Understanding Forces

Lesson Overview

This lesson introduces Year 5 pupils to the concept of forces, a core topic within the UK Science National Curriculum for Key Stage 2. It focuses on helping students identify, understand, and give real-life examples of common types of forces, including gravity, friction, air resistance, and upthrust. Through interactive and age-appropriate activities, pupils will begin developing a firm grasp of how forces impact the world around them.

Curriculum Alignment

Topic: Forces and Magnets
Curriculum Objective: Pupils should learn to:

• Explain that unsupported objects fall towards Earth because of the force of gravity acting between the Earth and the object.
• Identify the effects of air resistance, water resistance, and friction.
• Recognise how forces are essential to how objects move, stop, or stay still.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this 45-minute lesson, pupils will:

1. Understand that forces are pushes, pulls or resistances that occur when two objects interact.
2. Identify and describe examples of common forces, such as gravity, friction, air resistance, and upthrust, in everyday life.
3. Use key vocabulary confidently when describing forces.

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Resources and Materials

1. Teacher resources: Large printed flashcards of key vocabulary (e.g. force, gravity, friction, air resistance, upthrust).
2. Pupil resources: Mini whiteboards and markers, a ping-pong ball, a rubber band, a toy parachute, a cup of water, science notebooks.
3. Demonstration props: Heavy books, a ramp-board covered with various surfaces (carpet, sandpaper, plastic), different-sized balls.

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Key Vocabulary

These terms will be introduced and used during discussion and activities:

• Force – A push or pull on an object.
• Gravity – The force that pulls everything toward Earth's centre.
• Friction – A force between two surfaces that slows objects down.
• Air Resistance – A force that acts against objects moving through air.
• Upthrust – A force in water that pushes things upwards.

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Lesson Structure

1. Engage (5 Minutes)

Class Starter – Everyday Forces:
Begin by holding up a ping-pong ball and a rubber band. Ask:

• “What happens when I stretch this band and let go?”
• “What makes the ball roll when I push it across the desk?”

Encourage a brief discussion on "what makes things move, stop, or slow down." Write pupil answers on the board to highlight prior understanding.

Explain: "Today, we are going to explore a strange and exciting idea—a world that is full of forces! These forces are at work even when we don’t notice them!"

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2. Explain (10 Minutes)

Use props and visuals to explain the following forces:

1. Gravity: Drop a ball and ask why it falls to the ground. Explain the concept of the Earth’s pull.
2. Friction: Slide a book on the table and another on a ramp covered with sandpaper. Ask which travels further and why.
3. Air Resistance: Drop a toy parachute alongside a stone. Discuss why one falls slower than the other.
4. Upthrust: Push a cup under water and ask why it tries to float back up.

Throughout, use the flashcards for key vocab, emphasising their spellings and meanings.

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3. Explore (20 Minutes)

Activity 1: ‘Force Investigators’ (10 minutes)
Divide the class into pairs and provide simple tasks they can complete at their desks:

• Rolling a ball across a table to identify friction.
• Blowing on the ball to create air resistance.
• Pressing down on a toy boat in water to observe upthrust.
  Encourage pupils to record their observations in their notebooks with simple sentence starters, such as:
• "When I rolled the ball, I noticed friction because…"
• "The parachute fell slower because of..."

Activity 2: Whole Class Demonstration (10 minutes)
Use the ramp-board and ask pupils to predict how far a ball will roll on smooth vs rough surfaces. Record results on the board to show how friction changes depending on surface texture.

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4. Elaborate (5 minutes)

Bring the class together to discuss key findings:

• Why do certain objects move faster or slower?
• Where do we encounter gravity, friction, or air resistance in real life?

Use everyday examples to bridge their understanding (e.g. sliding on ice = low friction, riding bikes = air resistance).

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5. Evaluate (5 Minutes)

Quick Quiz – Forces Challenge:
Prepare 4 questions based on the lesson:

1. “What pulls objects to the ground?”
2. "Name a force that slows objects down as they slide."
3. "What makes a parachute fall slowly to the ground?"
4. "What happens when an object is pushed underwater?"

Pupils can hold up mini whiteboards with their answers (or use gestures, e.g. thumbs up for "gravity", palms pushing for "force"). Correct and clarify as needed.

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Homework Task: Forces in Action

Pupils should find and draw 3 different examples of forces at work in their everyday environment (e.g. a ball falling, a bicycle braking, or floating toys in water). Underneath each drawing, they should label the force and briefly explain it.

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Additional Notes for the Teacher

• Keep energy levels high during explanations and activities by asking lots of questions and encouraging predictions.
• Highlight cross-curricular links with Maths (distance comparisons in investigations) and English (using scientific vocabulary correctly).
• Provide extra support for pupils struggling with abstract concepts by using the props for reinforcement and breaking down definitions further.

This lesson is designed to provoke curiosity about forces while giving pupils a strong foundational understanding that links to their everyday lives!