ABSTRACT
I have success engaging fourth- and fifth-grade students in a student-centered investigation of forces and interactions. The lesson builds on students’ prior knowledge and highlights three-dimensional learning (Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Content, and Crosscutting concepts) to address the Performance Expectation (PE) that students should be able to “plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object” (3-PS2–1) (NGSS Lead States 2013). The lesson that follows is a powerful way to share the responsibility for learning between teacher and student, and student and to set high expectations of “doing science” for the rest of the school year.
