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Ideas For Learning About Forces and Motion
May 30, 2020 By Emma Vanstone 7 Comments
Forces are all around us and affect everything we do. With that in mind, I’ve put together a collection of ideas for learning about forces and motion with fun forces and motion experiments for everyone, from preschoolers to grown-ups. There are friction experiments, gravity experiments, air resistance experiments, and lots more! Each activity is easy to set up and works well as a science project for home or school.
If you’re looking for a book full of force experiments, This IS Rocket Science might be just what you’re looking for! It contains SEVENTY experiments all about the forces involved in space travel!
Let’s start with some basics.
Forces and Motion – What is a force?
A force is a push or a pull. Forces can make objects move or stop, speed them up or slow them down. If you push a toy car it moves, if you push it harder it moves faster. Forces can also make objects change direction or shape.
A lighter object needs less force to move than a heavier object. For example you could push an empty box easily, but a filled box would be harder, it would need more force to move.
If you give a toy car a push what happens? It speeds up and then slows down. The reason it slows down is because of two forces, air resistance and friction.
Air resistance is air pushing on a moving object which slows it down.
Friction is the force between two objects when you rub them together. Try rubbing your hands together? Do they get hot? You feel the friction between your hands as heat.
Air resistance and friction take time to slow an object down, if you want an object to stop quickly you need to apply further force, for example a brake on a bike.
Other examples of forces are magnetism, gravity and air pressure.
Over the years we’ve completed lots of forces experiments on Science Sparks, here are the best ones.
Learn about simple push and pull forces in this easy activity.
Friction Experiments for Kids
What is friction.
Friction tries to stop objects sliding past each other. Friction allows things to start and stop moving and slows them down.
Imagine sliding two strips of ribbon over each other and then think how hard it would be with two velcro strips. There is more friction between the velcro strips than the ribbon. The amount of friction between two objects depends on what the objects are made from. The rougher the surface the more friction is produced, this is why rockets are streamlined!
Friction Experiments
Find out why you slip and slide more on smooth surfaces than rougher surfaces with this slipping and sliding activity. Do be careful not to fall over though.
A toy zip line is the garden is a great way to learn about friction and fun science project too!
Discover why we salt/grit icy roads in winter.
Investigate which material would make the best ice hockey puck . We want to reduce friction for a good puck as it needs to move quickly and cleanly across the ice.
Learn about reducing friction with this easy Hovercraft
Gravity Experiments for kids
A film canister rocket is a great demonstration of lots of different forces, but it falls back to the ground thanks to gravity.
Water powered bottle rockets are another fantastic example of gravity and lots of other forces too!
Discover a cool science trick to defy gravity using magnets.
Design and build straw rockets and launch at different angles to investigate how the flight trajectory changes.
For younger children, try this fun gravity activity from Inspiration Laboratories .
Making vehicles move – science experiments
We used carbon dioxide released from a baking soda and vinegar reaction to power a bottle boat .
Store up energy in an elastic band to make a cotton reel car move.
Slightly more simple and much more powerful is our balloon powered car .
Red Ted Art made a fun elastic powered tugboat which moves using the energy stored when you wind up an elastic band.
Magnet Experiments for Kids
Make an easy magnet maze with cardboard or even a LEGO maze .
Build some easy magnet powered cars or a magnet powered boat.
How about a magnet sensory bottle ?
Air Resistance Experiments for Kids
Explore gravity and air resistance with these simple paper spinners .
Make a parachute , can you save an egg?
Air Pressure Experiments
Watch a boiled egg drop into a bottle with a little science magic.
Make a bottle rocket . Remember you need lots of space for this one as the rocket shoots up quickly and very high!
Watch water rise with a cool air pressure experiment .
Pop the lid off a bottle with these coin poppers .
Make these shooters and explore trajectory and aerodynamics .
How about a film canister rocket ? These are great fun, always work, and fly with a pop!
More ideas for learning about forces and motion
Make a simple stomp rocket !
