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

Which way will it move? Predict from the forces

Forces and motion

CCSS NGSS.3-PS2-1England: KS2 Y3 Forces and magnetsEngland: KS3 Physics: Motion and forces (balanced forces)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Which way will it move? Predict from the 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: Balanced and unbalanced forces

Leads to: Tug of war: add up forces and find the winner; Use patterns of motion to predict what happens next; Contact forces and forces that act at a distance

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? (Forces are measured in kilograms. / Forces are measured in newtons (N). / A book resting on a table has balanced forces acting on it. / When forces are balanced, a moving object keeps moving at the same speed in the same direction.) → Forces are measured in kilograms.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: Which way will it move? Predict from the 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: A cyclist pedals harder than the air and road push back. What happens?
  • Step 1: Unbalanced forward force makes the bike speed up.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: The bike speeds up.
  • Answer: The bike speeds up.
  • 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 cyclist pedals harder than the air and road push back. What happens? (The bike slows down. / The bike moves backwards. / The bike stays at exactly the same speed. / The bike speeds up.) → The bike speeds up.Prompt: Which way is the bigger force?
  2. True or false? A book on a table has no forces acting on it. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Compare the sizes and directions of the forces.

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 cyclist pedals harder than the air and road push back. What happens? (The bike stays at exactly the same speed. / The bike moves backwards. / The bike slows down. / The bike speeds up.) → The bike speeds up.Prompt: Which way is the bigger force?
  2. True or false? An object with balanced forces must be still. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Compare the sizes and directions of the forces.

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: Tug of war: add up forces and find the winner; Use patterns of motion to predict what happens next; Contact forces and forces that act at a distance.
  • 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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Which way will it move? Predict from the forces

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    True or false? A still object stays still if the forces on it are balanced.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    A box is resting on smooth ice. It is pushed with 15 N to the left and 15 N to the right at the same time. What happens?

    15 N15 N
    • A. moves to the left
    • B. stays still
    • C. moves to the right

  3. Question 3

    A cyclist pedals harder than the air and road push back. What happens?

    • A. The bike slows down.
    • B. The bike stays at exactly the same speed.
    • C. The bike speeds up.
    • D. The bike moves backwards.

  4. Question 4

    True or false? Balanced forces do not change how an object is moving.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    A box is resting on smooth ice. It is pushed with 35 N to the left and 25 N to the right at the same time. What happens?

    35 N25 N
    • A. moves to the left
    • B. stays still
    • C. moves to the right

  6. Question 6

    Two teams pull a rope equally hard. What happens to the rope?

    • A. It snaps at once.
    • B. It moves towards the bigger team.
    • C. It moves up into the air.
    • D. It stays where it is.

  7. Question 7

    A box is resting on smooth ice. It is pushed with 25 N to the left and 35 N to the right at the same time. What happens?

    25 N35 N
    • A. moves to the left
    • B. stays still
    • C. moves to the right

  8. Question 8

    A book lies still on a table. Gravity pulls it down. Why doesn't it fall?

    • A. The book is too light for gravity.
    • B. The book is holding on to the table.
    • C. There is no gravity indoors.
    • D. The table pushes up with an equal force, so the forces are balanced.

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Answer key: Which way will it move? Predict from the forces

  1. 1. A. True

  2. 2. B. stays still

  3. 3. C. The bike speeds up.

  4. 4. A. True

  5. 5. A. moves to the left

  6. 6. D. It stays where it is.

  7. 7. C. moves to the right

  8. 8. D. The table pushes up with an equal force, so the forces are balanced.