Begin the lesson by discussing everyday experiences where students have seen objects fall, such as a pencil dropping or a ball bouncing. This will help them connect with the concept of gravity.
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Gravity
Learning Objectives
- Understand that gravity is a force that pulls objects towards the Earth.
- Identify that a push can propel objects into the air, but gravity brings them back down.
- Recognize that gravity acts on all objects, regardless of their size.
- Explain why objects fall to the ground when dropped.
Introduction and Hook
Introduce the concept of gravity by asking students to imagine what would happen if there was no gravity. Engage them in a brief discussion about how gravity affects their daily lives.
Direct Instruction
Explain that gravity is a force that pulls objects towards the Earth, using simple examples like a ball thrown in the air.
Discuss how gravity acts on all objects, regardless of their size, and why objects fall to the ground when dropped.
Guided Exploration
Watch the video 'What is a Force?' to understand the basic principles of forces as pushes or pulls. This will help students relate the concept of gravity to other forces they encounter.
Engage students in a discussion about how gravity works in tandem with other forces, such as when a ball is thrown and then falls back to the ground.
Hands-On Activity
Conduct a simple experiment where students drop various objects and observe how gravity pulls them to the ground. Discuss why some objects fall faster than others.
Use the 'Describing and Predicting Motion' assessment to have students draw and describe the motion of objects under the influence of gravity.
Independent Practice
Encourage students to explore gravity at home by observing how different objects fall and recording their observations.
Assign the 'Gravity' assessment to reinforce their understanding of how gravity affects various objects.
Check for Understanding
Have a class discussion to review key concepts about gravity. Ask students to explain why objects fall to the ground and how gravity affects them.
Use the 'What Forces Can Do' assessment to evaluate students' understanding of how gravity and other forces interact.
Review and Reflection
Reflect on the lesson by discussing what students found most interesting about gravity and how it affects their daily lives.
Encourage students to think about other forces they encounter and how they interact with gravity.
Assessment and Extension
Administer the 'Review – Forces and Motion' assessment to test students' comprehension of the unit.
Try the Quiz
For further exploration, students can work on the 'Set It in Motion!' assessment to apply their understanding of forces and gravity in real-world scenarios.
