Isaac Newton: Gravity and Things That Move

Materials Needed

• A soft ball or toy ball
• A toy car or small object that rolls
• A ramp made from a book and a piece of cardboard
• A few safe objects to drop, such as a scarf, block, and crumpled paper
• A picture or simple drawing of Isaac Newton
• Paper and crayons

Learning Objectives

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

• Say that Isaac Newton was a scientist who studied how things move.
• Explain in simple words that gravity pulls things down toward Earth.
• Show that a push or pull can make an object move or change direction.
• Share one idea about how Newton’s discoveries help us in everyday life.

Success Criteria

I can:

• Use the word gravity.
• Show a push and a pull.
• Tell what happens when a toy moves down a ramp.
• Tell one thing I learned about Isaac Newton.

Introduction: Meet Isaac Newton (3 minutes)

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

Let the child make a prediction, then drop the ball.

Say:

“The ball fell down because Earth pulls things toward the ground. This pull is called gravity. A scientist named Isaac Newton studied gravity and motion. Motion means moving.”

Show the picture or drawing of Newton. Explain:

“Newton asked questions about the world. He watched, tested ideas, and learned how things move. People still use his ideas today when they build cars, bicycles, playgrounds, and rockets.”

Tell the child: “Today we will learn about gravity and three simple ideas about motion.”

Body: Learn and Explore

I Do: Newton’s Three Motion Ideas (4 minutes)

Use simple words and demonstrate each idea.

1. Things like to keep doing what they are doing.

   Place the toy car on the floor. Say, “The car stays still until I push it. When it is moving, it keeps moving until something stops it.” Gently stop the car with your hand.

2. A push or pull changes motion.

   Push the car gently, then push it harder. Say, “A push can make something start moving. A bigger push can make it move faster.”

3. A push makes a push back.

   Have the child gently push your hand. Say, “You pushed my hand, and my hand pushed back. Pushes come in pairs.”

Quick check: Ask, “What can make the car move?” Accept “a push,” “a pull,” or “force.” Explain that a force is a push or a pull.

We Do: Gravity and Falling Objects (5 minutes)

Invite the child to choose two safe objects to test. Hold them at the same height and ask, “What do you think will happen when we let go?”

1. Make a prediction together.
2. Drop the objects safely.
3. Watch them fall toward the floor.
4. Say together: “Gravity pulls objects down.”

Try the scarf and crumpled paper. Ask:

• “Did they both fall down?”
• “Which one fell more slowly?”
• “What might the air be doing to the scarf?”

Explain:

“Gravity pulls both objects down. Air can slow down some objects, like a scarf. Gravity is still pulling.”

Think-pair-share option: The child thinks of something that falls, tells a stuffed animal or another person, and then shares the answer with you.

We Do: Ramp and Motion Test (4 minutes)

Make a ramp with a book and cardboard. Place the toy car at the top.

1. Ask the child to predict: “Will the car roll down, roll up, or stay still?”
2. Let the child release the car without pushing it.
3. Try the ramp with a low book and then a taller book.
4. Compare what happened.

Ask:

• “What made the car move down the ramp?”
• “Which ramp made the car go faster?”
• “What happens if we give the car a gentle push?”

Say:

“Gravity pulls the car down the ramp. The ramp changes the way the car moves. A push can make the car move faster.”

You Do: Choose a Newton Challenge (2 minutes)

Let the child choose one activity:

• Push and Pull: Push a toy car, then pull it with a string or your hand. Tell what changed.
• Move and Stop: Roll a ball and stop it with a hand or soft pillow.
• Gravity Hunt: Find three things that gravity pulls down, such as a ball, a toy, or a spoon.

Ask the child to explain using one sentence:

“Gravity pulls ______ down,” or “A push made the ______ move.”

Conclusion: Review and Create (2 minutes)

Ask the child to complete these sentences:

• “Isaac Newton was a ______.” (scientist)
• “Gravity pulls things ______.” (down)
• “A force can be a push or a ______.” (pull)
• “A toy car can move when I ______ it.” (push or pull)

Invite the child to draw Isaac Newton, a falling object, or a toy car moving down a ramp. Ask the child to tell you about the drawing.

Final recap:

“Isaac Newton studied motion and gravity. Gravity pulls things toward Earth. Pushes and pulls can start motion, stop motion, or change the way something moves.”

Assessment

Formative Assessment

• Listen for the child using the words gravity, push, and pull.
• Ask the child to predict what will happen before each experiment.
• Watch whether the child can demonstrate a push and a pull.
• Ask, “Why did the ball fall?” and look for the answer “gravity.”

Summative Demonstration

Ask the child to choose one object and demonstrate its motion. The child should:

• Make the object move with a push or pull.
• Point out that gravity pulls the object down.
• Tell one fact about Isaac Newton.

Differentiation and Adaptations

• For extra support: Use gestures for “push,” “pull,” “up,” and “down.” Offer sentence starters such as “Gravity pulls ___ down.”
• For language learners: Repeat key words with actions and allow drawing or pointing instead of a full spoken answer.
• For sensory needs: Let the child watch an adult perform the drops or use only soft, familiar objects.
• For an advanced learner: Test different objects, ramp heights, or push strengths. Ask, “How could we make the car go farther?”
• For a classroom: Children can work in pairs, with one child making a prediction and the other releasing the object.
• For a digital lesson: Use household objects and have the child show the camera a push, pull, or falling object.