Pushes and Pulls: Making Things Move
A swing goes up high. A wagon rolls along. A door opens. How do we make things move, go faster, or stop? Let’s find out!
This lesson takes about 15 minutes. You can take a break after each part.
Before you start
Learning objectives
- I can say if something is a push or a pull.
- I can say what a strong push and a gentle push do.
- I can use a push or a pull to stop something or change its direction.
- I can check if a ramp or a wall makes a ball do what I want.
Pushes and pulls
A push moves things away
When you push, you move something away from you. You push a swing. You push a door to open it. You push a toy car across the floor.
A pull moves things closer
When you pull, you move something toward you. You pull a wagon by its handle. You pull a drawer open. You pull on a rope.
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Strong and gentle pushes
A strong push
Push a ball with a strong push. It rolls fast, and it goes far.
A gentle push
Push the same ball with a gentle push. It rolls slowly, and it stops sooner. To compare, use the same ball on the same floor. Change only how hard you push.
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Stop it or turn it
A push can stop a moving thing
A soft ball rolls toward you. You put your hands in front of it and push back. The ball stops.
A push can change the direction
A ball rolls straight ahead. You push it from the side. Now it goes a new way: it changes direction. Things push too: a rolling ball that bumps into a block pushes the block.
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Build it: ramps and walls
A ramp makes a ball go faster
A ramp is a slope, like a slide. A ball that rolls down a ramp goes faster and faster. A higher ramp makes the ball go even faster.
A wall can stop or turn a ball
Put a wall of blocks in front of a rolling ball. The ball bumps into the wall and stops. Now turn the wall a little: the ball bumps into it and rolls away a new way.
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Review game
Final assessment
To master the lesson, you need at least 60% correct answers.
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Summary
- A push moves something away from you. A pull moves something toward you.
- A strong push makes a thing move faster and farther. A gentle push makes it move slower.
- Pushes and pulls can make things start, stop, or change direction.
- A ramp can make a ball go faster. A wall can stop a ball or change its direction.
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