Activity Overview
The are a wide range of forces in many everyday situations that students might not be aware of. Using a spider map, students will identify and illustrate a range of different types of forces. You can make this activity easier or more challenging by changing the number of rows. Stretch your most advanced students by giving them a contextual constraint, for example, all of their examples of forces need to be found in football. Students should be encouraged to define the type of force in their storyboard alongside each example, but this is not a needed requirement.
Alternatively, print out the example storyboard and cut it up. Students can then match the force type with the visualization.
Types of Forces
- Lift
- Friction
- Drag
- Electrostatic force
- Magnetic force
- Weight
- Thrust
- Upthrust
- Tension
- Spring force
- Normal force
- Applied force
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Demonstrate your understanding of forces by identifying where forces occur in real world contexts.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Think of a real world situation for each of the force types.
- Illustrate the situation using a combination of scenes, characters, and items.
- Alternatively, use Photos for Class to give examples of the situation.
- Add force arrows to represent the forces.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 33 Points | Emerging 16 Points | Beginning 0 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identification of Forces | Every type of force is identified and explained. | Most types of forces are identified and explained. | Some forces have been correctly identified and explained. |
| Examples | Every type of force is given a clear and correct example. | Most forces are given a correct example. | Some forces are given an example. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
Activity Overview
The are a wide range of forces in many everyday situations that students might not be aware of. Using a spider map, students will identify and illustrate a range of different types of forces. You can make this activity easier or more challenging by changing the number of rows. Stretch your most advanced students by giving them a contextual constraint, for example, all of their examples of forces need to be found in football. Students should be encouraged to define the type of force in their storyboard alongside each example, but this is not a needed requirement.
Alternatively, print out the example storyboard and cut it up. Students can then match the force type with the visualization.
Types of Forces
- Lift
- Friction
- Drag
- Electrostatic force
- Magnetic force
- Weight
- Thrust
- Upthrust
- Tension
- Spring force
- Normal force
- Applied force
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Demonstrate your understanding of forces by identifying where forces occur in real world contexts.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Think of a real world situation for each of the force types.
- Illustrate the situation using a combination of scenes, characters, and items.
- Alternatively, use Photos for Class to give examples of the situation.
- Add force arrows to represent the forces.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient 33 Points | Emerging 16 Points | Beginning 0 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identification of Forces | Every type of force is identified and explained. | Most types of forces are identified and explained. | Some forces have been correctly identified and explained. |
| Examples | Every type of force is given a clear and correct example. | Most forces are given a correct example. | Some forces are given an example. |
| Evidence of Effort | Work is well written and carefully thought out. | Work shows some evidence of effort. | Work shows little evidence of any effort. |
How Tos about Illustrating Different Types of Forces
How can I help students identify forces in their daily routines?
Connect learning to real life by having students observe their morning or after-school routines and list where they see different types of forces at play, such as friction when tying shoes or gravity when dropping a backpack. This helps students actively apply science concepts to familiar settings and deepens their understanding.
Guide students to brainstorm examples before illustrating forces.
Encourage students to think of several real-world situations for each force type before starting their illustrations. Brainstorming first ensures a broader range of creative and relatable examples, making the activity more engaging and meaningful.
Model how to draw and label force arrows clearly.
Demonstrate on the board how to draw arrows showing the direction and type of force in a scenario. Label each arrow with the force's name (e.g., 'friction' or 'gravity') so students understand how visuals connect to scientific ideas.
Encourage peer discussion to compare force examples.
Organize students into pairs or small groups to share and discuss their force scenarios. Peer conversation helps students clarify misconceptions and discover new ways forces appear in everyday life.
Wrap up with a class gallery walk of force illustrations.
Display student work around the classroom and have students walk around to view and reflect on each other's examples. This promotes collaboration and reinforces learning by exposing students to a variety of force applications.
Frequently Asked Questions about Illustrating Different Types of Forces
What are the different types of forces students should know?
Different types of forces students should know include lift, friction, drag, electrostatic force, magnetic force, weight, thrust, upthrust, tension, spring force, normal force, and applied force. These are commonly found in real-world situations and are important for understanding motion and interactions.
How can I teach types of forces using a spider map?
To teach types of forces with a spider map, have students create a central node labeled "Forces" and connect it to branches for each type of force. For each branch, students can illustrate real-world examples and add brief definitions, helping them visually organize and understand the relationships between different forces.
What is an easy classroom activity to illustrate different forces for grades 3-6?
An easy activity is to assign each student or group a type of force and have them draw or find photos showing that force in action. Students can use arrows to indicate the direction of the force and explain it in their own words. Using a spider map or storyboards makes the lesson interactive and visual.
How can I make lessons on forces more challenging for advanced students?
Challenge advanced students by adding contextual constraints, such as requiring all force examples to be found in a specific context like football. You can also increase difficulty by asking them to define each force or provide multiple real-world examples with explanations.
What's the difference between applied force and normal force?
Applied force is a force that is directly exerted on an object by a person or another object. Normal force is the support force exerted by a surface, acting perpendicular to the surface, that balances the weight of an object resting on it.
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