Introduction
Welcome to Second Grade Science!
This year, we’re diving into the exciting world of Force and Motion, one of our Georgia Second Grade Science Standards. We’ll explore how objects move, what causes them to speed up, slow down, or stop, and how pushes and pulls work in our everyday lives. Through fun experiments, hands-on activities, and real-life examples, students will become young scientists as they discover how force and motion are all around us. Get ready to investigate, experiment, and learn in motion!
Task
We will observe, describe, and compare how different forces (pushes and pulls) affect the motion of objects.
Let's start by watching these two videos:
Instructions:
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Gather a small set of classroom objects (e.g., toy cars, marbles, books, erasers, or balls).
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With a partner, test what happens when you push each object across a table. Then try to pull it back.
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Try using more force and less force to see what changes. Does it go faster? Slower? Farther? Not at all?
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Record your findings on the Push & Pull Motion Chart:
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Object
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What happened when we pushed it
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What happened when we pulled it
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What happened when we used more force
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In your science journal:
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Which object was the easiest to move? Why?
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What happened when you used more force?
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Can you think of real-life examples of when we use pushes and pulls?
Process
Class Class!
Today we’re going to learn about something we do every single day, pushing and pulling!
These are both types of force.
A force is just a fancy science word for a way to make something move!
What is a Push?
A push is when you use your hands (or your body) to move something away from you.
Examples of pushing:
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Pushing a door to open it
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Pushing a toy car across the floor
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Pushing a friend on the swing (they go forward!)
What is a Pull?
A pull is when you use your hands (or your body) to move something closer to you.
Examples of pulling:
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Pulling open a drawer
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Pulling your backpack toward you
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Pulling a wagon
What’s the Difference?
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If it moves away, it’s a push.
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If it moves closer, it’s a pull.
Evaluation
Let's record our finding in our science journal.
On the first page list and define your vocabulary words for this chapter.
On the next page answer this prompt:
Pushing and pulling objects everyday helps me because...
Conclusion
Alright Class!
Today we learned about how things move!
You discovered that a push moves things away, and a pull brings things closer. These are both types of force that we use every single day!
Now we can start looking for pushing and pulling everywhere, on the playground, in your house, even in your classroom!
Scientists like you are always asking questions and noticing how the world works.
and remember...
You have the power to move things—with science!
Credits
Standards
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S2P2.a: Demonstrate how pushing and pulling an object affects the motion of the object.
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S2P2.b: Demonstrate the effects of changes of speed on an object.
Teacher Page
Hello!
For this lesson in second grade science, we’ll be exploring exciting topics that help students understand the world around them.
One of our main focuses will be on Force and Motion.
We’ll test how pushes and pulls affect the way things move.
We Will Learn:
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What a force is and how it works
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How to observe and describe motion
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How using more or less force changes the movement of an object
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How to make predictions, test ideas, and talk about what they find—just like real scientists!
At Home You Can:
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Push or pull objects at home
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Push and pull items outside (like pulling a wagon or pushing a grocery cart) and discuss the motion
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Use words like push, pull, slow, and fast to build vocabulary