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Science Year 1: Pushes and pulls

Introduction
After a practical introduction to pushes and pulls, the BBC Science Clips website is
used by the teacher to demonstrate what happens when the strength of pushes or
pulls is changed. Children then use the website in groups to reinforce their
understanding.

What will the children learn?

Pupils will learn to recognise different types of movement and causes that may affect
that movement. They will learn that pushes and pulls are types of forces.

What prior experience do the children need?

The children should have had practical experience of pushing and pulling a variety of
objects and toys.

Equipment
Online activity from Science Clips website: Pushes and pulls
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/5_6/pushes_pulls.shtml
• Large screen or electronic whiteboard for demonstration
• Pushes and pulls worksheet printed from the Science Clips website
• A toy car

The Lesson
Demonstrate how a toy car can be moved by pushes and pulls. What happens with
different strengths of push or pull. How can the car be stopped?

Use the activity Pushes and Pulls from the Science Clips website
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/5_6/pushes_pulls.shtml. Select the
full screen mode to produce an effective display to work with the whole class.

Explain the activity. Remind the children of what happened with the car.

Select one of the strengths of push to move the horse. Ask the class to predict what
will happen? Will the horse reach the finish line? Click the button to see the result.
Was the prediction correct?

Repeat using different strengths and a pull instead of a push. What is different each
time?

Ask the class to predict what might happen if the traffic cone or the wall is placed in
the way? Test and observe what does happen.

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After the demonstration, allow children to work in groups or pairs on the activity.
Encourage them to make predictions before each run.

As a plenary, return to the activity, where the horse has a wall placed in its path. Why
might it be dangerous to try and stop a fast moving object, such as a car or a
playground swing?

Why are we using ICT?

The computer simulation allows the strength of the push or pull to be controlled and
provides a clear visual result. The simulation should not replace practical experience
but is useful for display and demonstration.

References
QCA Schemes of Work ICT Unit 1F Understanding instructions and making things
happen
http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/it/?view=get

QCA Schemes of Work Science Unit 1E Pushes and Pulls

http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schemes2/science/?view=get

National Curriculum programme of study: Key Stage 1, Science, Sc4 Forces and
Motion 2a, 2b, 2c
http://www.nc.uk.net/index.html

5-14 National Guidelines for the Curriculum in Scotland: Environmental Studies - Science Level B
Energy and forces – Forces and their effects http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/5to14/guidelines/index.asp

Where do we go next?
Give each child a copy of the Pushes and Pulls worksheet (printed from the website)
to complete.

Ask what is making the movement in each case – what makes the car and the
aeroplane move (the engine)? Explain that it is not only ourselves that make things
move by pushing and pulling. Ask children to identify the causes of movement of a
windmill, washing on the line, leaves on the surface of a stream etc. What can we
move by blowing?

Ask children to find examples of moving toys at home and to bring in to school to make a class
collection.

Differentiating the activity

Some children may need much practical experience of pushing and pulling before they are able to
understand the screen based simulation.

© Becta, 2005 ‘Direct2U’ Service

http://www.ictadvice.org.uk Week 3: Strand Science
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Reflecting on their work

Ask children

• how they might make an object move

• how they might make it go faster

• how they might stop it

• why it is dangerous to try to stop some moving objects.

Children could use the Quiz on the website to test understanding.

Supporting resources
The computer resource is from the BBC Science Clips website: Pushes and pulls
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/5_6/pushes_pulls.shtml
The activity is taken from the on line lesson plan provide on the website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/teachersresources/ages5_6/tr_ages5_6.shtml

© Becta, 2005 ‘Direct2U’ Service

http://www.ictadvice.org.uk Week 3: Strand Science