Physics

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Physics

• Butterfield Elementary
• 2nd Grade
• Christal Manis

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Lesson Topic

• I discussed with the class what a force was and
  what effect gravity had on objects.
• I asked the students whether certain objects
  would fall faster than others, and we made
  predictions on the board. We dropped different
  balls to test their theories.
• Students tried their own experiments by dropping
  objects and observing the results.
• We then discussed the rate at which objects fall
  and the effect of air resistance on them. We
  discussed the effects, or lack of effects, of
  different materials, shapes, sizes, and weights
  on gravitys pull.
• Students finished by writing two things they
  learned about gravity and drawing pictures of two
  items being effected by gravity.

3
State Standards

• Life Science Motion and ForcesStudents shall
  demonstrate and apply knowledge of motion and
  forces using appropriate safety procedures,
  equipment, and technology.
• Communicate observations orally, in writing, and
  in graphic organizers T-charts pictographs
  Venn diagrams bar graphs
• Develop questions that guide scientific inquiry
• Conduct scientific investigations individually
  and in teams lab activities field studies
• Collect measurable empirical evidence in teams
  and as individuals

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• Make predictions in teams and as individuals
  based upon empirical evidence
• Use age appropriate equipment and tools in
  scientific investigations (e.g., balances, hand
  lenses, rulers, and thermometers)
• Apply lab safety rules as they relate to specific
  science lab activities (see Arkansas Lab Safety
  Guide)
• Classify objects based on two or more properties
• Investigate the effect of physical phenomena on
  various materials (e.g., heat absorption by
  different colored materials)
• Investigate the relationship between force and
  motion

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Recording Observations Which will hit the
ground first?
Objects Prediction What actually happened?
Big Plastic Ball Small Gold Ball Small Gold Ball Same Time
Cork Ball Heavy Gray Ball Heavy Gray Ball Same Time
Pencil Book Book Same Time
Flat Paper Book Book Book
Wadded Paper Flat Paper Wadded Paper Wadded Paper
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Initial Ideas

• I elicited initial ideas from students by asking
  if anyone knew what a force was. They were eager
  to tell me all they knew.
• I then asked if anyone knew what Gravity was.
• They were informed that we were going to learn
  how fast objects fell when compared to each
  other.
• I took out different shapes, sizes, and materials
  of balls and asked the students which they
  thought would hit the ground first. We tested and
  discussed their reasoning and answers.

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Experiment

• Students were told to do two of the experiments
  from the chart on the board. They got into groups
  and took turns dropping objects while other
  groups watched which object hit the ground first.
• They test a book verses a pencil and a flat piece
  of paper verses a book.
• They dropped the objects repeatedly until most
  agreed on what they saw.

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Summarizing Questions

• Students were led through discussion to summarize
  the results of their experiment.
• I repeated what we had previously stated about
  gravity, and then went through the list of
  objects to discuss what they thought would hit
  the ground first and what actually happened.
• I asked them questions as to why things reached
  the ground at the same time or why an object
  reached it first.
• We finished by discussing air resistance when I
  asked them why a wadded up piece of paper would
  hit the ground before a flat one.

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Conclusion

• This was a great teaching experience that went
  really well.
• I loved how excited the children were to learn
  about science and to experiment with objects.
  They were very involved in discussion, and I
  loved how comfortable I felt in front of them
  when implimenting the lesson.
• I beleive the students understood the message I
  was trying to get across, and they seemed to
  enjoy themselved immensley. This showed during
  the time they were drawing their gravity pictures
  and explaining them to me.