Virginia SOL 3.2.b

Science3rd GradeForce, Motion, and Energy

The Standard

the net force on an object determines how an object moves

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students compare pushes and pulls acting on one object. They predict whether the object will start moving, stop, speed up, slow down, or change direction.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students identify which direction has the stronger combined force. They explain that equal opposite forces do not change an object's motion, while unequal forces do.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think any force always causes motion or that equal opposite pushes make a moving object stop. They may also add opposite forces instead of comparing them.
How to Assess It: Ask: “A toy car rolls right. A weak push acts left and a stronger push acts right. How will its motion change? Explain.”

Lesson moves

In pairs, push a toy car from opposite sides, first equally and then unequally, and record how its motion changes.
Write: “A wagon has equal pulls in opposite directions. Will its motion change? Explain using force arrows.”
Give teams arrow cards showing forces, then have them sort each set into no change, speed up, slow down, or turn.
Observe a shopping cart being pushed and discuss how harder, softer, and sideways pushes change its motion.

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