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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? (Forces are measured in kilograms. / 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. / Forces are measured in newtons (N).) → 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: 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. Which way does gravity pull objects near Earth? (up, towards the sky / sideways / towards the Sun only / down, towards the centre of the Earth) → down, towards the centre of the EarthPrompt: What happens when you drop a ball?
  2. Gravity: which statement is true? (Gravity is weaker on the Moon than on Earth. / There is no gravity in space. / Gravity only acts on things that are falling. / Heavy objects always fall faster than light ones.) → 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. People in Australia do not fall off the Earth. Why? (They hold on tightly / They wear heavy shoes / Gravity pulls everyone towards the centre of the Earth / Australia has no gravity) → 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 NOT true? (Gravity is weaker on the Moon than on Earth. / Without air resistance, a heavy and a light object fall at the same rate. / The Earth's gravity keeps the Moon in orbit. / Astronauts float in the space station because there is no gravity there.) → Astronauts float in the space station because there is no gravity there.Prompt: Why does the space station stay in orbit?

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

    Gravity: which statement is true?

    • A. There is no gravity in space.
    • B. Heavy objects always fall faster than light ones.
    • C. Gravity only acts on things that are falling.
    • D. Gravity is a force that attracts objects with mass towards each other.

  2. Question 2

    Gravity: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. The Earth's gravity keeps the Moon in orbit.
    • B. There is no gravity in space.
    • C. Gravity is weaker on the Moon than on Earth.
    • D. Without air resistance, a heavy and a light object fall at the same rate.

  3. Question 3

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

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

  4. Question 4

    Which way does gravity pull objects near Earth?

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

  5. Question 5

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

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

  6. Question 6

    Who is famous for describing gravity after watching things fall?

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

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Answer key: Gravity

  1. 1. D. Gravity is a force that attracts objects with mass towards each other.

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

  3. 3. D. They hit the ground together

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

  5. 5. A. Gravity pulls everyone towards the centre of the Earth

  6. 6. D. Isaac Newton