Unit Plan 7 (PreK Science): Direction of Motion
PreK science unit where children explore how pushing from different sides changes direction—straight, turn, or spin—and how push strength affects motion.
Focus: Explore how pushing from different sides changes an object’s direction (straight, turn, spin) and notice how a stronger push can change motion more.
Grade Level: PreK
Subject Area: Science (Physical Science • Inquiry/Play-Based Engineering)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 30–45 minutes per session
I. Introduction
In this unit, children investigate direction of motion through playful experiments with toy cars, balls, and classroom objects. They try pushing from different places (front, side, back) to see how objects move straight, turn, or spin. Children practice using simple science talk (like left, right, forward, backward) and begin connecting what they see to cause-and-effect: “When I push from the side, it turns.”
Essential Questions
- How does a push from different sides change where something goes?
- What happens when we push straight versus push from the side?
- How can we describe motion using words like left, right, forward, and backward?
- How can we repeat the same push to see if we get the same result?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Children will be able to:
- Notice and describe how a push can make an object move forward, backward, left, or right.
- Try pushing from different spots (front/side/back) and observe changes in direction (straight, turn, spin).
- Compare a gentle push and a strong push and describe what changes (distance, speed, direction).
- Use simple tools (tape arrows, floor paths, ramps) to test motion in a consistent way.
- Share an observation using a sentence frame (e.g., “When I pushed from the ___, it went ___.”).
Standards Alignment — PreK (NGSS-based custom)
- PK-PS2-2 — Notice that stronger pushes or pulls change motion.
- Example: Children observe how pushing from different sides changes direction, and how gentle vs. strong pushes change how far something goes.
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can show which way something moved (left/right/forward/backward).
- I can try pushing from a different side and see what changes.
- I can tell if my push was gentle or strong.
- I can say what I noticed: “When I pushed from the ___, it went ___.”
- I can try it again the same way to see if it happens again.