Beginner
30 mins
Teacher/Student led
+75 XP
Teacher-led from the board — pupils need no device

Big Push, Little Push

Students explore how the strength of a push affects how far an object travels. They experiment with little and big pushes using balls or cars on a marked lane, compare the results, draw their observations and discuss their findings.

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    1 - Getting Started ~3 mins

    What makes a ball go a long way down the hall: a little push, or a big push?

    Hands up if you think a little push. Hands up if you think a big push.

    How far will it go?

    2 - What Do You Think? ~3 mins

    Which will go further: a little push or a big push?

    Show me with your hands. Little push. Now big push.

    3 - Push Along the Lane ~8 mins

    Illustration for Push along the laneWe have two floor lanes. When it is your pair's turn, give a little push, then a big push.

    If you are watching, stay by the lane, look at the stop marks, and call little push or big push with me.

    4 - Which Went Further? ~3 mins

    Look at our two stop marks on the lane. Which push sent it further: the little push or the big push? Point to show me.

    5 - One More Clear Go ~3 mins

    Watch this last little push and big push on our lane. Look at both stop marks. Which one went further? Point to it.

    Pupil practice · Investigation Journal
    Module 3 · Energy and Forces: What Makes Things Go, Pushes and Pulls, and Magnets
    Lesson 20 · Big Push, Little Push
    Download Investigation Journal sheet (PDF)
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