With simple materials, third graders are working on the practice of modeling to show how forces can affect objects differently.

How can we move a ball faster?  Slower?  To the left?  To the right?  We're exploring all these questions and representing them in various models.  Remember that most models contain labeled diagrams and an explanation of what is happening.

After third graders tested the forces needed to lift different objects in the classroom, they started to see any patterns that emerged.  Do heavier objects need more or less force to lift?  How does the number of Newtons needed to lift it give us information about how heavy/light the object is?

We're drawing conclusions from our data AND writing about it, using a cause and effect sentence stem: If ________________, then ________________.

Check out the work in some third graders' notebooks!

So how exactly do you measure a force?

With a ruler?  Nope.  That's for measuring length.
With a stopwatch?  Nope.  That's for measuring time!
With a balance?  Nope.  That's for measuring mass.

With a Newton meter?  Why yes!  And we measure force in Newtons (N).

Third graders are practicing using Newton meters.  Using a Newton meter will help them calculate the net force in various situations where more than one force is acting on an object.  

Mrs. Brinza's side job involves writing songs...okay, not really!  But there's always a chance she'll write a song to help kids remember important content!  So to remember all the ways in which a force can affect an object, she wrote a song to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know it!"  Here it is:

A force is a push or a pull!  (Clap 2x)
A force is a push or a pull! (Clap 2x)
It can can an object to move or stop,
Speed up or change direction! (Clap 2x)

Third graders are identifying ways in which forces cause changes all around them.  We played a simple game with a tennis and soccer ball to discover these concepts and are creating ways to show how these same ideas confront us in our everyday lives!  Check out the work from their journals below.  They found ways in which forces can affect all kinds of things!