-contact force) → contact forcePrompt: Do the objects have to touch for the force to act?
  2. A balloon rubbed on hair can pick up small bits of paper without touching them. Which force is acting? (electrostatic force / upthrust / friction / tension) → electrostatic forcePrompt: Rubbing transferred electric charge.

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

  • 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-6.

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

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Contact and non-contact forces

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    A book rests on a table. Which two forces act on the book?

    • A. no forces at all
    • B. friction and air resistance
    • C. its weight down and the normal contact force from the table up
    • D. magnetism and gravity

  2. Question 2

    Types of force: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Gravity is a non-contact force.
    • B. Magnets can push or pull without touching.
    • C. Friction is a contact force.
    • D. Air resistance is a non-contact force.

  3. Question 3

    Is this a contact force or a non-contact force: friction?

    • A. contact force
    • B. non-contact force

  4. Question 4

    Is this a contact force or a non-contact force: electrostatic force?

    • A. contact force
    • B. non-contact force

  5. Question 5

    Why do astronauts on the Moon still have weight?

    • A. Friction holds them down
    • B. The Moon's gravity acts on them without touching
    • C. There is air on the Moon pushing them down
    • D. They wear heavy boots

  6. Question 6

    Is this a contact force or a non-contact force: tension in a rope?

    • A. contact force
    • B. non-contact force

  7. Question 7

    Is this a contact force or a non-contact force: gravity (weight)?

    • A. contact force
    • B. non-contact force

  8. Question 8

    Is this a contact force or a non-contact force: magnetic force?

    • A. contact force
    • B. non-contact force

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Answer key: Contact and non-contact forces

  1. 1. C. its weight down and the normal contact force from the table up

  2. 2. D. Air resistance is a non-contact force.

  3. 3. A. contact force

  4. 4. B. non-contact force

  5. 5. B. The Moon's gravity acts on them without touching

  6. 6. A. contact force

  7. 7. B. non-contact force

  8. 8. B. non-contact force