Pushes and Pulls

In this unit, students will use hands-on investigations to discover how pushes and pulls affect the speed and direction of moving objects. They will act out pushes and pulls, create and test prototypes, and use drawings and dramatic play to construct explanations for the cause-and-effect relationships between forces and the motion of objects. This unit will help students understand forces and motion, develop inquiry skills, and analyze data to construct explanations and solutions.  

Hands-on Activities: 

• Pinwheel investigation 
• Demonstrating pushes and pulls through dramatic play 
• Nerf ball motion lab 
• Wind movement model drawing  
• Use of abacuses to explore forces and effort  
• Reading exercises that build literacy skills, cross-cultural connections, and STEM knowledge  

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):

K-PS2-1 •  K-PS2-2