Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will understand the story of Isaac Newton and the apple, and how it relates to his discovery of gravity.

Materials and Prep

Materials: None

Prep: Familiarize yourself with the story of Isaac Newton and his discovery of gravity.

Activities

1. Watch a short video or read a story about Isaac Newton and the apple.

2. Discuss the story and ask questions to ensure understanding.

3. Have the student act out the story of the apple falling from the tree and Newton's realization.

4. Encourage the student to think about other things that fall to the ground and why they do so.

Second Grade Talking Points

• Isaac Newton was a very smart man who lived a long time ago. He was thinking about how things move, and then something special happened.
• One day, Isaac Newton saw an apple fall from a tree. This made him think about why the apple fell down instead of going up or sideways.
• He realized that the same force that made the apple fall to the ground also keeps the moon moving around the Earth and the Earth moving around the sun. He called this force "gravity."
• Thanks to his discovery, we now understand why things fall to the ground and how planets move in space. It was a very important discovery!