Try this easy inertia experiment where an object drops straight down into a glass!
Learn about kinetic energy with a homemade slingshot or lollystick catapult .
Drop water balloons filled with paint and compare splatter patterns from different heights.
Explore energy and ‘bouncy-ness’ with some balls and different surfaces.
Try this milk jug rocket craft and experiment from Red Ted Art.
Find out how you can stand on a paper cup without it breaking .
Why do you get dizzy on a roundabout ? It’s all about the forces.
You could investigate the force needed to break an eggshell .
Finally, do you know why a balloon makes a funny noise when you let it go?
Finally, learn all about Newton’s famous Laws of Motion with even more brilliant science experiments for learning about forces.
We’ll be adding to this list constantly, so do keep popping back for more great ideas for forces and motion experiments for kids .
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Last Updated on April 19, 2024 by Emma Vanstone
Safety Notice
Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.
These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.
Reader Interactions
January 29, 2014 at 9:40 pm
Love this collection, Emma!
March 03, 2015 at 7:19 pm
Wow! I love these ideas, they are fantastic!! I will be definitely be featuring these ideas on my latest post (www.thegrade3teacher.com). Thanks for sharing!
March 04, 2016 at 12:51 pm
Thanks for these ideas… It will help my kids learn about forces. Great input
July 27, 2016 at 2:29 am
Wow! What a great collection of activities that show various engineering concepts!
April 03, 2017 at 8:10 pm
Thank you everyone if you have a ? Email me @ [email protected]
April 05, 2018 at 10:32 pm
-such good ideas on forces.I so have to try one.I like the one with the ballon and car…
April 05, 2018 at 10:39 pm
I am so going to so try this with my kids for a science project.Im going to tell more people about this app.
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19 Fun Ideas & Resources for Force and Motion
Teach force and motion with style by using experiments, free printables and resources that will help bring science concepts alive. This collection of force and motion ideas should help you cover the topics of texture, gravity, incline and some simple machines .
If you’re looking for fun ideas, then this is the place to start!
Ideas to Experiment with Force and Motion
1. Angle Height and Track Texture – Use basic classroom materials like books to experiment on angle height (incline) to work on developing predictions. Use the same experiment set up to change the variable of ramp texture to experiment with friction.
2. Elementary Exploration: Friction – Using rulers, a wood block and a few materials, you can create a similar experiment to above to see how students can compare what they’ve learned about friction using a car and texture and apply it to this situation. Using rulers will allow students to share accurate measurements for their incline. {Free download}
3. Incline Marble Races – To create some basic concepts about the way incline effects the way things move, try creating some marble races. Allow students to experiment and record their findings using simple materials and varying heights using objects like a bookshelf.
4. Forces in Action: Play – This interactive website will recreate a similar set of experiments virtually and allow students to adjust the incline and add parachutes to add drag. What concepts can students solidify using the included table based on their virtual experiments? Great for a smartboard whole group activity too.
5. Car Ramps – Here is an example of creating experiments that face multiple problems and allowing students time to come up with solutions. This is a more exploratory way of approaching it, but a good introduction to understanding more about the way things move on an incline.
6. Forces in Action: Lesson Plan – This lesson hits four objectives that includes understanding that friction (including air resistance) is a force that slows moving objects. Works beautifully along with the interactive site listed above in number 4.
7. Marshmallow Shooter – When you’re discussing push and pull as forces and including measurement you’ll want to include marshmallow shooters in your lesson plans. You’ll end up including words like force, distance and finding ways to measure.
8. Leprechaun Balloon Races – This would be a fun experiment when trying to explore the friction of a different surface – string and explore the friction of air. What types of force can a balloon which also has air create? Can you see students getting into the force and motion of this?
