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Pushes and Pulls

In the third and final unit of Kindergarten, students investigate how pushes and pulls are forces that change the motion of an object. They apply their scientific knowledge to design a solution that solves a problem.

This page is a high-level extract from the first lesson of the Unit in which students explore the difference between a push and a pull. They classify photos that show a push or a pull to differentiate between the motion of an object or person caused by a push and the motion of an object or person caused by a pull.

Science Background for Teachers:

This teacher background is intended to provide teachers with an in-depth explanation of the scientific phenomena that students will explore in the unit. It seeks to answer the deeper “how” and “why” questions that teachers may have about the concepts being investigated.

There is motion everywhere in the universe. Motion is the movement of an object from one place to another. Earth is always moving around the sun, and the moon is always moving around Earth. Living things move as they breathe in and out, consume food, and perform all other functions necessary for life.

Whenever you move an object from one place to another, you apply a force—a push or pull that changes an object’s speed, direction, or shape. A push moves objects away from you, while a pull moves objects toward you.

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Science Lesson: Exploring Pushes and Pulls

In this unit, students explore how forces cause an object’s motion to change. Students begin by exploring how objects move in different directions when they are pushed or pulled, and then investigate how changing the strength of a force changes the distance an object moves. For this introductory lesson, students will observe photos of different actions and notice what type of force or motion is being done in each photo. They will practice engaging in Socratic dialogue and using pictorial evidence to explain their thinking about pushes and pulls.

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Science Big Ideas

  • Motion is the movement of an object or living thing from one place to another.
  • Forces are pushes or pulls that change an object’s speed, direction, or shape.
  • Pushing moves objects farther away, while pulling moves objects closer.
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Science Essential Questions

  • What are some different kinds of motion?
  • Where do you get the energy you need to make movements?
  • What does it mean to push something?
  • What does it mean to pull something?
  • How is pushing different from pulling?
  • How are pushing and pulling similar?

Common Science Misconceptions

close-circle-red Misconception: Constant motion requires a constant force.

checkmark-circle-green Fact: Once a force causes an object to move, that object will continue to move until another force acts on it, causing it to change its motion.

close-circle-red Misconception: Moving objects stop when the force moving them “runs out.”

checkmark-circle-green Fact: Objects only change their motion by force. For example, objects slow down because of the force of friction. Without a force to change its motion, a moving object would continue moving forever.

Science Vocabulary

Force : a push or a pull that changes an object’s speed, direction, or shape

Motion : the movement of an object or living thing from one place to another

Pull : to move an object toward you

Push : to move an object away from you

Lexile(R) Certified Non-Fiction Science Reading (Excerpt)

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Hands-on Science Activity

In this hands-on mini-lesson, students analyze and discuss pictorial representations of different motions to determine whether they show pushing or pulling. Students classify each photo into push and pull categories and defend their choices by explaining the difference between the two forces. This activity prepares students for further study of motion, friction, and energy in future Physical Science lessons.

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Science Assessments

KnowAtom incorporates formative and summative assessments designed to make students thinking visible for deeper student-centered learning.

  • Vocabulary Check
  • Lab Checkpoints
  • Concept Check Assessment 
  • Concept Map Assessment 
  • And More...
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Standards citation: NGSS Lead States. 2013. Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it.