Teaching Newton's Laws: A Unit Built With Students' Learning Styles in Mind
A Dynamic Teaching Unit to Ensure Students’ Learning
Students engaged, active, on-task and learning: that’s the ideal situation in any instructional situation. With the articles presented here, that ideal instructional situation is possible. Use the lessons in these articles to teach about motion and gravity, then, use these as tools for re-teaching and making connections to other subject areas such as mathematics and physical education. Your students will learn and your instruction will be dynamic and focused. That is guaranteed.
Newton’s Law Study Guides
This article is the first article in the series and serves as an introduction to Newtonian concepts. Help your students understand the groundwork behind further lessons on motion, speed, acceleration and velocity.
This introductory lesson introduces students to the unit of study on motion. Like the previous article, this lesson introduces students to Newton’s laws of motion with a step by step process for modeling the concept of motion to students.
This article offers a perfect follow-up lesson to ensure students’ clear and accurate understanding of motion. It includes a general activity involving the laws of motion, requiring students’ active participation.
Teaching the First Law of Motion
This lesson focuses on the first law of motion. An interactive lesson design teaches the first law using a ten foot rope for an activity. Minimal materials but lots of active learning - that’s the perfect recipe for a successful lesson that guarantees learning.
Examples of Newton’s First Law of Motion
Provide the information contained in this article to the students. Examples of the first law are included. This further secures that students understand this law before introducing the next.
Teaching the Second Law of Motion
This lesson introduces Newton’s second law of motion involving force and mass. It’s interactive design is sure to maintain students’ active participation. The supplies include a few more items then the previous activity in this table of contents, but preparation for this lesson remains minimal, unlike the maximum levels of learning your students will experience.
The Second Law of Motion Study Guide
Use this study guide along with the lessons for teaching motion. Students’ understanding is secured through the study of key vocabulary words. It includes specific examples of motion and can be given to students for independent study at home.
Teaching the Third Law of Motion
Teaching the third law of motion builds on the previous lessons included in this table of contents. Reflect on learning by reviewing key terms, such as force and motion, then use this activity to teach the third law. Students learn that for every action there is a reaction. Materials include a rod, two equal lengths of string and two balls. Again, just a little preparation, but lots of learning.
The Third Law of Motion Study Guide
Like the other study guides for learning the laws of motion, this guide identifies key words students should know. It also provides specific examples of the third law for students’ independent study. Encourage students to use it for reviewing information outside of the classroom to support learning the third law of motion.
Newton’s Laws of Motion: How Do We Walk
This article provides detailed information on how Newton’s laws of motion apply to the action of walking. Have students listen and then walk while explaining what they learned up to this point in the unit.
Newton’s Law of Gravity Study Guide
This study guide makes the law of gravity easy to understand for students. It can also be applied to the previous lessons on motion already taught. Use it to introduce the law of gravity. It serves as a strong introduction to this topic.
Understanding Newton’s Law of Gravity
Use this article as a follow-up to the introduction of gravity or as a second lesson for introducing the concept to students. This lesson requires students to listen and respond in writing (a suitable lesson structure that contributes to adding variety to the instructional methods used throughout this unit). Then encourage students’ to review the information at home to ensure retention and understanding.
Science Fair Projects About the Power of Gravity
This article includes ideas for science projects involving gravity. It is sectioned by grade level making it an easy-to-use resource for locating grade and age specific projects on gravity for your students.
Pulling It All together: Interactive Activities on Motion and Gravity
Use the activities provided in this article to apply what was learned in this unit of study. Several engaging, interactive activities are included to use with your science students.
Facts About Sir Isaac Newton: 10 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know
A fitting way to close this unit on Newton’s laws is to share some interesting facts about the life of Sir Isaac Newton. Students will enjoy listening to the facts included in this article. Share these facts with students by reading aloud. Also, consider challenging students by requiring them to locate one additional fact about Newton not included in this article. This is a fun activity for students and it requires them to apply internet research skills.
Newton’s Law Challenge
After teaching about Newton’s laws of motion and gravity, introduce students to the role of motion and gravity in astronomy and mathematics. It’s an ideal opportunity to challenge the on-level and advanced students through extended learning lessons. Students make connections across the curriculum and deepen their understanding of Newton’s laws as they expand their knowledge of new learning into other subject areas.
References
- Author’s research of Newton’s Laws articles on brighthub.com
