Gravity 09/13

4th Grade Science
Force and Motion
Lesson 5

September 13, 2024

1

Teacher Background

Background Knowledge for Teacher
Gravity is a noncontact force that can change the position of an object at a distance, without direct
contact.

The Earth pulls down on all objects with a force called gravity. With a few exceptions, such as
helium-filled balloons, objects will fall to the ground. Gravity is the force by which a planet or other
body draws objects toward its center.

3

Do Now

Students are conducting an investigation where they test how the force of magnetism can cause
objects to move. They have the objects shown below to choose from when setting up their
investigation.

List all of the objects below that the students would be able to move using the force of
magnetism.

4

Force and Motion

LO: SWBAT plan a descriptive investigation to
explore the patterns of gravity.

DOL: Given scenarios, SW correctly describe
patterns of gravity in at least 4 of 5 questions.

SCI.4.7A Plan and conduct descriptive investigations to explore the patterns of forces such as gravity, friction, or magnetism in contact
or at a distance on an object.
SEPs 4.1D, 4.3A
RTCs 4.5B

5

Essential Understandings &

Guiding Questions

How does gravity/gravedad affect the motion of an object?

Multiple Choice

What happens when you throw a ball up in the air?

• It stays in the air

• It goes down

• It disappears

• It floats away into space

6

Lesson Vocabulary

force

gravity

motion

interaction

Multiple Choice

What is the force that pulls everything toward the ground?

• Air

• Gravity

• Water

• Animals

What force is acting on the balls falling into the bowl and then

on the ground?

Video by Saulo Souza smess from Pixabay

What is a force?

Multiple Choice

Where will a ball go if you throw it to the left or right?

• It will go up

• It will go down

• It will float in mid-air

• It will disappear

Multiple Choice

Why a ball falls to the ground?

• Earth's force of gravity is GREATER than the ball's, so the ball gets attracted to the ground. 
• Earth's force of gravity is LESS than the ball's, so the ball gets attracted to the ground. 

Investigating Relative Speed

Which ball will hit the ground first when dropped from the

same height at the same time?

Golf ball

Ping Pong ball

Marble

Video by Saulo Souza smess from Pixabay

Image by HeungSoon from Pixabay

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

Investigating Relative Speed

Which ball will hit the ground first when dropped from the

same height at the same time?

Time to plan the investigation

10

Explore the Read
About It
“Noncontact
Forces” and
connect what you
read about
noncontact forces
to your own
experiences.

Respond to the
questions.

Force (Gravity)

The Earth pulls down on all objects with a force called
gravity. With a few exceptions, such as helium–filled
balloons, most objects will fall to the ground.
Gravity is the force by which a planet or other body
draws objects toward its center.

12

13

What force is acting on the balls falling into the bowl and then

on the ground?

Video by Saulo Souza smess from Pixabay

What is a force?

15

Some students were discussing what happens when a student sits in a chair.

Which student(s) do you agree with the most? _____________________ Justify your thinking.
Explain why you agree with the student(s) you chose.

16

If you want to see how gravity affects different objects, which of the
following should you do?

A. Use objects of different weights and shapes

B. Only use objects that are the same size

C. Throw objects upward to see what happens

D. Only drop objects made of metal

17

DOL: Given
scenarios, SW
correctly describe
patterns of
gravity in at least
4 of 5 questions.

Demonstration of Learning

●Some images used in this lesson are taken from Adobe Stock. Adobe Stock
https://stock.adobe.com

●Some images used in this lesson are taken from Great Minds. Great Minds
https://digital.greatminds.org

●Some images used in this lesson are taken from SAVVAS realize. SAVVAS
realize https://www.savvasrealize.com

18

Copyright for Reference