Pushes and Pulls

• Pushes and Pulls

• Force, energy, power, work

• Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration

• Gyroscopes and Tops

• Marble Runs

• Egg Drop

• Physics of Bicycle Helmets and Seatbelts

• Chain Reaction Machines

Science Buddies Lesson Plans- Pushes and Pulls

• https://www.sciencebuddies.org/teacher-resources/lesson-plans/push-pull

• https://www.sciencebuddies.org/teacher-resources/lesson-plans/push-pull-weight

• https://www.sciencebuddies.org/teacher-resources/lesson-plans/lifting-with-a-lever

• Design a Mobile
  https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/mobile?from=YouTube

• Design a kinetic sculpture that moves with the wind

• Whirligigs and Automata

• Tinkering with Balance

• Using simple machines to change the speed, force, or direction of a push or pull

• Gears- Lego

• Pendulums and clocks

Below: A young Richard Feynman learns about Newton's law of inertia:

hands-on activities for a Grade 2 PBL unit on pushes and pulls

ChatGPT said:

For a Grade 2 project-based learning (PBL) unit on pushes and pulls, hands-on activities can help students understand these fundamental concepts through engaging and interactive experiences. Here are ten activities designed to illustrate the concepts of pushes and pulls in a fun and educational way:

1. Push and Pull Obstacle Course

• Activity: Create a simple obstacle course using chairs, cones, and ropes. Have students navigate the course by pushing or pulling objects (like a toy car or a small cart) through various obstacles.

• Objective: To demonstrate how pushing and pulling can move objects through space and overcome barriers.

2. Push and Pull Sorting Game

• Activity: Set up stations with various objects that require pushing or pulling to move (e.g., a toy truck, a swing, a ball). Have students sort objects into two categories: those that are pushed and those that are pulled.

• Objective: To help students identify and categorize different types of forces.

3. Push and Pull Scavenger Hunt

• Activity: Hide various objects around the classroom or playground that can be pushed or pulled. Provide students with clues to find each object and determine whether it requires pushing or pulling to move.

• Objective: To apply the concepts of pushes and pulls in a real-world context and enhance observational skills.

4. Ball Rolling Race

• Activity: Use a variety of balls (e.g., tennis balls, beach balls) and have students roll them down a ramp or across the floor. Experiment with different amounts of force to see how the speed and distance change.

• Objective: To explore how the force of a push affects the motion of objects.

5. Creating Push-Pull Machines

• Activity: Provide materials like paper plates, plastic cups, rubber bands, and popsicle sticks for students to create simple machines like levers and pulleys. Test how these machines use pushes and pulls to perform tasks.

• Objective: To understand how simple machines use pushes and pulls to make work easier.

6. Design a Push-Pull Toy

• Activity: Have students design and build their own simple toys using craft materials. For example, they could create a toy car that moves when pushed or a pull-along animal using string and cardboard.

• Objective: To apply the concepts of pushes and pulls in a creative project.

7. Push and Pull Experiment with Magnets

• Activity: Use magnets to demonstrate how they can push and pull other magnetic objects. Provide a variety of magnetic and non-magnetic objects for students to test.

• Objective: To explore magnetic forces and how they can cause pushing and pulling actions.

8. Human Push-Pull Relay

• Activity: Set up a relay race where students work in teams to push or pull a lightweight object (e.g., a balloon, a small sled) from one point to another.

• Objective: To practice coordination and teamwork while demonstrating the effects of pushing and pulling on movement.

9. Push and Pull Art

• Activity: Use paints, rollers, and brushes to create art. Students can push rollers to spread paint or pull brushes to make different patterns.

• Objective: To show how pushing and pulling can be used to create different effects in art.

10. Push and Pull Sensory Exploration

• Activity: Set up sensory bins with materials like sand, water, and playdough. Provide tools for students to push and pull through the materials (e.g., spoons, small shovels).

• Objective: To experience and describe the sensations of pushing and pulling in various textures and substances.

These activities will help Grade 2 students explore the concepts of pushes and pulls in a hands-on and engaging manner, fostering their understanding through practical experiences.

Assessments

Chat GPT

Here are 10 assessments for a Grade 2 unit on pushes and pulls:

1. Push and Pull Sort: Students are given a set of images or objects and asked to sort them into two categories: things that are pushed and things that are pulled. They must explain their reasoning for each choice.

2. Push and Pull Scavenger Hunt: Students participate in a scavenger hunt around the classroom or playground to find examples of pushes and pulls. They can take pictures or draw the examples they find and share with the class.

3. Creating a Rube Goldberg Machine: In small groups, students design a simple Rube Goldberg machine that uses both pushes and pulls to achieve a goal, such as ringing a bell or knocking over a block. They present their machine to the class and describe the pushes and pulls involved.

4. Tug-of-War Game: Organize a tug-of-war game to demonstrate the concept of pull. After the game, have a discussion with students about the forces involved, and ask them to describe what happens when the pull is stronger on one side.

5. Push and Pull Experiment: Students use different objects (like balls, cars, and blocks) to explore how pushes and pulls can make things move faster, slower, or change direction. They record their observations in a simple chart.

6. Story Time with Pushes and Pulls: Students write or draw a short story featuring a character who encounters different pushes and pulls throughout their day. They can present their story to the class and highlight each push and pull in their narrative.

7. Obstacle Course: Set up an obstacle course that requires students to use pushes and pulls to complete different challenges (e.g., pushing a ball through a tunnel, pulling a wagon). After completing the course, students discuss how they used pushes and pulls to navigate it.

8. Push and Pull Quiz: Create a simple quiz with questions about everyday examples of pushes and pulls. The quiz could include multiple-choice questions, true/false statements, and short answer questions.

9. Build a Pulley System: Using basic materials like string, spools, and small weights, students work in pairs to build a simple pulley system. They then use the pulley to lift objects and explain how the pull works in the system.

10. Push vs. Pull Art Project: Students create an art project that visually represents the concepts of push and pull. They can use drawings, collage, or even 3D models to show different examples, and then present their art to the class explaining the pushes and pulls depicted.

Simple Machines:

11. Simple Machines Scavenger Hunt: Students go on a scavenger hunt around the classroom or playground to find examples of simple machines (lever, pulley, wheel and axle, inclined plane, screw, and wedge). They can draw or take pictures of each example and label them.

12. Build a Lever Challenge: Students use classroom materials like rulers, blocks, and small objects to build a simple lever. They experiment with placing the fulcrum in different positions and observe how it changes the effort needed to lift a load. They record their observations in a simple chart.

13. Simple Machines Sorting Activity: Provide students with a set of cards or images showing various objects. They must sort these objects into groups based on the type of simple machine they represent (e.g., lever, pulley, wheel and axle, etc.) and explain their choices.

14. Create a Simple Machine Booklet: Students create a small booklet about simple machines. For each type of simple machine, they draw a picture, write a short description of how it works, and give an example of where it might be used in everyday life.

15. Experiment with Inclined Planes: In this hands-on activity, students use a board and various objects to create inclined planes of different angles. They roll different objects down the planes and observe how the steepness affects the speed and distance. Students record their findings and discuss how inclined planes make work easier.

These assessments are designed to be hands-on and interactive, helping Grade 2 students understand the concepts of pushes and pulls in a fun and engaging way.