Understanding Pushes & Pulls

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🗂 Curriculum Information

Subject Area: Science
Grade Level: 7th Grade (Middle School)
Unit Title: Exploring Forces and Motion (Lesson 1 of 13)
US Curriculum Alignment:
aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
NGSS Performance Expectation:

• MS-PS2-1: Apply Newton’s Third Law to design a solution to a problem involving the motion of two colliding objects.
• Science and Engineering Practices: Asking questions and defining problems; Planning and carrying out investigations
• Disciplinary Core Idea: PS2.A: Forces and Motion
• Crosscutting Concept: Cause and effect relationships can be used to predict behavior of systems.

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🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this 60-minute lesson, students will be able to:

1. Define what a force is in scientific terms.
2. Identify and describe different types of forces (gravity, friction, applied force, etc.).
3. Observe and record examples of forces acting in the classroom and real-life contexts.
4. Reflect on how unbalanced and balanced forces impact motion.

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📅 Lesson Overview

Time	Activity
5 min	Do Now & Introduction
10 min	Engage Activity: “Guess the Force”
10 min	Explore: Mini Lab – “Force Hunt”
12 min	Explain: Direct Instruction with Visual Anchors
10 min	Elaborate: Group Discussion & Scenario Cards
8 min	Evaluate: Exit Ticket & Reflection
5 min	Wrap-up & Homework Assignment

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🧠 Prior Knowledge

To ensure accessibility for all students, this lesson assumes no prior detailed science knowledge other than basic everyday experiences with motion and objects.

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✏️ Materials Needed

• Whiteboard or Smartboard
• Sticky notes (one per student)
• Clipboards & paper
• Pre-made Scenario Cards (included below)
• Printed "Force Hunt" checklists
• Timer or stopwatch
• Magnets, toy cars, rubber bands, coins, books (optional for station set-ups)

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⏱ 0–5 mins: Do Now & Hook (Engage)

Activity Name: “Push or Pull?”
Students walk in to find two large signs on the board: “Push” and “Pull.”

Prompt:
“Write one example from your life where you use a ‘push’ or a ‘pull’. Stick your answer on the front board under the correct category.”

Teacher quickly scans responses and uses them to explain:

“Every force is either a push or a pull — let’s explore what that means in science terms.”

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🎲 5–15 mins: Interactive Activity (Engage)

Activity Name: “Guess the Force”

Instructions:

• Teacher mimics or uses props to act out various real-life examples of actions (e.g., tugging a drawer open, slipping on the floor, a car slowing down, apple falling).
• Students guess:
  • What is causing the motion?
  • What kind of force is involved? (push, pull, gravity, friction, etc.)
  • Is the force unbalanced or balanced?

Purpose:
Activates prior knowledge and introduces a rich, age-appropriate discussion on different types of forces with motion examples students can relate to.

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🔍 15–25 mins: Explore - Active Learning

Activity Name: “Force Hunt” (Mini Investigation)

Instructions:

• In small teams (5 students), students get a Force Hunt checklist featuring types of forces: gravity, friction, applied force, air resistance, magnetic force.
• Their goal is to locate at least 2 examples of each type of force in action inside the classroom or from their own physical interactions.
• They must:
  • Describe the situation in words
  • Identify the objects involved
  • Label the type of force
  • Decide if the forces seem balanced or unbalanced

Differentiation Tip:
Assign roles within groups (recorder, reporter, timer, etc.) to support structured, equitable collaboration.

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🧑‍🏫 25–37 mins: Explain - Direct Instruction

Mode: Visual-based Mini-Lecture

Key Concepts:

• Definition of Force: "A push or pull upon an object resulting from the object's interaction with another object."
• Units of Force: Newtons (N)
• Types of Forces:
  • Contact Forces: Friction, Applied, Tension
  • Non-Contact Forces: Gravity, Magnetic, Electrical
• Balanced vs. Unbalanced Forces
• Introduce visuals: Newton pushing a cart, magnets repelling, book on desk with equal forces.

Use simple diagrams, animations (if available), and anchor the board with a key “Forces In Everyday Life” chart.

Check for Understanding:
Quick thumbs-up/thumbs-side/thumbs-down for each type of force described.

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🧑‍🤝‍🧑 37–47 mins: Elaborate - Group Challenge

Activity Name: Force Scenario Cards

Prepare pre-made cards with real-life situations. Example:

• “An apple falls from a tree.”
• “A skateboard suddenly stops.”
• “A tug-of-war game.”
• “A magnet attracts a nail across the table.”

Tasks (in small groups):

1. Identify the force(s) at play
2. Classify: Push, pull, or both
3. Balanced or unbalanced?
4. Predict: What would happen if the force changed?

Extension Prompt:

“How might this situation change in space? (no gravity / less friction).”

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📌 47–55 mins: Evaluate - Exit Ticket

Prompt:

1. What is one new thing you learned about forces today?
2. Give an everyday example of a force in action.
3. Is it balanced or unbalanced? Why?
4. Bonus: Can forces exist without motion? Explain your thinking.

Collect responses to assess conceptual understanding and identify misconceptions for upcoming lessons.

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⏳ 55–60 mins: Wrap-Up & Homework

Wrap-Up Summary (Teacher-led):

• Forces are everywhere! You’ve used them today without even realizing it.
• Forces affect how things move, stop, or stay still.

Homework:
"Force Reflection" — Write a short paragraph (4–5 sentences) about a moment from your day (at home, in sports, commuting, etc.) that involved forces. Name the force, describe the objects involved, and analyze the motion.

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🧰 Teacher Tips & Differentiation

• English Language Learners (ELL): Provide bilingual labeled visuals for each type of force.
• Students with IEPs: Allow extra time on force hunt and offer voice recordings for reflections.
• Advanced Learners: Introduce net force calculations conceptually or provide challenge cards involving multiple overlapping forces.

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🔄 Looking Ahead

In the next lesson, students will engage with Newton’s First Law (Inertia) and begin applying force concepts to understand object behavior in motion and rest.

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📝 Assessment Criteria

Student understanding should be judged based on:

• Exit tickets (conceptual grasp)
• Participation & accuracy in Force Hunt activity
• Reasoning during scenario card challenge
• Quality of written reflection for homework

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🎉 Bonus Element: “WOW” Moment

Sound, Sight & Motion Quick Demo (1 min):

Drop a feather and a coin (in classroom and/or in a transparent vacuum tube if available) to spark natural questions:

“Why do they fall differently?” Let them wonder — next week, they'll learn more about air resistance and gravity!

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This lesson is designed to captivate curiosity, frame scientific thinking, and build a foundation for understanding forces through meaningful, relatable experiences — perfect for incoming middle school scientists.