NGSS 5-PS2-1
The Standard
Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down.
Next Generation Science Standards
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students make a claim about which way gravity pulls objects near Earth. They use observations, models, or diagrams as evidence and explain that local down points toward Earth's center.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can draw force arrows toward Earth's center for objects placed anywhere around a globe. The student can connect evidence from drops or models to a clear claim, without using calculations.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think down is always the bottom of a page or one fixed direction in space. They may also think gravity acts only on falling objects, not on books resting on tables or people standing on Earth.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Draw Earth as a circle with a person at the top, side, and bottom. Add a gravity arrow for each person, then write one sentence explaining the pattern.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Drop a ball from several heights, record its motion, and use the observations to build a claim about gravity's direction.
Ask, “What does down mean for people standing in different places on Earth?” Students answer with a labeled globe sketch.
Give pairs globe cards with misplaced force arrows, and have them race to correct each arrow and explain why.
Hang a washer from string as a plumb line, then explain why builders use it to check whether a wall is vertical.
Free download
Printable 5-PS2-1 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 5-PS2-1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetLearning progression
Where This Standard Sits
See the whole path on the Physical Science progression map.
What This Unlocks
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Related Standards
- HS-ESS2-2
Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth's surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems.
- 5-ESS1-1
Support an argument that differences in the apparent brightness of the sun compared to other stars is due to their relative distances from Earth.
- 5-LS1-1
Support an argument that plants get the materials they need for growth chiefly from air and water.
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