By Wanda Pitts
This lesson was created as a part of the SMART website and is hosted by
the Illinois Institute of Technology
Objective:
Third grade students will learn that force is needed to overcome inertia. Students will also be able to define force and inertia.
Materials:
waxed paper
bottles
student method worksheet
Strategy:
The teacher asks the question, what is force? A force is a push or pull. The teacher will put the definition on the board and give examples of force. (Pulling a wagon, pushing a pedal on a bike, and pulling a drawer open). The teacher asks the question, what is inertia? Inertia is related to the amount of force needed to make a object move or change its motion. The teacher will put the definition on the board and give examples of inertia.. (Raise the front tire of your bicycle off the ground, and give it a spin). Friction is what makes the tire eventually come to rest. The teacher will ask the students what will happen to the bottle placed on waxed paper when the paper is quickly pulled away. Students will make a prediction.
Show students materials to be used in the experiment and state the problem.
Pass out individual scientific method worksheets and students will write down their prediction and hypothesis.
Ask volunteers to explain the reasons for their predictions.
Students will conduct the experiment.
Discuss results relative to the objective.
Students will complete the student scientific method worksheet.
Performance Assessment:.
The students should be able to use specific vocabulary to define force and inertia.
The students should be able to explain how force is needed to understand the effects of inertia.
Students should be able to complete their scientific method worksheet.
Conclusion:
The bottle sitting on the waxed paper will not move because of inertia. An object at rest will remain so until something moves it.
Rubric:
Rate performance on a scale of one to four according to level of participation. Score goes from excellent which is four, three is good, two is fair, and one is poor.
| Criteria | Score Four | Score Three | Score Two | Score One |
| Makes prediction | Relevant and accurate | Relevant and most approximate | Relevant but inaccurate | Irrelevant and inaccurate |
| States hypothesis | Hypothesis question completed | Hypothesis question completed | Hypothesis question inaccurate | Hypothesis question missing answer |
| Completes experiment | All procedures and scientific method was followed. | Most procedures and scientific method was followed. | Procedures and reporting show some evidence that scientific method was followed. | Procedures and reporting do not follow scientific method. |
| Draws a conclusion | Gives data and supporting evidence. | Gives data but fails to show support. | Not supported by the data. | Fails to reach a conclusion. |
References:
Gardner, Robert; Experiments With Motion, Enslow Publisher, Inc., 1995
Bentley, Joan and Hobbs, Linda; Science Experiments, Evan-moor Corp., 1994
Name_________________________________________________
Scientific Method
Problem:
What will happen to the bottle placed on wax paper when the paper is quickly pulled away?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Hypothesis:
The bottle will __________________________________________________________
A. ride along with the paper
B. tip over frontward
C. remain in the same place
D. tip over backward
Procedure:
Place a bottle on a strip of wax paper. Pull the paper away from under the bottle with a quick motion. Watch out!
Conclusion:
The bottle will _____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Draw a picture of our experiment:
Reference on inertia.
© Wanda Pitts