Newton’s Laws of Motion Lesson Plan: Interpreting and applying the three laws of motion
Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Newton’s Laws of Motion, and supports the standard of interpreting and applying Newton’s three laws of motion. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of creative projects.
Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
Place a ball on a surface where it has space to roll. Ask:
- What are some ways we can make the ball move?
- What will happen when I push the ball?
- What if I push it even harder?
- What will cause the ball to stop rolling?
Push the ball so it rolls and then comes to a stop. Ask:
- What forces acted on the ball?
- What can we determine about how forces act upon objects based on what you’ve observed?
Step 2: BUILD BACKGROUND
- Read aloud the description below the Movie player.
- Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding.
- Have students read one of the following Related Reading articles: “Theory,” or “Way Back When.” Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.
Step 3: APPLY
Students synthesize their ideas and express them through one or more of the following creative projects. They can work individually or collaborate.
- Make-a-Movie: Choose a real-world example that showcases any of Newton’s laws of motion and document how it is applied.
- Make-a-Map: Create a concept map identifying all of the forces at play when you are in a car and someone slams on the brakes.
- Creative Coding: Code a sorting game where students sort examples of the three laws of motion.
Step 4: REFLECT & ASSESS
- Reflect: After sharing creative projects with each other, students reflect on what they’ve learned about Newton’s Laws of Motion. Prompt them by asking questions such as:
- When do we see Newton’s first law of motion in the real world?
- When do we see Newton’s second law of motion in the real world?
- When do we see Newton’s third law of motion in the real world?
- Assess: Wrap up the lesson with a Newton’s Laws of Motion Challenge.
Step 5: EXTEND LEARNING
Continue exploring energy concepts with BrainPOP’s Forces Movie.
Energize learning with BrainPOP’s Energy Skate Park Game.
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