Isaac Newton and the Curious Apple

Materials Needed

• One apple or soft ball
• A small toy, block, or beanbag
• Paper and crayons
• A basket, bowl, or box
• Optional: a book or short child-friendly video about Isaac Newton

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:

• Say that Isaac Newton was a person who loved asking questions and learning about how things work.
• Explain in simple words that gravity helps things fall down instead of float away.
• Show what happens when an object is dropped or pushed.
• Share one question or observation about moving objects.

Success Criteria

The child is successful when they can:

• Name Isaac Newton.
• Use the word gravity to describe why an object falls down.
• Take part in the drop-and-watch experiment.
• Draw or tell one thing they noticed.

Lesson Length: 20 Minutes

Introduction: Wonder About Falling Things — 3 Minutes

Hook: Hold up the apple and ask, “What do you think will happen if I let go of this apple?”

Let the child make a prediction. Drop the apple into the basket or onto a soft surface.

Say: “The apple fell down. A long time ago, a very curious man named Isaac Newton wondered about falling things. He asked, ‘Why do things fall down?’”

Tell the child: “Today we will learn about Isaac Newton, watch things move, and discover a little bit about gravity.”

Body: Learn and Explore

1. I Do: Meet Isaac Newton — 3 Minutes

Show the apple or a drawing of one.

Simple talking points:

• “Isaac Newton lived a long time ago.”
• “He liked to ask big questions.”
• “He watched apples, balls, and other things move.”
• “Newton helped people learn about gravity.”
• “Gravity is a pulling force. It pulls things toward the ground.”

Quick check: Ask, “What is the name of the curious person we learned about?”

2. We Do: Drop, Roll, and Push — 6 Minutes

Invite the child to explore the toy, block, or beanbag with you.

1. Hold the object up high and ask, “What do you think will happen when we let go?”
2. Let the child drop the object.
3. Roll the object across the floor or table.
4. Gently push the object and watch how far it goes.
5. Place the object in the basket or box and try again from a different height.

Ask:

• “Did it go up or down when we dropped it?”
• “What made it fall toward the ground?”
• “What happened when we pushed it?”
• “Did it move fast or slowly?”

Explain: “Gravity pulled the object down. Our hands gave it a push to make it move across the floor.”

3. You Do: Newton’s Little Scientist Challenge — 5 Minutes

Let the child choose one activity:

• Drop Challenge: Drop the apple, toy, or soft ball from a low height and then a higher height. Watch what happens.
• Roll Challenge: Roll the object gently and then with a stronger push. Compare the movement.
• Basket Challenge: Try to drop the object into the basket from different places.

Before each try, ask the child to say, “I predict…” Afterward, ask, “What happened?”

Encourage scientific thinking: “Scientists look, wonder, make guesses, and try things out. You are being a scientist just like Isaac Newton!”

4. Create and Share — 2 Minutes

Invite the child to draw Isaac Newton, an apple falling, or a toy moving.

While the child draws, ask:

• “What is happening in your picture?”
• “Where is the apple or toy going?”
• “Can you tell me one thing gravity does?”

Conclusion: Tell What We Learned — 1 Minute

Review the lesson with the child:

• “Who asked questions about falling things?” Isaac Newton.
• “What pulls things down?” Gravity.
• “What did we do like scientists?” We made guesses, watched, and tried things.

Closing statement: “Isaac Newton was curious. When we ask questions and test our ideas, we can learn new things too!”

Assessment

Formative Assessment

• Listen for the child’s prediction before each experiment.
• Ask the child to explain whether the object went up, down, or across.
• Check whether the child can repeat the words Isaac Newton and gravity.

Summative Assessment

Ask the child to complete this sentence:

“Gravity makes things ______.”

Accept answers such as “fall down,” “go down,” or “move toward the ground.” Have the child demonstrate by dropping a soft object and explain what happened.

Differentiation and Adaptations

• For a child who needs support: Use simple choices such as “Did it go up or down?” Model the answer and repeat key words.
• For a child ready for more: Test two objects and talk about whether they fall, roll, or bounce. Invite the child to explain how a push changes movement.
• For a child who prefers movement: Let the child jump, stretch up, and then crouch down while saying, “Gravity pulls me down.”
• For a child who prefers listening: Tell a short story about Newton noticing an apple fall and asking questions.
• For a digital lesson: Use a child-friendly video or show the experiment on camera, then let the child predict what will happen next.

Safety Note

Use soft objects and drop them over a clear, safe surface. Do not use hard objects near faces or fragile items.