Forces | Guided Practice
In this guided practice lesson, children explore forces by using their bodies and simple classroom materials to push and pull objects. Students will observe how pushes and pulls make things move, compare different results, and practice describing what they notice using age-appropriate science language.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| force | A push or a pull that makes something move. |
| push | To make something move away from you. |
| pull | To bring something closer to you. |
| move | To change place or position. |
| direction | The way something goes, like forward, back, or sideways. |
Show a picture or demonstrate with a ball. Ask, “How can we make it move?” Model a push and a pull with clear, simple language. Record student ideas on chart paper.
Children watch, answer questions, and use body motions to show pushing and pulling.
Place a toy car or ball on the floor. Invite children to take turns gently pushing it across a taped line. Ask guiding questions: “What did you do?” “Where did it go?” “Did it move fast or slow?”
Children take turns pushing objects and describing what they notice with support from the teacher.
Demonstrate pulling a basket, wagon, or ribbon-tied object. Model safe, gentle pulling. Ask children to predict what will happen before each turn.
Children take turns pulling objects and comparing the movement to the push activity.
Use picture cards or the objects from the activity. Guide children to sort examples into “push” and “pull” on chart paper. Reinforce vocabulary with gestures.
Children help sort examples and repeat the words push, pull, and force.
Set up a short path with tape, blocks, or cones. Ask partners to move an object using only a push first, then only a pull. Prompt children to notice changes in direction or distance.
Children work with a partner to complete the movement challenge and share observations.
Gather the class and ask, “What did you learn about pushes and pulls?” Write a few student responses. Highlight that a force is a push or a pull.
Children share what they observed and help restate the main idea.
Review the key idea: a force is a push or a pull. Invite children to show with their hands how to push and pull, then end with a quick class chant: “Push and pull make things move!”
Teacher observation during guided practice, partner work, and the final share-out. Use a simple checklist to note whether each child can identify pushes and pulls, describe movement, and participate safely.