Science·Forces & Motion·conceptual
Pushes & Pulls
Understand that pushes and pulls are forces that can change the speed or direction of an object's motion, and compare the effects of different strengths and directions
Suggested ages 5–6
Learning journey
Your child is learning about forces — understanding how pushes and pulls can make objects move faster, slower, or change direction, and testing different ways to affect motion.
Evidence of understanding
- Describe a push and a pull as types of force that make objects move, speed up, slow down, or change direction
- Compare the effects of a gentle push versus a strong push on the same object
- Predict the direction an object will move based on the direction of the applied force
Assessment prompt
Can Pushes & Pulls explain that pushing a toy car harder makes it go faster, and pushing it sideways makes it change direction?
Standards alignment
K-PS2-1US · ngss-k5
K-PS2-1
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) K-5