Objective

By the end of the lesson, the student will be able to understand the concept of controlled force and its application in breaking objects safely.

Materials and Prep

Materials: Soft foam or paper cups, cardboard, markers.

Prep: Clear a safe space for the activities and ensure adult supervision is available.

Activities

1. Cup Stacking: Have the student stack the cups in a pyramid and then use a controlled force to break the pyramid without knocking down the cups.

2. Cardboard Breaking: Draw shapes on the cardboard and have the student use their hands or feet to break the shapes along the lines.

First Grade Talking Points

• "Today we are going to learn about using our energy to break things in a safe and controlled way."
• "We can use our hands or feet to break things, but we have to be careful to not hurt ourselves."
• "We can use our minds to think about how much force we need to break something without making a mess."
• "It's important to always have an adult with us when we are breaking things, so they can help keep us safe."