Forces are fun
View Sequence overviewStudents will:
- observe and describe how push and pull forces can change the shape of an object by compressing or stretching it.
Students will represent their understanding as they:
- contribute to class discussions about objects changing shape as a result of push and pull forces.
- draw a diagrammatic representation of forces changing the shape of a ball of playdough, including arrows to show the direction of movement.
In this lesson, assessment is formative.
Feedback might focus on:
- students’ understanding of how pushes and pulls can cause an object to change shape.
- Can students differentiate between the objects that can return to their original shape automatically, and those that need need force to be re-applied in order to return to their original shape?
- the accuracy of their informal measurement techniques.
- Were students careful and precise?
- Did they start and end their measurements in the appropriate place?
- Was the material laid out straight and close to the item being measured?
- Were there any gaps between the objects being used to measure?
Whole class
Class science journal (digital or hard-copy)
A ball of playdough for demonstration purposes (see Preparing for this sequence for a recipe for homemade playdough)
Objects which can change shape as a result of push and pull forces, for example:
- foam balls/sponges
- cloth
- marshmallows
- lolly snakes
- pillows/cushions
- elastic bands/hair ties
- blu-tak
- balloons
Each group
1 ball of playdough (each ball should be the same size)
Equipment to make informal measurements. These might include:
- strips of crepe paper or string
- counters or other concrete materials
- If using concrete materials ensure that all groups use the same material so that accurate comparisons can be made.
Each student
Individual science journal (digital or hard-copy)
Lesson
The Inquire phase allows students to cycle progressively and with increasing complexity through the key science ideas related to the core concepts. Each Inquire cycle is divided into three teaching and learning routines that allow students to systematically build their knowledge and skills in science and incorporate this into their current understanding of the world.
When designing a teaching sequence, it is important to consider the knowledge and skills that students will need in the final Act phase. Consider what the students already know and identify the steps that need to be taken to reach the level required. How could you facilitate students’ understanding at each step? What investigations could be designed to build the skills at each step?
Read more about using the LIA FrameworkRe-orient
Recall that students have seen examples of:
- push and pull forces causing an object to start moving.
- push and pull forces causing an object to change direction.
Describe everyday activities to students and ask them to determine if they would be achieved by a push, a pull or both. Some examples have been included below. Add more as is suitable for your students and context.
- Opening a drawer
- Closing a drawer
- Putting toothpaste on your toothbrush
- Brushing your teeth
- Opening/closing your school bag
The Inquire phase allows students to cycle progressively and with increasing complexity through the key science ideas related to the core concepts. Each Inquire cycle is divided into three teaching and learning routines that allow students to systematically build their knowledge and skills in science and incorporate this into their current understanding of the world.
When designing a teaching sequence, it is important to consider the knowledge and skills that students will need in the final Act phase. Consider what the students already know and identify the steps that need to be taken to reach the level required. How could you facilitate students’ understanding at each step? What investigations could be designed to build the skills at each step?
Read more about using the LIA FrameworkIdentifying and constructing questions is the creative driver of the inquiry process. It allows students to explore what they know and how they know it. During the Inquire phase of the LIA Framework, the Question routine allows for past activities to be reviewed and to set the scene for the investigation that students will undertake. The use of effective questioning techniques can influence students’ view and interpretation of upcoming content, open them to exploration and link to their current interests and science capital.
When designing a teaching sequence, it is important to spend some time considering the mindset of students at the start of each Inquire phase. What do you want students to be thinking about, what do they already know and what is the best way for them to approach the task? What might tap into their curiosity?
Read more about using the LIA FrameworkSoft and squishy
Show students a ball of playdough.
Ask students what they would have to do to the ball of playdough to make it change shape. Demonstrate as required.
Record their ideas in the class science journal.
Pose the question: What do push and pull forces do to a ball of playdough?
The Inquire phase allows students to cycle progressively and with increasing complexity through the key science ideas related to the core concepts. Each Inquire cycle is divided into three teaching and learning routines that allow students to systematically build their knowledge and skills in science and incorporate this into their current understanding of the world.
When designing a teaching sequence, it is important to consider the knowledge and skills that students will need in the final Act phase. Consider what the students already know and identify the steps that need to be taken to reach the level required. How could you facilitate students’ understanding at each step? What investigations could be designed to build the skills at each step?
