Name: Hannah Stanford

Class: ELED 3221-003

Date: 10/27/14

EdTPA Indirect Instruction Lesson Plan Template

Gravity Lesson
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Central Focus/Big Idea: My lesson focuses on the concept of Forces and Motion, specifically
gravity. This is a review lesson for students who have previously discussed the topic of Forces
and Motion. Student will already have an general understanding of gravity. I could potentially
teach this standard in multiple lessons over a span of days by doing different gravity related Read
Alouds, the Roller coaster activity & challenges, and other dropping race demonstrations.
Subject of this lesson: Gravity
Grade Level: 3rd grade
NC Essential Standard(s): 3.P.1.3 Explain the effects of Earths gravity on the motion of any
object on or near the Earth.
Next Generation Science Standard(s): 3-PS2-2 Make observations and/or measurements of
an objects motion to provide evidence that a pattern can be used to predict future motion.
21st Century Skills: Using the 21st Century Skills Map-Science available on Moodle, choose
the two or three skills that apply to your lesson. Explain why you chose these.
Academic Language Demand

Language Function: I chose describe because the class will be able to describe what
gravity is and how it affects objects on Earth.

Analyze

Argue

Categorize

Compare/contrast Describe

Interpret

Predict

Question

Retell

Explain

Summarize

Scientific Vocabulary: What are the key scientific terms that your students will learn
through this lesson? Gravity, earth, space, force, motion, and weight.

Instructional Objective: The students will be expected to have a clear understanding of Earths
gravity on the motion of objects. I will check the students understanding by having them
complete a Falling Objects Quiz. In order to meet the objective they must answer at least 4 out of
6 questions correctly.

Prior Knowledge (student): Students should already have a general understanding of gravity
through previous lessons taught on the topic of Force and Motion.
Content Knowledge (teacher): The teacher should know that gravity is the force that causes
things to fall towards the Earth. The teacher should be able to explain the effects of Earths
gravity on the motion on objects near or on the Earth. The teacher should also know that gravity
affects all objects equally, which means that heavier objects fall at the same rate as lighter
objects.
Accommodations for special needs (individual and/or small group): Throughout the lesson, I
will check in individually with students who may require extra attention to make sure they have a
clear understanding of the topic. If they are still struggling, I will set up a small group reengagement activity to revisit the topic and ensure their understanding.
Materials and Technology requirements: I will need 5 copies of the Dropping Races
Worksheet (1 for each group), 20 copies of the Falling Objects Quiz (or 1 copy to place on the
overhead for all the students to see), at least 5 pennies, 5 tennis balls, 5 paper clips, 5 marbles,
and 5 texts books. Students will need pencils, erasers, and scrap paper.
Total Estimated Time: 30 minutes
Source of lesson: ELED 3221 textbook
Safety considerations: During the Dropping Races activity, student will not be allowed to stand
on chairs to drop their objects. They must drop the objects while standing on the ground to
prevent falling. Students in the group will be assigned specific jobs in order to prevent arguing,
pushing, and shoving. I will remind students that if they are the dropper in their group, to make
sure other students hands and feet are out of the way when dropping heavier objects such as the
textbook.

Content and Strategies (Procedure)

Engage: I will engage the students by gathering the students on the carpet and facilitating a class
discussion on the topic of gravity. This is a review lesson, so the students should already have a
general understanding of what gravity is. I will start off the discussion by asking the class Who
has an idea about what gravity is?. I will call on a few students to share their ideas. Then I will
share my definition of gravity: The force that causes objects to fall. I will write this definition
on either the board or the overhead projector. I will hold a pen in my hand and ask the class
What will happen if I let go of the pen? (The pen will fall). What causes the pen to fall?
(Gravity pulls it down).
Explore: At the end of our class discussion, I will take this time to explain the Dropping Races
activity to the students. I will say, Today we are going to do a Dropping Races activity. You
will be put into 5 different groups. Each group will need to follow the direction on the
worksheet. At this point I will read the directions on the worksheet aloud and go through each

dropping race. Once the students know which group they are in, I will tell them their assigned
job (the dropper, the recorder, the watcher, and the collector) and what that job entails (the
dropper in the only one to drop the objects each round, the recorder rights down the results, the
watcher is the one who determines which object wins the dropping race, and the collector keeps
track of all the objects and places them back in the bag after they are used in the dropping race). I
will have the collectors retrieve their groups materials. The groups will find an area in the
classroom to complete their Dropping Races activity. Students will drop a variety of objects at
the same time from the same height and determine the winner of each dropping race. They will
test each round 3 times to make sure their results are consistent. As students do this activity, I
will circulate around the classroom and check in with each of the 5 groups to make sure they are
on task and have a clear understanding of the process. I will ask questions such as Which object
won the dropping race in round __? Are you noticing a pattern in your results? Could there
be a reason for ties? Does weight determine how fast an object falls? Does weight determine
how hard an object falls?

Explanation: After students complete the Dropping Races activity, they will return to their seats.
As a class, we will review the Dropping Races worksheet. I will ask the students Raise your

hand if you think ______ won the race. Raise your hand if you think ______ won the race. Raise
your hand if you think it was a tie. I will tell the students that each of the dropping objects
actually should have all tied. I will explain, Gravity affects all objects equally. This means that
heavier objects fall at the same rate as lighter objects. Then I will ask the students, So if I were
to drop a bowling ball and a pen at the same time, which would hit the ground first? (both will
hit at the same time). Which will hit the ground the hardest? The bowling ball or the pen? (the
bowling ball). Why? (because it is heavier).
Elaborate: Students will independently complete a Falling Objects Quiz. Students will be able
to apply their newly learned ideas, concepts, and skills relating to gravity to complete the quiz. I
will place the quiz on the overhead projector. I will read the questions aloud one at a time and
give the students ample time to answer them on a scrap sheet of paper. As I read through the
questions I may make statements like Think back to the Dropping races activity and what we
learned about those falling objects, Remember our discussion about gravity at the beginning of
the lesson and the definition that was written on the board, and Think about where the kids are
on the roller coaster in the picture, or a time that you may have been on a roller coaster. At what
point do you go the fastest?

Evaluate: I will assess each student throughout the lesson by their participation in the class
discussions, as well as the Dropping Races activity. This will be the formative assessment. I will
assess the students understanding of the topic of gravity through their Falling Objects Quiz. If
students get at least 4 out of 6 questions correct, they will be considered meeting the objective.
This will be the summative assessment.

CT signature/confirmation: _________________________________ Date: ________________