9. A Slide is a Simple Machine – What school playground is complete without a slide? Break your science class outdoors to discuss and explore how a slide works like a simple machine. This will help explore the concepts that incline planes make it easier to lift things and that machines make work easier. {Free download}
10. Simple Machines: Lever – Here’s another idea that break out onto the playgound to explore the concept of using simple machines to explore force and motion. Begin by exploring a see saw and then create your own levers with pencils, pennies tape and a ruler. {Free download}
Free Resources for Force and Motion
11. Mouse Trap Trials – Here is a great culminating activity for students to use when wrapping up a force and motion unit. Have students create their own mouse trap! Using household “junk” see what types of fast moving creations can they create using what they’ve learned about motion, force and friction. {Free downloads}
12. Force and Motion (Pre/Post)Assessment – Here is a one page activity that you could use in order to see where your students are at or to give at the end of a unit to cover vocabulary and basic concepts of force and motion. {Free download}
13. Force and Motion Posters – You’ll find word cards that will be great for a word wall, a display banner, a movement word reference mat and 6 types of forces posters. {Free downloads}
14. Forces in Action Worksheet – Here is a worksheet to practice naming forces like gravity, lift, pushing and pulling. You’ll also be able to practice showing how forces act and students can create their own illustration examples. {Free download}
Songs to Teach Force and Motion
15. The Gravity Song – Who doesn’t love using a song to help teach a concept. This song won’t have them rappin’ but it will help explore the concept of gravity and help embed some vocabulary just from listening once.
16. What is Friction – This song will remind you of what you listened to when you were in school, but it does a good job of helping lay down some basic examples of friction and vocabulary.
Books to Teach Force and Motion
These are affiliate links to helpful books you’ll probably want to have on hand!
17. Forces Make Things Move – This book illustrates examples of the forces all around students during a normal day. It helps give names to those forces and are easy to act out within the classroom.
18. Forces and Motion: From High-speed Jets to Wind-up Toys – This book is better suited for third grade and up, but it is a great resource with 20 activities that you can guide students through with ease to develop some basic and solid concepts.
19. And Everyone Shouted, “Pull” – A fun way to bring in a fiction piece into exploring push and pull, join with these farm animals as they venture to market. Great for elementary grades.
And I recently came across this new books that I had to add to the list!
20. Motion: Push and Pull, Fast and Slow – This books uses everyday occurrences to explain what motion is to kids. It covers inertia, gravity and friction. Kids will understand why we need seat belts – because of inertia!
I hope you can draw inspiration or use some of these ideas the next time you are teaching force and motion. Is it too corny to say something like ‘May the force be with you’ as you teach this concept? {ha!}
Need more force and motion materials? You’ll love these 24 Elementary Force and Motion Experiments & Activities .
Need more hands-on science ideas? I’ve got your back. Check out these 8 Fast, Free Water Cycle Resources and Activities .
More Science
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Leslie {aka the original Teach Junkie} loves learning new things to make teaching easier and more effective. She enjoys featuring creative classroom fun when she's not designing teacher shirts, making kindergarten lesson plans or planning her family's next trip to Disney World.
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15 Force and Motion Activities for Third Grade
Teaching force and motion, and all the hands-on activities that come with it, are always a highlight for my students. In this post I’ll share some of our favorite third grade force and motion activities that will spark curiosity in your students and excite their creativity.
I’ve included teaching ideas, resources, force and motion lesson plans , books, videos, and force and motion science experiments that align with Next Generation Science Standards for 3rd grade as well as many state science standards.
Find activities and experiments for teaching:
- Relative Position
- Patterns of motion
- Force and motion
- Contact and noncontact forces
- Balanced and unbalanced forces
- Static electricity
- Magnets and magnetism
15 Favorite Force and Motion Activities
Play a relative position game
Relative position is the position of one object compared to the position of another object. We used real pictures of track and field and go-kart races, objects on a shelf, or objects in a row to demonstrate how to describe relative position. Generate a list of position terms like in front of , behind, beside, next to, above, below etc.
