Rochester College

Lesson Plan Template

8/27/15

Lesson Title
Gravity Introduction

Teacher Candidate Name

Kristin Miller

Date
10/05/15

Lesson Summary
Students will observe gravity working on an object. They will then experiment to see if all of their objects
will fall to the ground when dropped. Next, they will report the data to another group of students. Our
class will talk about the idea of gravity, and the students will draw a picture of what their room would look
like without gravity.
Subject Area
Science
Grade Level
Kindergarten
Higher Order Thinking Skills (Revised Blooms)
Students will analyze the affects of gravity on their world.
Approximate Time Needed for Lesson
Once class period of 20 minutes
Common Core Standards and/or State of Michigan GLCEs and/or HSCEs
P.FM.E.2 Gravity- Earth pulls down on all objects with a
force called gravity. With very few exceptions, objects fall
to the ground no matter where the object is on the Earth.
P.FM.00.21 Observe how objects fall toward the earth.
Student Objectives/Learning Outcomes
Students will understand that gravity pulls objects down.

Essential Question

Curriculum-Framing Questions
What direction does gravity pull items?

Unit Questions

What is motion?

Content Questions

How does gravity work?

Assessment Summary
Collect the End of Lesson activity to use as the assessment. Look for the following: Did the students
understand the concept of gravity? Do they understand that gravity affects everything, including
themselves and their ojbects?
I will also observe the students during their pre-assessment, and during their activity. Look for
misconceptions to cover, and offer assistance where needed.

Lesson Timeline
Start of the Lesson
Students will draw which
direction they expect a ball to
drop.

Mid-Lesson Activities
Students will observe different
objects being dropped from
different lengths. Next, they will
practice dropping the objects they
are given in order to determine if

End of Lesson Activities

Students will draw a picture of
what direction they expect a ball
to drop, and what their room
would look like without gravity.

an object will fall down every

single time it is dropped.
Prerequisite Skills
Students need to know how to illustrate a thought. They also need to know basic directions: up and
down.
Instructional Procedures
Begin with a preasessment: I have a ball in my hands. I want you to think about what would happen if I
let go of this ball. When you have your thought on what would happen, I want you to draw it on the paper
in front of you. Give students a moment to work. During this activity, walk around and observe the
students responses. After students are done, choose a few students to share what they wrote, and to
explain their reasoning behind their answer.
Let go of the ball. Ask students why the ball fell to the ground. Do you think that if I drop the ball ten
times, it will fall to the ground all ten times? Show the ball dropping to the ground all ten times. Split the
students up into groups of two. Give each group of students the attatched worksheet (a graph), and a
bag of objects (including a pencil, two balls of various sizes, and play dough). Students are to drop each
of their items three times and record which direction the item drops by drawing an arrow up or down.
Remember that in school, we have to be safe. You are only letting these items go. You are not playing
with them. You are not throwing them up in the air. The only thing I want to see you doing is dropping
your items.
Bring the students into the carpet area. They are to bring their worksheets, but not their items. Have
each group share the results of their experiment with another group in the circle. Did anyone have an
object that did NOT fall to the ground when you let it go? Wait for a response. Why do you think that
is? Wait for responses. You see, in our world, we have a thing called gravity. Its a really big word, but
gravity pulls everything down to the ground if you arent holding onto it, or if it isnt placed on a shelf.
Without gravity, we would be floating around, and so would everything else!!
Send the students back to their desks. They are to take out a sheet of paper. I am holding a ball. If I let
the ball go, what way do you think the ball will go? Wait for students to complete this. Now, I want you
to draw and color a picture of what your room would look like without gravity.
Accommodations for Differentiated Instruction
Special Needs students will be paired with an advanced student who
stays on task during assignments. The advanced student will record the
data, but both students msut agree on the direction that the object fell.
Special Needs Student
This student will also be allowed to verbally tell me which direction he
expects the objects to fall instead of recording it through drawings.

Gifted/Talented Student

The Gifted/Talented student will create a story about a world without

gravity. This story will include at least two main characters, a proper
depiction of gravity, and a storyline.

Technology Hardware (Check off all equipment needed)

Camera
Laser Disk
Computer (s)
Printer
Digital Camera
Projection System
DVD Player
Scanner
Internet Connection
Television
Technology Software (Check off all software needed)
Database/Spreadsheet
Image Processing
Desktop Publishing
Internet Web Browser
E-mail Software
Multimedia
Encyclopedia on CD-ROM
Printed Materials

Included Below

VCR
Video Camera
Video Conferencing Equipment
Interactive Responders
Other - Click here to enter text.
Web Page Development
Word Processing
Smart notebook software
Other - Click here to enter text.

Supplies
Internet Resources
Other Resources

Per group: one pencil, two balls, and one pack of play-dough.
Attatched worksheet.
Ball for the teacher.
None
None