Day 1 - Introduction:  Basics of Gravity

LESSON OVERVIEW

Students will learn what gravity is, what factors affect gravity, and how it affects different objects.

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS

Students will be able to relate their knowledge of gravity to everyday situations.  Students will be able to explain factors that affect the force of gravity.  Students will be able to explain how and why gravity affects some objects differently.

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Students will be engaged in a discussion on a gravity problem situation.  They will be expected to work in a small group environment to help solve this problem.

LESSON ORGANIZATION

Opening the Lesson:
 15  minutes

     Science:  Introduce gravity by engaging the students in a discussion of gravity.  What is gravity? (1:23 video clip) Video clips can be downloaded from Discovery Education:  United Streaming Web Site

 

Developing the Lesson:
 
20   minutes

     Science:  Demonstrate the acceleration of gravity on objects of different mass by having students drop objects of different mass at the same time to determine the rate that falling objects move.  Students will view the video segments listed here to enhance their understanding of gravity:  Mass and Weight (2:07 video clip), and Falling Objects (6:38 video clip).   Video clips can be downloaded from Discovery Education:  United Streaming Web Site

 

Closing the Lesson:
 
15   minutes

     Science:  Students will be given a situation involving gravity to work through in groups.  They will have to explain why people at the South Pole do not feel like they are standing upside down.  Groups will spend the last five minutes of class discussing their answers with the class.

TEACHING RESOURCES

What is gravity? (1:23 video clip), Mass and Weight (2:07 video clip), and Falling Objects (6:38 video clip)  Video clips can be downloaded from the following web page:  Discovery Education:  United Streaming Web Site

LAB SAFETY

None

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SPECIAL LEARNERS

None

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES

Students will be given the opportunity to work through the  Gravity WebQuest activity.  The WebQuest Answer Sheet can be printed for the students if you so desire.  This activity will need to be completed on their own, outside of class time.