• 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 newtons (N). / When forces are balanced, a moving object keeps moving at the same speed in the same direction. / When forces are balanced, a still object stays still. / If an object is moving, the forces on it cannot be balanced.) → If an object is moving, the forces on it cannot be balanced.Prompt: Can something move steadily with balanced forces?

• 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.

• 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.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. On the Moon, an astronaut dropped a hammer and a feather at the same time. What happened? (The feather landed first / The hammer landed first / They floated away / They hit the ground together) → They hit the ground togetherPrompt: The Moon has no air.
2. Gravity: which statement is true? (Gravity is weaker on the Moon than on Earth. / There is no gravity in space. / Heavy objects always fall faster than light ones. / Gravity only acts on things that are falling.) → Gravity is weaker on the Moon than on Earth.Prompt: What keeps the Moon going round the Earth?

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Gravity: which statement is NOT true? (The Earth's gravity keeps the Moon in orbit. / There is no gravity in space. / Without air resistance, a heavy and a light object fall at the same rate. / Gravity is a force that attracts objects with mass towards each other.) → There is no gravity in space.Prompt: Why does the space station stay in orbit?
2. Gravity: which statement is true? (Heavy objects always fall faster than light ones. / There is no gravity in space. / Gravity is a force that attracts objects with mass towards each other. / Gravity only acts on things that are falling.) → Gravity is a force that attracts objects with mass towards each other.Prompt: What keeps the Moon going round the Earth?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-5.