Third graders learn that a force is a push or a pull that can change an object’s motion — and how balanced forces keep things steady while unbalanced forces make things start, stop, or change direction.
Students will be able to…
You push a swing and it moves; you pull a wagon and it rolls. Every time something starts, stops, or changes direction, a force is at work. What are forces, and how do they change motion?
Project each item and have students answer about forces. The tool explains pushes, pulls, and balanced vs. unbalanced forces.
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
A swing moves, a wagon rolls — what makes things start and stop?
Students investigate.
Students explain.
Students elaborate.
Students conclude.
Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (Grade 3 / Elementary Science).
Investigate the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on an object’s motion.
Make observations to provide evidence that the motion of an object is predictable.
Ask questions about the effects of forces.
Planning and carrying out investigations.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students play tug-of-war and observe how the rope stays still when forces are balanced but moves when one side pulls harder (unbalanced). A printable forces sheet is in the Science library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.