Read more about using the LIA FrameworkThe Investigate routine provides students with an opportunity to explore the key ideas of science, to plan and conduct an investigation, and to gather and record data. The investigations are designed to systematically develop content knowledge and skills through increasingly complex processes of structured inquiry, guided inquiry and open inquiry approaches. Students are encouraged to process data to identify trends and patterns and link them to the real-world context of the teaching sequence.
When designing a teaching sequence, consider the diagnostic assessment (Launch phase) that identified the alternative conceptions that students held. Are there activities that challenge these ideas and provide openings for discussion? What content knowledge and skills do students need to be able to complete the final (Act phase) task? How could you systematically build these through the investigation routines? Are there opportunities to build students’ understanding and skills in the science inquiry processes through the successive investigations?
Read more about using the LIA FrameworkShaping playdough
Working in teams, students complete the following three challenges.
- Make the longest “snake” out of the ball of playdough using only a push force.
- Make the longest “snake” out of the ball of playdough using only a pull force.
- Make the longest “snake” out of the ball of playdough using both push and pull forces.
At the end of each challenge:
- measure the length of each snake using informal units, for example strips of crepe paper or string, or laying an object, such as counters, end to end and counting how many were needed from the nose to the tail of the snake.
- create a class record of results by making a visual representation of the crepe paper/string or a data table showing the total number of objects used to measure the snake.
- discuss/record the method each team used.
- ensure that students return the playdough to a ball shape.
The Inquire phase allows students to cycle progressively and with increasing complexity through the key science ideas related to the core concepts. Each Inquire cycle is divided into three teaching and learning routines that allow students to systematically build their knowledge and skills in science and incorporate this into their current understanding of the world.
When designing a teaching sequence, it is important to consider the knowledge and skills that students will need in the final Act phase. Consider what the students already know and identify the steps that need to be taken to reach the level required. How could you facilitate students’ understanding at each step? What investigations could be designed to build the skills at each step?
Read more about using the LIA FrameworkFollowing an investigation, the Integrate routine provides time and space for data to be evaluated and insights to be synthesized. It reveals new insights, consolidates and refines representations, generalises context and broadens students’ perspectives. It allows student thinking to become visible and opens formative feedback opportunities. It may also lead to further questions being asked, allowing the Inquire phase to start again.
When designing a teaching sequence, consider the diagnostic assessment that was undertaken during the Launch phase. Consider if alternative conceptions could be used as a jumping off point to discussions. How could students represent their learning in a way that would support formative feedback opportunities? Could small summative assessment occur at different stages in the teaching sequence?
Read more about using the LIA FrameworkTaking shape
In the following Integrate routine, students are guided to link their experiences and observations in the investigation to the science concept being explored—that is, that pushes and pulls can make things change shape. Through questioning and discussion, students should come to a consensus that:
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Discuss the different techniques/methods students used to push and pull the playdough to create the longest snake, and what the forces did to the playdough.
- Did all teams use the same pushing (only) technique? How were the methods used the same/different?
- Which pushing (only) technique made the longest snakes?
- Did all teams use the same pulling (only) technique? How were the methods used the same/different?
- Which pulling (only) technique made the longest snakes?
- Did all teams use the same combined pushing and pulling techniques? How were the methods used the same/different?
- Which combined pushing and pulling technique made the longest snakes? How do you know?
- Which technique do you think was the best? Why do you think that?
- How did the push and pull forces change the playdough?
- Was the change permanent, or could the playdough go back to its original shape?
- How did you get the playdough back to its original shape?
- Why do you think we could push and pull the playdough to change its shape?
- Could we do the same thing with other objects? Which ones?
Show students other objects which can change shape as a result of push and pull forces. Ask students to sort the objects into the following categories:
- Objects that need more pushing and pulling to go back to their original shape (like the playdough).
- Objects that go back to their original shape by themselves when you stop push/pulling them.
- Objects that don’t go back to their original shape at all.
Ask students if they would describe these objects with the same words they used to describe the playdough and why/why not.
Reflect on the lesson
You might:
- add relevant vocabulary and images to the class word wall.
- discuss how students might use their experiences and what they’ve learned this lesson when designing their own activity.