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4th grade · Science · Unit 2 of 7

Pushes, Pulls & Forces

Gravity, magnets, friction and changing motion

What your child practices

Forces as pushes and pulls, contact and non-contact forces (gravity, magnetism, static electricity), friction, how bigger forces change motion more, and helmets and seat belts as safety devices.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 4P.1.1.1.1 · cause and effect in electric and magnetic pushes and pulls between objects

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. A force is a push or a pull.
  2. Gravity pulls things down. Magnets pull iron and steel.
  3. Friction slows moving things. Sand on ice adds friction.
  4. Forces can start, stop or change the direction of a motion.

Example: A sled slides across snow and slowly stops. Which force stopped it? The sled rubs against the snow. Rubbing between surfaces is friction. Answer: friction

Pushes, Pulls & Forces in Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 2 of 7 in 4th grade Science, after Wind, Water & Ice and before Magnet Inventions.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    When you squeeze a sponge, the force changes its…

    🧽
    • color
    • smell
    • name
    • shape

  2. Question 2

    Does the force need touching? Tap an item, then tap its basket.

    Sort into: 🤝 contact force · 🧲 non-contact force

    • 🧲two magnets pushing apart
    • ⚽kicking a ball
    • 🧲a magnet pulling a paper clip
    • 🚪pushing a door open
    • 🛒pulling a wagon
    • 🍎an apple falling from a tree (gravity)

  3. Question 3

    Two magnets push each other apart without touching. This shows a…

    🧲
    • non-contact force
    • friction
    • contact force
    • twisting force

  4. Question 4

    Which surface had the least friction?

    How far the toy car rolled (cm)
    020406080100120140carpettilewood floor
    • wood floor
    • carpet
    • tile

  5. Question 5

    Which surface has the most friction?

    🧱
    • polished glass
    • a wet bar of soap
    • ice
    • sandpaper

  6. Question 6

    A ball rolls across the grass and slowly stops. What force slows it down?

    ⚽
    • a push from the Moon
    • magnetism
    • friction
    • static electricity

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