Virginia SOL 2.2.a

Science2nd GradeForce, Motion, and Energy

The Standard

forces from direct contact can cause an object to move

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students push or pull objects and observe when motion begins. They identify what touched the object and describe how the contact made it move.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can use a hand or another object to make a toy move. They can name the contact, identify a push or pull, and explain the result.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think objects begin moving on their own or that only pushes cause motion. They may also think every touch must make an object move.
How to Assess It: Give each student a toy car and ask them to make it move without lifting it. Then ask, "What touched the car, and how did it move?"

Lesson moves

Set out toy cars, blocks, and balls for students to move using one finger, a craft stick, or a loop of string.
Show a child pulling a wagon and ask, "What touched the wagon, and how did that contact make it move?"
Play Contact Detective by sorting picture cards into contact made it move, contact did not move it, and no contact.
Visit the playground and identify where hands or feet touch swings, balls, and scooters to start their motion.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 2.2.a, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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