Big Idea 13: Forces and Changes in Motion

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A. It takes energy to change the motion of objects.

B. Energy change is understood in terms of forces--pushes or pulls.

C. Some forces act through physical contact, while others act at a distance.

Clarification for grades K-5: The target understanding for students in the elementary grades should focus on Big Ideas A, B, and C.

Clarification for grades 6-8: The target understanding for students in grades 6-8 should begin to transition the focus to a more specific definition of forces and changes in motion. Net forces create a change in motion. A change in momentum occurs when a net force is applied to an object over a time interval.

Grades 9-12, Standard 12: Motion - A. Motion can be measured and described qualitatively and quantitatively. Net forces create a change in motion. B. Momentum is conserved under well-defined conditions. A change in momentum occurs when a net force is applied to an object over a time interval.

General Information
Number: SC.2.P.13
Title: Forces and Changes in Motion
Type: Big Idea
Subject: Science
Grade: 2
Body of Knowledge: Physical Science

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks.

Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Independent

SC.2.P.13.In.1
Observe and identify that pushing or pulling an object can change the direction of movement of the object.
SC.2.P.13.In.2
Observe and recognize that magnets can move some objects.
SC.2.P.13.In.3
Identify and demonstrate that an object will fall to the ground when dropped.
SC.2.P.13.In.4
Identify that pushing or pulling an object with more force will make the object go faster or farther.

Supported

SC.2.P.13.Su.1
Identify that pushing or pulling an object makes it move.
SC.2.P.13.Su.2
Use magnets to cause objects to move.
SC.2.P.13.Su.3
Recognize that an object will fall to the ground when dropped.
SC.2.P.13.Su.4
Recognize that pushing or pulling an object with more force will make the object go faster or farther.

Participatory

SC.2.P.13.Pa.1
Recognize that pushing and pulling an object makes it move.
SC.2.P.13.Pa.2
Indicate that an object has fallen.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.

Lesson Plans

Huff and Puff: A Lesson Focused on the Force of the Wind:

In this lesson students will be exploring the force of wind and its affect on objects. Students will use the engineering design process to sketch, build, and assess how their structure withstands different forces of wind. 

Type: Lesson Plan

What Goes Up Must Come Down! :

This is a second grade science lesson that incorporates math, science, and engineering as students work in collaborative groups to investigate gravity using real-world situations.

Students will investigate the following problem:
How can you design an invention that keeps a balloon in the air instead of letting it be pulled to the ground by gravity? Can you keep your balloon in the air longer than the other teams?

Type: Lesson Plan

Making Objects Move Science NetLinks:

In this lesson, students identify ways to make objects move while recording their techniques. Students then engineer a track that will place an object as close to an exact location as possible. Students will test and revise their tracks.

Type: Lesson Plan

Three Pigs 2.0 - An Engineering Design Challenge:

This Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students apply the concepts of force from SC.2.P.13.1 (investigate the effect of applying various pushes and pulls on different objects) and the concept of wind from SC.2.E.7.4 (investigate that air is all around us and that moving air is wind) as they build structures to withstand the force of high-speed winds. It is not intended as an initial introduction to these concepts.

Type: Lesson Plan

May the Force Be With You:

In this lesson plan, students will explore what items are attracted to magnets. They will learn that magnets have an invisible force called a magnetic field and that objects can be moved without even touching them.

Type: Lesson Plan

Use the Force! Racing Zucchini:

Students will be investigating the effect of various pushes and pulls on on objects and seeing that the greater the force applied, the greater the change in motion. Students will be using hands-on activities and then build and race their own zucchini car to better understand the concept of force and motion.

Type: Lesson Plan

Push and Pull:

The students will investigate the effect of applying various pushes and pulls on different objects.

Type: Lesson Plan

Three Billy Goats Gruff Build a Bridge - An Engineering Design Challenge:

This Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students apply the concepts of force from SC.2.P.13.1 (investigate the effect of applying various pushes and pulls on different objects) as they build bridges to hold the greatest load. It is also intended to help students apply the concepts of money from MAFS.2.MD.3.8 (Solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately) as they strive to construct the most cost effective bridge. It is not intended as an initial introduction to these concepts.

