Forces Lesson Plan Forces: Push, Pull, Go!
Comprehensive Lesson Plan
45 Minutes
Why This Lesson?
Understanding forces like push, pull, gravity, and friction helps us explain why things move the way they do! This lesson will help you observe and explain motion in the world around you.
Objective
Students will be able to identify and describe the forces that cause change and motion, such as push, pull, gravity, and friction.
Audience
3rd Grade Individual Student (Tier 3 Intervention)
Preparation
• Review the Lesson Plan , Teacher Script , and all linked materials.
• Set up computer/smartboard for Slide Deck: Forces in Action .
• Print one copy of: Warm-Up: What Moves It? , Worksheet: Force Finders , and Answer Key .
Total Prep Time: 10 minutes
Materials Needed
Slide Deck: Forces in Action
Warm-Up: What Moves It?
Worksheet: Force Finders
Answer Key: Force Finders
Pencil
Cool-Down Exit Ticket
Instructional Steps
1
Warm-Up: What Moves It?
5 MIN
Hand the student the Warm-Up paper. Read instructions aloud. Encourage them to think about pushes, pulls, gravity, and friction. Circulate and check for understanding.
2
Introduction to Forces (Slides & Script)
15 MIN
Use the Slide Deck and Teacher Script to introduce the four key forces. Emphasize real-world examples and interactive demos (demonstrating a push/pull).
3
Worksheet: Force Finders
20 MIN
Distribute the worksheet. Read instructions together. Student completes it independently while you provide targeted support as needed for this Tier 3 setting.
4
Cool-Down: Force Fact Check
5 MIN
Collect worksheet and hand out the Cool-Down ticket. Ask for one thing learned and one remaining question to gauge final understanding.
Forces in Action Slides Forces: Push, Pull, Go!
What makes things move?
Greet the student. Ask them what makes things start or stop moving.
What is a Force?
"A force is a push or a pull on an object."
Push
Move something away from you.
Pull
Move something towards you.
Ask the student to demonstrate a push and a pull with their hands.
Push Power!
🛝
Pushing a Swing
🛒
Pushing a Cart
🔘
Pushing a Button
Discuss examples. Ask the student for their own examples.
Pull Power!
🚜
Pulling a Wagon
🚪
Pulling a Door
🪢
Pulling a Rope
Discuss examples. What is something the student has pulled today?
Gravity's Grasp
An invisible force that pulls everything toward the center of the Earth.
Why does an apple fall down?
Why don't we float away?
🍎
Explain it as an invisible force. Ask: "What happens if you drop a ball?"
Friction's Friend
A force that slows things down or makes it harder for things to move.
The Rule:
It happens when two surfaces rub against each other.
🚲
Using bike brakes to stop.
🧊
Slippery ice has low friction!
Explain friction. Ask: "Why is it harder to push a box on carpet than on a smooth floor?"
Force Wrap-Up!
Push
Pull
Gravity
Friction
"Forces are always at work, making things move and change!"
Review all four forces. Ask for one example of each from the student's daily life.
Guiding Forces Script Guiding Forces
Teacher Instruction Script
Part 1: Warm-Up (5 Minutes)
"Good morning/afternoon, [Student's Name]! Today we're going to explore something super cool: how things move! Have you ever wondered what makes a toy car roll or why a ball drops to the ground?"
"Let's start with a quick warm-up. I'm going to give you this paper called Warm-Up: What Moves It? Look at each picture. For each picture, write down what you think is making the object move. Is someone pushing it? Pulling it? Is gravity pulling it down? Or is friction slowing it down? Just write what comes to mind! You have about 5 minutes."
Teacher Note: Allow student to work. Circulate and observe. Offer gentle prompts if they get stuck, e.g., "What happens if you let go of something?" or "What makes it hard to drag a heavy box?"
