Early Science  /  Ramps  /  Week 1: Lesson 1

Week 1: Move It!

Lesson 1

Children explore ways they can make objects move and observe how objects move when they use a big force versus a little force.


Circle Time: Introduction

We Can Make It Move   
5-10 min.

 

A student holds a wooden block as a teacher looks on.

Children are introduced to the concept of force as they explore different ways to make objects move.

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Keep the Ball Rolling   
5-10 min.

 

During circle time, one student gets ready to push a baseball across the floor.

This circle game helps children explore ways they can make a ball roll and stop. Children also compare giving the ball a big push versus a little push.

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Guided Small Group

Little Push, Big Push   
5-10 min.

 

A teacher and a student kneel on the floor. They both are about to push yellow cardboard blocks across the floor.

Children explore how far a block will slide when given a little push or a big push.

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Coconut Star, Levels 1-3   
5-10 min. 

 

Coconut Star app screenshot.

In the Initial Force levels, children use a “kicking boot” machine to kick a coconut and explore how the amount of force they use (little, medium, or big) affects how far the coconut will roll.

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Learning Centers

Blowing Paint   
5-15 min.

 

A close up of paint on paper being moved around by someone blowing through a straw.

Children use a straw to blow at paint puddles and make the paint move. They use big and little breaths to create paint splatter designs.

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Push and Slide   
5-15 min.

 

A student pushes a plastic lid across a table.

Children play a tabletop “shuffleboard” game, using little and big pushes to land plastic lids in close and far zones.

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Coconut Star   
5-10 min. 

 

Coconut Star app screenshot.

Children try to make a coconut land on a star while exploring how the amount of force, the steepness of a ramp, and the surface texture of the pathway affect how far a coconut will roll.

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Outdoors

Roll, Throw, Kick!   
10-15 min.

 

Students stand against a fence. One girl holds a pink ball, raised as if ready to throw.

Children find out which force makes a ball go farthest: rolling, throwing, or kicking.

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Circle Time: Wrap-Up

And Everyone Shouted, 'Pull!'   
10 min.

 

A teacher holds up a book in front of students seated on the floor.

Children participate in this read-aloud using motions, words, and song. They make connections to their own explorations of how objects can be made to move.

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