PowerPoint lesson source
Next, head outside to the playground and have students spread out around the equipment and any objects in the area. Students take turns describing their relative position compared to the objects and equipment on the playground.
Lab activity source
Next, have each students turn around and repeat their description. Ask them to notice how the position of an object went from being “in front of“ them to “behind” them.
Investigate how shape affects motion
This force and motion activity is always a hit! Students observe how the shape of an object affects its motion by doing this simple lab using sheets of paper.
Crumple, fold, and make a paper airplane with sheets of paper and time how long it takes each paper to fall one meter. This easy to do lab is part of this force and motion science unit .
Find Patterns of Motion on the Playground
The playground is an ideal place to observe patterns of motion. Head outdoors to observe patterns of motion as students play on equipment, jump rope, and play ball games.
Force and motion activity cards source
Have students record the patterns of motion they observe as classmates play on swings, slides, with balls etc.
Draw a Force Diagram
Science drawings are a great way to assess students understanding. While outside, have students draw playground equipment and make a force diagram by labeling the drawings with arrows to show the directions and pattern of motion the object makes while moving.
PowerPoint lessons source
Build A Chain Reaction
Otherwise known as a Rube Goldberg machine, this fun project is an opportunity for students to use a variety of forces to create a chain reaction that completes a simple task.
Provide students with building materials such as cardboard, tape, Hot Wheels tracks, string, dominoes, magnets, and anything else you have available.
Learn more about Rube Goldberg at Time for Kids . And watch this short video, All About Rube Goldberg Machines | Nat. Geo Kids
Explore Static Electricity
Create flying objects by charging a balloon with static electricity. Learn how static electricity works and explore ways to make objects levitate.
We tested a number of objects after charging them with static electricity to see if they would attract or repel.
See more about how to use electrical charges to attract or repel objects on Steve Spangler Science experiments .
Make An Electromagnet
Have students can make their own electromagnets with AA battery, thin copper wire, and a nail.
This video shows how: How to Make an Electromagnet
Measure A Magnetic Field
Measure the size of a magnet’s magnetic field by attaching a magnet to a craft stick and a paperclip to a string. Carefully “raise” the paperclip. Have partner measure the size of the magnet’s magnetic field.
Using a ruler, students measure the space between the magnet and the paperclip. This takes some testing first to determine where the magnetic field ends and the paperclip falls.
Make a Homemade Compass
As students learn about magnetic force and the earth’s magnetic field have them make a homemade compass. This Sci Kids video shows how to make a compass using a needle and a cork. Did you know that if you rub a metal object on a magnet it becomes magnetized?
Learn About Magnetic Levitation Trains
As you plan your force and motion activities, you’ll definitely want to include a floating train. Show your students forces in action and the technology used in a maglev train. The world’s fastest bullet train, it reaches speeds of 375 miles per hour. Powerful magnets in the train and rails lift the train and propel it forward at high speeds. These videos show how the technology and the train works:
- The Floating Train
- How Do Maglev Trains Work?
Play Force and Motion Games Online
These fun, online force and motion games reinforce science vocabulary, allow students to make force diagrams, an explain friction. Some sites require you to sign up for a free account to play.
Science Trek This site is a gold mine for teachers! Sponsored by Idaho Public Television, it is a collection of online games, videos, activities, and loads of other resources for teaching force and motion.
Legends of Learning This is a great site for students! Sign up for a free account and access thousands of math and science games, listed by grade level, that align to most state and NGSS standards. Check out their library of force and motion games!
Learning Games for Kids | Motion Find force and motion spelling, vocabulary and definition games that promote language and reading skills using science content.
Scholastic Force and Motion Study Jams Scholastic Study Jams is an interactive site with over 200 science games, songs, and videos in a wide range of science topics ideal for 2 nd and 3 rd grade kids.
