Forces | Standard Lesson
Students explore the art concept of forces by using push and pull actions to make marks, move materials, and create a class artwork. The lesson connects movement, cause and effect, and creative expression through hands-on artmaking.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| force | A push or a pull that makes something move or change. |
| push | To move something away from you. |
| pull | To bring something closer to you. |
| move | To change place or position. |
| roll | To move by turning over and over. |
| texture | How something feels or looks like it feels. |
Show students a toy car, a ball, and a sheet of paper. Model pushing and pulling each item safely. Ask, 'What happened when I pushed it? What happened when I pulled it?' Introduce the words force, push, and pull.
Watch, respond with gestures, and practice saying push and pull with the teacher.
Demonstrate three simple art actions: pushing a sponge into paint, pulling a brush across paper, and rolling a toy car through paint to make lines. Point out how each force changes the mark.
Observe closely and name the action they see. Repeat the movement in the air with their hands.
Set up stations where students make marks or textures using different forces: push crayons hard/soft, pull paintbrushes in long strokes, roll cars through paint, and press shapes into playdough. Circulate, prompt language, and support safe tool use.
Rotate through stations, make art with each tool, and say whether they are pushing, pulling, pressing, or rolling.
Invite students to create one artwork on paper using at least two force actions. Encourage them to choose colors, add shapes, and explain their choices. Support students who need help beginning or finishing.
Create a picture or design that uses push and pull actions. Share what forces they used as they work.
Gather students to view a few artworks. Ask, 'Which part shows a push? Which part shows a pull? What changed because of the force?'
Listen, describe their work, and identify one force action in their own or a classmate's art.
Review the words force, push, and pull. Celebrate that artists can use movement to make art and that forces change how materials look and move. Display the artworks and remind students they are force artists.
Assess students through observation during stations and the final artwork. Look for correct use of at least two force actions, participation in discussion, and ability to identify push or pull in their own work. Use a simple teacher checklist or anecdotal notes.