Type: Lesson Plan

Lighthouses and Lenses - An Engineering Design Challenge:

This Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students apply the concepts of force from SC.2.P.13.1 (investigate the effect of applying various pushes and pulls on different objects), the concept of wind from SC.2.E.7.4 (investigate that air is all around us and that moving air is wind), and practice working with money (MAFS.2.MD.3.8 solve word problems involving dollar bills, quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, using $ and ¢ symbols appropriately) as they build structures to withstand the force of high-speed winds. The first day's lesson also provides practice in recognizing and drawing shapes (MAFS.2.G.1.1). It is not intended as an initial introduction to these concepts.

Type: Lesson Plan

Henry and Mudge Meet Leonardo da Vinci:

This is an integrated lesson that includes an Engineering Design Challenge, a review of forces, an introduction to drawbridges, and a literary text Henry and Mudge and The Long Weekend by Cynthia Rylant. The Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students investigate and generate explanations (SC.2.N.1.1) and practice working with money (MAFS.2.MD.3.8) as they design and build movable drawbridges. It is not intended as an initial introduction to these concepts.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorials

Pets, Pushes, and Pulls:

Learn how pushes and pulls can have different effects on different objects as you help Maria and her family take care of the pets in this interactive science tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Magnetic Motion:

Join Mr. Reynolds and his class as they use magnetic attraction and repulsion to make objects move in this interactive science tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Forces on the Playground:

Explore how forces can change the motion of objects on the playground in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Falling for Gravity:

Discover how Earth's gravity influences objects in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Perspectives Video: Teaching Idea

Pinewood Derby Forces and Motion:

Let's get rolling and explore the physics behind rolling cars! Make sure you stay on track. Produced with funding from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Teaching Idea

Teaching Ideas

Push Me, Pull Me with Force:

In this lesson, students use a magnet to demonstrate that force leads to motion. Students will recognize forces that attract and repel other objects and demonstrate them. Students will also describe various types of motions.

Type: Teaching Idea

All About Motion:

Students will observe and discuss motion in learning stations or in demonstration. They will observe and discuss how a push or pull affects motion.

Type: Teaching Idea

Investigating Motion With Marbles:

In this guided inquiry activity, students will use 2 marbles of different size and a box to investigate what makes the marbles move and what will cause the marbles to change speed and direction.

Type: Teaching Idea

Magic Magnets:

As a result of this activity, students will be able to classify objects as metals and nonmetals, and will be able to demonstrate that magnets can make certain metals and other magnets move without actually touching them.

Type: Teaching Idea

Sports Equipment - What Kind of Force?:

Children discuss, observe and "play" with equipment used in familiar sports. They discuss how the equipment is used and predict how the equipment is put into motion or stopped from continuing to be in motion.

Type: Teaching Idea

What Makes Things Move?:

Students will use an inquiry based approach to discover how things move. They will discover that a push and a pull are forces that put things into motion. They will also investigate how friction is a force that slows a moving object.

Type: Teaching Idea

What Makes Things Move?:

Students will use an inquiry based approach to discover how things move. They will discover that a push and a pull are forces that put things into motion. They will also investigate how friction is a force that slows a moving object.

Type: Teaching Idea

Unit/Lesson Sequence

How do Objects Move | Engineering Design Challenge:

In this unit, students explore and explain the many different ways that an object moves and how its properties affect its movements. In one lesson ("In What Ways"), students predict and test their predictions on how different objects will move when gently pushed on their desks. In "Do All Tops Spin Alike?," students use different materials to construct their own tops and test its movements. "Making Objects Move" introduces the concept of acceleration and allows students to use different sizes and types of balls and other materials to build tracks that will be used to stop the ball at a certain location. "Playground Equipment" gives an engineering experience by engaging students in a competition with a given scenario and asking them to design, test, and re-design (if necessary) a functioning piece of new playground equipment (the terms "force," "motion," "gravity," and "simple machine" are introduced).

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorials

Pets, Pushes, and Pulls:

Learn how pushes and pulls can have different effects on different objects as you help Maria and her family take care of the pets in this interactive science tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Magnetic Motion:

Join Mr. Reynolds and his class as they use magnetic attraction and repulsion to make objects move in this interactive science tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Forces on the Playground:

Explore how forces can change the motion of objects on the playground in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Falling for Gravity:

Discover how Earth's gravity influences objects in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this topic.