1. 4th Grade Amazing Earth February
Force and Motion
Presentation should take about 15 minutes to allow ample time for the activities.
Keep an eye on the clock as the kids love the hands-on activities.
Ask students to sit on the carpet so the activity can be set up at their desks.
You may have to limit questions or the number of students who can answer a question if time runs short.
Ask helpers to:
familiarize themselves with the activity and its goal
set up during the presentation
decide what station/role they are covering
rotate stations after10-12 minutes or as time allows
Thank you for making Amazing Earth possible!
4th Grade Amazing Earth
February

2. What is a force? A force is a push or pull.
Forces can make things move, change their speed, or change their shape.
Force pulls the bow back and the bow changes shape
Gravity pulls down while the wind pushes up
Foot pushes the ball and the ball speeds away
The ball changes direction when the ground pushes against it
ASK: What is a force?
CLICK to reveal answers after student responses.

3. What is motion? Motion is moving from one place to another.
Speed is the measure of motion. It measures how fast or slow something is moving.
ASK: What is motion?
CLICK to reveal answers after student responses.
SAY:
Speed is determined by dividing the distance traveled by the time it took.
When you see a sign on the highway that reads “55 mph” that means you will have traveled (the distance) 55 miles in 1 hour (time).
Note: This is general information and not an important mathematical concept they need to understand.

4. What is acceleration?
Acceleration is the force needed to make something go from standing still or moving slowly to moving very quickly.
Acceleration causes an increase or decrease in speed or a change in direction.

5. Sir Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton is considered one of the most important scientists in history.
Even Albert Einstein said that Isaac Newton was the smartest person that ever lived.
Newton developed :
the laws of motion
the theory of gravity
a new type of mathematics called calculus, and
the reflecting telescope 

6. Let’s Talk about the Laws of Motion

7. Laws of Motion
First Law: Nothing moves or changes direction unless a force acts on it.
A rocket will sit on the launch pad until the engines fire
A sled will keep sliding unless a force stops it
A ball won’t move until someone kicks it

8. Laws of Motion
Second Law: When a force pushes or pulls something, the object will move in the same direction as the force.
A ball will travel in the direction it is thrown
A stroller moves in the direction it is pushed

9. Gravity pulls down while air pushes up
Laws of Motion
Third Law: When a force acts in one direction, it creates an equal force in the opposite direction.
A rocket pushes exhaust downward and the gas hitting the ground produces a force upward
Gravity pulls down while air pushes up

10. Force and Motion Activities
As a group we will create:

11. Balloon Rockets Which Law does this demonstrate?
You and a partner, thread the string through the straw.
Blow up the balloon. (That person always blows – no germs!)
Pinch the end.
4) Hold the balloon under the straw.
5) Put two pieces of tape across the straw onto the balloon.
6) Hold the pinched end at the end of the string.
7) Each person holds one end of the string and stands far apart.
8) Let go of the balloon and watch it fly!
LEADER DEMONSTRATE EACH STEP and then students can partner up.
Balloon rockets demonstrate Newton’s third law of motion: When a force acts in one direction, it creates an equal force in the opposite direction. As air is pushed out the back of the balloon, there is an equal and opposite reaction where the balloon is pushed forward.

12. Marshmallow Shooters Which Law does this demonstrate?
Marshmallow shooters demonstrate Newton’s second law of motion: When a force pushes or pulls something, the object will move in the same direction as the force.
Updated 3/5/19
Each students creates a launcher by folding the balloon in half longways.
Cut about 1/4 off the top of the balloon.
3) Tie the balloon.
4) Stretch the balloon over the LIP of the cup (not the cut end).
5) Place a marshmallow inside the cup. *Inside the tie hole shoots best.
6) Pull back on the balloon to launch it!