Force and Motion Science Unit | Reading, Experiments, STEM Challenges

In this hands-on force and motion science unit, students will explore force and motion through hands-on Science experiments and student-led STEM challenges. The complete unit features directed lessons, reading passages, interactive stations, vocabulary games, a word wall, and detailed teacher instructions along the way.

Each lesson in this unit includes a complete teaching guide with detailed set-up instructions and thorough lesson plans. Take back your nights and weekends and let us do the planning for you!

What's included in this hands-on unit all about Force and Motion?

• Day-By-Day Teachers Guide - A daily lesson breakdown for using all parts of this resource in twelve 45-60 minute science lessons! The planning is all done for you. ✏️
• Introductory Worksheets - Introduce students your new topic to your students and remind them of what they know about forces and motion using the pages in this section of this packet. Choose the page(s) in this section that work best for your class. Try doing this part in pairs or small groups!
• Vocabulary - Vocabulary word wall cards using the major vocabulary from this Force and Motion unit. Vocabulary words in this unit include the terms: motion, force, atoms, electrons, contact force, action at a distance force, friction, tension, compression, gravity, magnetic force, electrostatic force, magnet, magnetic field, static electricity, air resistance. This section also includes a vocabulary worksheet and THREE vocabulary games!
• Nonfiction Reading - No Textbook? No Problem! This resource includes 5 nonfiction reading passages that are written at a 2nd/3rd grade level. Included in this unit is: “Let’s Get Moving: All About Force and Motion”, “Contact Forces”, “Action at a Distance Forces”, “Magnets” and “Static Electricity” . All reading passages also come with accompanying reading comprehension worksheets to help students show understanding of what they have read!
• Mini Book Project – Students will connect their new force and motion knowledge and vocabulary to the world around them. This mini-book project asks students to find examples of force and motion terminology in their daily lives.
• Static Electricity Lessons and Experiments – What is static electricity? In this 3-part lesson, students will be introduced to static electricity and see it in action! First, students will learn about static electricity with a teacher-led lesson and a guided worksheet. Then, students will participate in two hands-on static electricity experiments.
• Stations – A short station-based lesson to help students explore friction in a hands-on way.
• Student-Led STEM Challenges – Students will participate in three hands-on STEM challenges that will provide an opportunity for students to extend their learning and build valuable critical thinking skills. Three challenges are included, each with both teacher and student instructions and assessment rubrics: Parachutes Away (air resistance), Friction Fun (friction), and Magnet Maze (magnets).
• Assessment – A unit-end quiz is also included.

Answer keys to pages with concrete answers are also provided.

This unit also includes a full-color DIGITAL version in Google slides. Nonfiction text is editable in this version - perfect for screen readers!

This unit is aligned to the British Columbia, BC Big Ideas, Manitoba Science Curriculum, Ontario Science curriculum, and Alberta Science Curriculum.

British Columbia (Grade 2)

•Big Idea - Forces influence the motion of an object.

•Content - Types of forces.

Manitoba Science Curriculum (Grades 2 and 3)

•2-3-07 Recognize that the position and motion of an object can be changed by a push or a pull and the size of the change is related to the strength of the push or pull.

•2-3-08 Compare and describe the effects of friction on the motion of objects and humans when traveling across different surfaces.

•3-3-01 Use appropriate vocabulary related to their investigations of forces.

•3-3-02 Recognize that force is a push or pull and that attraction and repulsion are types of pushes and pulls.

•3-3-11 Describe and demonstrate ways to use everyday materials to produce electrostatic charges.

•3-3-12 Investigate to determine how electrostatically charged materials interact with each other and with uncharged materials.

•3-3-15 Predict and test to determine the effect of placing materials between a magnet and an attracted object between charged objects.

•3-3-17 Distinguish between motion that is caused without contact and that which is caused by contact.

•3-3-19 Use the design process to construct a game, toy, or useful device that uses gravitational, magnetic, or electrostatic forces.

Ontario Science Curriculum (Grade 3, Matter and Energy)

•3.1 Identify force as a push or pull that causes an object to move.

•3.2 Identify different kinds of forces.

•3.4 Explain how forces are exerted through direct contact or through interaction at a distance.

•3.5 Identify ways in which forces are used in their daily lives.

Alberta Science Curriculum (Grade 2)

Identify where magnets are used in the environment and why they are used. Distinguish materials that are attracted by a magnet from those that are not.