PBS Learning Media One of my favorite science sites, PBS Learning has a whole library of science activities, investigations, and videos for kids
Force & Motion Videos
- Relative Motion Explained
- Swings, Slides & Science Sci Show Kids
- Noncontact Forces
- The Science Behind Magnets
- Magnetism|Crash Course Science
- Friction | Generation Genius
Force and Motion Books
I’ve put together a collection of force and motion books for kids and teachers on my Amazon page. The topics include, balanced and unbalanced forces, motion, gravity, magnets, push and pull concepts, electricity, and magnetism.
Get Force and Motion Lesson Plans
I’ve planned a complete 27-day force and motion unit with an in-depth, interactive teaching PowerPoint, detailed lesson plans, journal response activities, lab investigations, and quizzes for each lesson.
The unit includes vocabulary posters, focus wall resources with guiding questions and learning target cards as well as a complete teacher guide in a handy planning binder. Aligned to NGSS and most state science standards this complete unit will save you hours of planning time! The digital add-on unit has narrated audio slides, digital practice games and quizzes for each lesson.
Click the picture or the link to see the Forces & Motion Science Unit , DIGITAL Forces & Motion unit or save on the Forces & Motion BUNDLE.
Planning your force and motion activities is easy with these units because I’ve already done it for you! They save hours of planning time.
Visit these posts for more third grade science activities:
Dollar Store Science Materials for Teaching Force and Motion
10 Easy Inherited Traits Activities for 3rd Grade
30 Ideas for Teaching Weather & Climate in 3rd Grade
Free Science and Engineering Posters & Standards Cards
Third Grade Back to School Science Activities
Happy teaching!
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Reader Interactions
September 25 at 7:19 am
Great experimenta for keeping the attention to young kids in Science lesiona.
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Force and Motion for Kids: Simple Experiments and Activities
Force and Motion: A Fun Introduction for Kids
Have you ever wondered why a ball rolls when you kick it? Or how a swing moves back and forth? It's all about force and motion! Let's explore these concepts in a way that's fun and easy to understand.
What is Force?
Imagine a big, strong push or pull. That's what force is! It's a push or pull that can make something move, stop, or change direction.
Think about these examples:
- Pushing a door open: You apply force to the door to make it move.
- Pulling a toy car: You use force to make the car move forward.
- Stopping a rolling ball: You apply force to the ball to make it stop.
What is Motion?
Motion is simply the act of moving. When something changes its position, it's in motion. Here are some examples:
- A bird flying in the sky
- A car driving down the road
- A leaf falling from a tree
The Connection: Force and Motion
Here's the key: Force causes motion ! Without force, nothing would move. You need a push or pull to get something moving, to stop it, or to make it change direction.
Fun Experiments and Activities
Let's put force and motion into action with some fun experiments!
1. The Rolling Ball Race
- Materials: A ball, a ramp (you can make one by using a book or a piece of cardboard), a stopwatch (optional)
- Place the ball at the top of the ramp.
- Let go of the ball and watch it roll down the ramp.
- Try different ramps (taller or shorter) and see how the speed of the ball changes.
- If you have a stopwatch, time how long it takes the ball to roll down the ramp.
- What you learn: Gravity is a force that pulls the ball down the ramp, causing it to move. A steeper ramp means more force from gravity, making the ball roll faster.
2. The Paper Airplane Challenge
- Materials: Paper, scissors
- Fold a paper airplane.
- Throw the airplane and see how far it flies.
- Experiment with different ways to fold the airplane to see how it affects its flight.
- What you learn: The force of your throw makes the airplane move through the air. The shape of the airplane affects how it flies, like how the wings help it glide.
3. The Magnet Magic
- Materials: Magnets, metal objects (paperclips, nails, etc.)
- Hold a magnet near a metal object. What happens?
- Try different magnets and see which ones are stronger.
- Experiment with different metal objects.
- What you learn: Magnets have a force that pulls on certain metals. This force can make objects move without touching them!
Keep Exploring!
Force and motion are everywhere around us! Keep observing and experimenting to learn more about these amazing concepts. You might even discover new things about how things move!
science experiments
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