East Detroit Public Schools
Lesson Design

Authors: Lynn Dawson and Mary Jankowski
Subject: Science
Grade:7th Grade
Title: Newton’s Three Laws of Motion

Length of Unit: Two to three days
Materials Needed:
Power Macintosh G3 computers
large screen projection system
large TV monitor
VCR
Software:
Hyperstudio
Forces and Gravity (CD-ROM)
video:
Motion (with Bill Nye)

Standards-Based Outcomes (MDE):

Science:

IV. Use Scientific Knowledge from the Physical Sciences in Real-World Contexts

Content Standard IV, 3: All students will describe how things around us move and explain why things move as they do; demonstrate and explain how we control the motions of objects; and relate motion to energy and energy conversions. (Motion of Objects)

2. Describe how forces (pushes or pulls) are needed to speed up, slow down, stop, or change the direction of a moving object. (Elem.)

2. Describe that whenever one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite force on the first object. (H. S.)

4. Design strategies for moving objects by application of forces, including the use of simple machines. (M.S.)

Prior Knowledge:

• The students must have read the section of their book on Newton’s Laws.
• The students must be able to use the computer programs effectively.

Cue Set:

• The teacher begins by rolling a ball slowly down the center of the room toward the back wall. As the ball rolls, the teacher asks, “What will happen to the ball when it approaches and hits the wall?”
• The students use the Forces and Gravity CD-ROM program to investigate. The program allows the students to learn that the object that is in motion will remain in motion unless another force acts on it. Friction helps to slow the ball and Newton’s third law of motion explains that there will be an equal and opposite reaction to the ball hitting the wall.

Best Shot Instruction:

• After reading the text and investigating with the CD-ROM program to answer the question, the students begin their study of the laws of motion. In cooperative groups, the students continue to use Forces and Gravity to investigate the three laws of motion. They answer the questions on the corresponding worksheets as they progress through the program.
• Next, the class watches the video Motion featuring Bill Nye. The entertaining video gives the students another perspective of the material and reinforces their learning.
• After the video, the students begin working in their original groups on presentation projects to exhibit their understanding of Newton’s three laws of motion. They use the Hyperstudio software to describe a simple activity and explain how the three laws of motion govern it.

Reteaching and Enrichment:

The students review the worksheets as a whole group and continue discussion of how the three laws affect various examples of motion given by the teacher. The students demonstrate their understanding of the material with their comments and explanations.

Review and Closure:

Once the projects are complete, the students present them to the class. Group discussion features the three laws and how they are related to any object’s motion.

Assessment:

• The teacher assesses the Hyperstudio project according to a predetermined rubric.
• The students must complete the worksheets and pass their tests with 80% mastery.

Top

Lesson Plan List