Gravity and How We Can Overcome It

Grade: 3

Lesson Plan Theme/Topic: Gravity and how we can overcome it.

Standards Addressed: SC.3.E.5.4

Goals: (What do you expect the students to be able to know and do?)

Students should understand that gravity is a force that pulls them and other objects towards the Earth. They should be able to recognize examples of humans and other things overcoming gravity on Earth, such as jumping up against gravity, or a rocket flying into space. They should understand that a rocket is a big example of overcoming gravity.

Formative Assessments: (How will your students demonstrate that they have met the goals? How will they assess themselves?)

Students will write a short reflection that will be used as a knowledge check.

Key Content: (What key elements will be learned or practiced?)

Vocabulary: Gravity, rocket, thrust.

Skills: One student per group will jump for a demonstration, writing (reflection).

Resources, Instructional Materials, Technology:

Picture, YouTube videos, materials for activity.

---

Anticapatory Set: What do you know about gravity? *Take lots of guesses, discuss it, then go on to explain and do pencil drop*

Potential A: "It pulls things down" "Something to do with Newton" "Its why apples fall" "It makes us able to stay on the ground" etc.

Gravity is an invisible force that attracts something to the center of the earth.

Everyone drop your pencil on the ground. Gravity just pulled your pencil down to the Earth. Now pick your pencil back up. You just overcame gravity by picking that pencil up. Earth's gravity is very weak, but it is strong enough to keep our feet on the ground and pull things towards the Earth.

What are some other examples of us overcoming gravity?

Potential A: "Us walking" "us standing up" "throwing something in the air" "jumping"

Here is a video on how gravity works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljRlB6TuMOU

One of the ultimate examples of humans overcoming gravity is the rocket.

Heavy things are harder to lift. For example, it is harder to pick up your desk than it is to pick up your pencil. Rockets are extremely heavy, full of metal, machinery, computers, fuel, food, water, human beings, and more! When a rocket takes off to get into space, it requires an enormous amount of effort and fuel to overcome the gravity weighing it down to Earth. Here is a video explaining how this works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9Dj-5LUYlo

---

Overcoming Gravity Activity

1. Separate the kids into groups of 4

2. Give each group a ball, a feather, and another misc. object of your choice (It could be all the same thing, or different things for each group. You could even let the group pick something out of their own items, such as a book or a pen).

3. Have one student jump up in the air to demonstrate that he/she can overcome gravity.

4. Another student should gently toss the ball up in the air to show objects can overcome gravity.

5. The next two students should drop the feather and other item to the ground at the same time to show that all objects are effected by gravity, even though some may take longer to fall. This is a good segway into talking about air resistence. If that's not a part of the unit, then it's something to get them to think and maybe ask you, the teacher, why the feather dropped more slowly.

Ask if the students had fun and if they have any questions about gravity or the unit.

Here is a closing video on a rocket taking off and overcoming gravity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS9XcEEek48

Have the students write a 4 sentence (minimum) reflection on what they learned to wrap up the lesson. Grade this and use as a knowledge check.

---

Closure (Reflect or Cool-Down Set): Watch rocket launch video and have the students write a short reflection.

Adaptations (For Students With Learning Disabilities): For ADHD kids, make sure they are the ones jumping. Being able to get up out of their seat and do something even just once could help them sit still for a little while longer. For students who need extra help, stick with their group while they do the activity and see if it clicks for them. If not, set aside some time later in class to go over it with them again, maybe while the class is watching the rocket launch video and doing their reflection. Possibly show the student some other videos that might help explain it better or in more detail during study time. Have a game like Mathmateer set up on a classroom iPad for a child struggling to play, and see how the rocket uses thrust to overcome gravity and get into space. The child can then play a short math game, then the rocket will fall down to Earth again, showing how gravity can pull an object back down.

Extensions (For Curious and/or Gifted Students): Have a story in the room that talks about Sir Issac Newton and how he created the theory of gravity, or find a video to pull up later in the class on the computers in the back.

Possible Connections to Other Subjects: History with Sir Issac Newton, math, P.E. and sports.