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Science lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 60 minutes

Air resistance and water resistance

Forces and motion

CCSS NGSS.MS-PS2-2England: KS2 Y5 Forces

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Air resistance and water resistance.

  • 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: Friction; Gravity

Leads to: Newton's laws of motion

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

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Friction; Gravity). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. People in Australia do not fall off the Earth. Why? (Gravity pulls everyone towards the centre of the Earth / They hold on tightly / They wear heavy shoes / 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. Why do people oil a squeaky bicycle chain? (to increase friction / to make it magnetic / to make it heavier / to reduce friction) → to reduce frictionPrompt: Oil makes surfaces slippery.
  3. Who is famous for describing gravity after watching things fall? (Marie Curie / Thomas Edison / Charles Darwin / Isaac Newton) → Isaac NewtonPrompt: A story says an apple fell near him.

Hook · 6 min

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

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Why are fish and boats streamlined (smooth and pointed)?
  • Step 1: Streamlining reduces water resistance, so they move faster using less energy.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: to reduce water resistance
  • Answer: to reduce water resistance
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 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 falls slowest: a flat sheet of paper or the same paper screwed into a ball? (they always land together / the flat sheet / neither falls / the ball of paper) → the flat sheetPrompt: They have the same mass. What is different?
  2. A skydiver falls at a steady top speed (terminal velocity). What is true about the forces? (Weight and air resistance are balanced / There is no weight / Air resistance is bigger than weight / There is no air resistance) → Weight and air resistance are balancedPrompt: Steady speed means no resultant force.

You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Why does a parachute slow a skydiver down? (It makes the skydiver lighter / Its large surface creates a lot of air resistance / It is full of helium / It turns off gravity) → Its large surface creates a lot of air resistancePrompt: The parachute pushes against lots of air.
  2. Why is it harder to walk through water than through air? (Gravity is stronger in water / Air pushes you forward / Water resistance is much bigger than air resistance / Water has no particles) → Water resistance is much bigger than air resistancePrompt: Water particles are much closer together than air particles.

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: Friction.
  • 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: Newton's laws of motion.
  • 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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Air resistance and water resistance

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Air and water resistance: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. A parachute with a bigger area falls more slowly.
    • B. Air resistance pulls falling objects downwards.
    • C. Air resistance acts against the direction of motion.
    • D. Streamlined shapes reduce air and water resistance.

  2. Question 2

    Why does air resistance increase as a cyclist goes faster?

    • A. The cyclist hits more air particles each second
    • B. Gravity gets stronger
    • C. The bike gets bigger
    • D. The air gets heavier

  3. Question 3

    Why are fish and boats streamlined (smooth and pointed)?

    • A. to look nice
    • B. to reduce water resistance
    • C. to increase water resistance
    • D. to float higher

  4. Question 4

    Which is the best shape for a fast racing car?

    • A. tall and square
    • B. covered in flags
    • C. low and streamlined
    • D. flat and wide like a sheet

  5. Question 5

    Why does a parachute slow a skydiver down?

    • A. It turns off gravity
    • B. Its large surface creates a lot of air resistance
    • C. It makes the skydiver lighter
    • D. It is full of helium

  6. Question 6

    A skydiver falls at a steady top speed (terminal velocity). What is true about the forces?

    • A. There is no weight
    • B. Weight and air resistance are balanced
    • C. There is no air resistance
    • D. Air resistance is bigger than weight

  7. Question 7

    Which falls slowest: a flat sheet of paper or the same paper screwed into a ball?

    • A. neither falls
    • B. the ball of paper
    • C. the flat sheet
    • D. they always land together

  8. Question 8

    Cyclists crouch low over their handlebars in races. Why?

    • A. to increase friction with the road
    • B. to see the road better
    • C. to make the bike heavier
    • D. to reduce air resistance

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Answer key: Air resistance and water resistance

  1. 1. B. Air resistance pulls falling objects downwards.

  2. 2. A. The cyclist hits more air particles each second

  3. 3. B. to reduce water resistance

  4. 4. C. low and streamlined

  5. 5. B. Its large surface creates a lot of air resistance

  6. 6. B. Weight and air resistance are balanced

  7. 7. C. the flat sheet

  8. 8. D. to reduce air resistance