Investigate and explain that when a force is applied to an object but it does not move, it is because another opposing force is being applied by something in the environment so that the forces are balanced.
Name |
Description |
Paying for Payloads | Students will investigate the relationship between mass and the force required to lift an object, as well as the impact of forces on the object’s motion. Using payload data and rocket specs, they will develop a plan with a budget to launch five modules of a new spaceport into low Earth orbit. |
Polygon Park | In this lesson students will use standards-based quadrilaterals and triangles to design a roller coaster tower. Students will use the Engineering Design Process to work through the processes in this lesson. |
Natural Builders - STEM Engineering Design Challenge | In this lesson, students will investigate and explain balanced and unbalanced forces as they design a building for Miami Beach that is inspired by Florida's natural environment. In this challenge/lesson, students must design a building model that is at least thirty centimeters tall, features two elements that move in the wind, and can also withstand the wind. |
When the Wind Blows | This is an engineering design process lesson that covers forces and motion. It is designed to engage students using hands-on problem solving strategies. |
Bridge Over Troubled Waters | In this engineering lesson, students will design and construct a bridge that will be free-standing and support a toy car. |
Medic Mass Landing: Engineering Design Challenge | In this lesson, 5th grade students work in small groups on a STEM challenge that involves science and math standards related to force, motion, and measurement, as well as learning the engineering design process. |
Balanced or Nah (Not) | In this lesson, Balanced or Nah, the students will collaborate within groups to create a scenario or demonstration where they will explain concepts related to forces and motion. The students will conclude the lesson with a written essay or paragraphs explaining their concept and the concepts of other presenters. |
Pendulum Inquiry - Wrecking Balls | In this lesson, students will mimic a wrecking ball by manipulating the variables of a pendulum in order to move objects with different masses. It is recommended this lesson follow Pendulum Inquiry (see CPALMS Resource #28568), which will build students' content knowledge on pendulums. Students can apply their understanding of pendulums gained from the lesson Pendulum Inquiry to assist them in designing wrecking ball pendulums in this lesson. |
Newton's Third Law of Motion | This lesson plan is the third in a series of connected lessons on Sir Isaac Newton's laws of motion published to CPALMS. This lesson plan teaches Newton's third law of motion. |
Bridge to Perfection | During this activity, students will read a book about the Brooklyn Bridge. After whole class discussion, children will explore different types of bridges and data, in order to decipher which bridge is the strongest. The students will work collaboratively in groups with assigned student roles. Students will utilized Higher Order thinking to create a solution. The culminating activity is a presentation of solution to whole class.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom. |
Pop Goes the Balloon, a Rube Goldberg Design Project | The students will work in small groups in order to build a "Rube Goldberg" machine. A "Rube Goldberg" machine is modeled after a famous cartoonist who tried to make more difficult ways to accomplish simple tasks, such as popping a balloon. The students will build one machine, made from many simple machines working together, to perform their task. The machine is only permitted to be touched at the beginning and must work independently from that point on. |
Lunar Landers: Exploring Gravity | The attached engineering design lesson plan elaborates on the PBS Kids online resource and will probably take from 4-5 class periods. It takes the students through the engineering design process which includes the following components: Identify the Problem, Brainstorm and Design a Solution, Test and Evaluate, Redesign, Reflect and Share the Solution. |