Part 2: Introduction to Forces (15 Minutes)
SLIDE 1
"Alright, let's dive into the amazing world of forces! Take a look at our first slide: Forces: Push, Pull, Go! What do you think makes things move?" (Pause for response)
SLIDE 2
"Exactly! Something has to make it go. And that 'something' is usually a force. A force is simply a push or a pull on an object. That's it! If you move something away from you, you're pushing it. If you move something towards you, you're pulling it."
"Can you show me with your hands what a push looks like? And what about a pull? Excellent!"
SLIDE 3-4
"Think about everyday examples. We push swings and buttons. We pull wagons and doors. Can you think of another time you've pushed or pulled something today?"
SLIDE 5
"But there are other forces at work too, even if we can't see them. Look at Gravity's Grasp . Gravity is an invisible force that pulls objects towards the center of the Earth. It's why things fall down, not up!"
"Think about an apple falling from a tree. What makes it fall down? (Gravity!) And why do we stay on the ground and not float away like astronauts? (Gravity!) You got it!"
SLIDE 6
"Now for our last force: Friction . Friction is a force that slows things down or makes it harder for things to move. It happens when two surfaces rub against each other."
Part 3: Force Finders (20 Minutes)
"You've done a great job understanding these forces. Now it's your turn to be a 'Force Finder'! I have a worksheet for you. Let's read the instructions together."
Tier 3 Support Strategy:
For a Tier 3 student, provide explicit guidance. If they struggle with the first item, work through it together using the "Think Aloud" strategy. Remind them to check the Slide Deck for definitions if they feel stuck.
What Moves It Warm-Up What Moves It?
Force Warm-Up Activity
Student Name
Date
Look at each picture. What force is making the object move or change? Write Push , Pull , Gravity , or Friction .
🛝
1. A child sliding down a slide.
🚗
2. Opening a car door.
⚽
3. A ball rolling to a stop on the grass.
👟
4. Kicking a soccer ball.
🌳
5. An apple falling from a tree. Force Finders Worksheet Force Finders
Official Investigator's Worksheet
Name
Date
Mission Instructions:
Read each situation carefully. Decide which force is at work: Push , Pull , Gravity , or Friction . Some might have more than one! Write the force and explain your thinking.
1
The Gravel Patch
You ride your bike on a paved road and then hit a patch of gravel, making your bike slow down.
Which Force?
Explain your answer:
2
The Basketball Arc
You throw a basketball up in the air, and it comes back down into your hands.
Which Force?
Explain your answer:
3
The Heavy Couch
Your mom asks you to help move a heavy couch across the living room.
Which Force?
Explain your answer:
Force Finders • Page 2
4
The Tug-of-War
You are playing tug-of-war with your friends.
Which Force?
Explain your answer:
5
The Swing Push
You are pushing your younger sibling on a swing.
Which Force?
Explain your answer:
Way to go, Force Finder!
You've successfully identified the forces that make our world move. Make sure you check your work before handing it in!
Force Finders Answer Key Answer Key
Force Finders Worksheet
1. The Gravel Patch
Force: Friction
Explanation: Friction is the force that slows things down when two surfaces rub together. The bike tires rubbing against the rough gravel create more friction than the paved road, which slows the bike down.
2. The Basketball Arc
Force: Gravity
Explanation: Gravity is an invisible force that pulls objects towards the center of the Earth. Even though you throw the ball up, gravity pulls it back down to the ground.
3. The Heavy Couch
Force: Push (and potentially Friction)
Explanation: You would need to push the couch to move it away from you. Friction would also be at work, making it harder to push the couch across the floor.
4. The Tug-of-War
Force: Pull
Explanation: In tug-of-war, you are trying to move the rope and your opponents towards you, which is a pulling motion.
5. The Swing Push
Force: Push
Explanation: To make a swing go higher or faster, you apply a force to move it away from you, which is a push .
Encourage the student if they identified multiple forces (e.g., Push and Friction for the couch). Both are correct!
Force Fact Check Exit Ticket Exit Ticket
Force Fact Check
Force Specialist Name
Date
1. Write one NEW thing you learned about forces today:
2. Write one question you still have about forces (if any!):
