Gravity on Earth
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This lesson provided by:
Author: Jackie Smith
System: Madison City School: Mill Creek Elementary School The event this resource created for: ASTA
General Lesson Information
Lesson Plan ID:
34426 Title:
Gravity on Earth Overview/Annotation:
In this lesson, students will share their background knowledge of gravity and how it affects skydivers. After a brief whole group discussion on gravity, students will work in small groups to explain why the International Space Station does not fall to Earth. Finally, students will create a model helicopter to provide evidence that the gravitational force of earth will cause the helicopter to fall downward toward the center of Earth.
This lesson results from a collaboration between the Alabama State Department of Education and ASTA.
Associated Standards and Objectives
Content Standard(s):
Science 6 ) Construct an explanation from evidence to illustrate that the gravitational
force exerted by Earth on objects is directed downward towards the center of
Earth.
Unpacked Content
Scientific And Engineering Practices:
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and Effect
Disciplinary Core Idea: Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
Support an explanation with evidence that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down. Teacher Vocabulary:
construct
explanation
gravitational force
evidence
illustrate
spherical Knowledge:
Students know:
The Earth's shape is spherical.
That objects dropped appear to fall straight down.
That people live all around the spherical Earth, and they all observe that objects appear to fall straight down. Skills:
Students are able to:
Construct an explanation of observed relationships.
Use evidence to illustrate the relationship between gravity and objects on Earth. Understanding:
Students understand that:
If Earth is spherical, and all observers see objects near them falling directly "down" to the Earth's surface, then all observers would agree that objects fall toward the Earth's center.
Since an object that is initially stationary when held moves downward when it is released, there must be a force (gravity) acting on the object that pulls the object toward the center of the Earth. AMSTI Resources:
AMSTI Module:
Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
Local/National Standards:
Primary Learning Objective(s):
Students will construct an explanation from evidence to illustrate that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed downward towards the center of Earth.
Additional Learning Objective(s):
Preparation Information
Total Duration:
61 to 90 Minutes
Materials and Resources:
For each student:
helicopter template,
scissors,
review questions,
pencils,
sceince journals, and
tape
Technology Resources Needed:
Computer with internet access
Projector
Background/Preparation:
The teacher should preview the gravity slideshow prior to the lesson.
Procedures/Activities:
Engage:
Show skydiving video (3:05). Begin a whole group discussion to activate background knowledge on gravity and how it affects the skydivers in the video. Next, students will turn and talk to their groups to discuss why the gravitational pull of earth does not cause the International Space Station to fall out the sky, but it does cause the skydiver to fall to earth. Students will record their answers in their science journals.
Explore:
Students will use the helicopter template found on slide 4 of the slideshow to create a model helicopter that can be used to demonstrate how the gravitational pull of the Earth affects objects. A PDF file of the helicopter template can be found here . Students will create the helicopters from the template and drop them from a height of 3 feet. In their science journals, the students will record their observations of what happens to the helicopter as it is released.
Elaborate
Using the template , each group of students will create 2 additional helicopters. All 3 helicopters will be dropped at the same time. One from a height of 3 feet, one from 4 feet, and one from 5 feet. Students will time the descent of the helicopters and record the data in their science journals. Repeat 5 times.
Students will use data from this activity to construct an explanation to support their claim that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed downward towards the center of Earth.
Assessment
Assessment Strategies
Evaluate:
Review Questions see slide #5
Teacher observation of science journals - students should be able to explain the following: the International Space Station is a long distance away from Earth and the gravitational pull of our planet is not strong enough to pull it down to Earth. Since the skydivers are much closer to Earth, the gravitational pull causes them to fall to Earth.
Teacher observation of helicopter model design, construction, and testing.
CER : Students will make a claim regarding how the gravitational force of Earth affects objects and use data from their helicopter activity to support that claim. They will conclude this assessment with an explanation or reasoning for their claim.
Acceleration:
Intervention:
ELL: The student handouts could be translated into the native language of the student. The ELL teacher can also provide assistance to students.
Students with disabilities: Students can work with a peer helper or with the pull-out teacher.
View the
Special Education resources for
instructional guidance in providing modifications and adaptations
for students with significant cognitive disabilities who qualify for the Alabama Alternate Assessment.
