| Full lesson | Create for a teacher a set of content for giving a lesson, beginning with the lesson plan. Each new block of materials must begin with an H1 heading (other subheaders must be H2, H3, etc). When you describe required pictures, write those descriptions in curly brackets, for example: {A picture of a triangle} |
| Which subject | Physics |
| What topic | Newton's First Law of Motion |
| What length (min) | 60 |
| What age group | Year or Grade 8 |
| Class size | 20 |
| What curriculum | |
| Include full script | |
| Check previous homework | |
| Ask some students to presents their homework | |
| Add a physical break | |
| Add group activities | |
| Include homework | |
| Show correct answers | |
| Prepare slide templates | |
| Number of slides | 15 |
| Create fill-in cards for students | |
| Create creative backup tasks for unexpected moments |
Newton's First Law of Motion
Year/Grade 8 (13-14 years old)
Physics
20 students
This lesson aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for 8th-grade physical sciences, focusing on motion and forces.
| Step Number | Step Title | Length (minutes) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the Topic | 10 | Introduce Newton's First Law of Motion. Discuss inertia with some examples. Use the whiteboard to illustrate the concepts. |
| 2 | Group Activity Introduction | 10 | Divide students into groups of 4. Assign a task that requires them to brainstorm real-life examples of inertia. Provide guidance and materials for activities. |
| 3 | Group Work | 15 | Groups will present their examples and discuss them amongst themselves. Teachers circulate to assist and guide discussions. Collect printable cards at the end. |
| 4 | Physical Activity Break | 10 | Engage students in a short physical activity that demonstrates inertia (e.g., relay race using balls). Discuss their experiences directly after the activity. |
| 5 | Lesson Recap | 5 | Briefly summarize Newton's First Law, emphasizing key points and students' contributions from the group activity. |
| 6 | Assigning Homework | 5 | Provide and explain the homework assignment related to Newton's First Law. Ensure students understand the expectations without students presenting in class. |
| 7 | Collect & Random Check Cards | 5 | Collect all filled printable cards. Provide a random check of a few cards to gauge understanding and provide feedback. |
Homework will be assigned at the end of the lesson, with students expected to complete it independently without presenting in front of the class.
Post-lesson, the teacher should reflect on the effectiveness of the activities and student understanding to adapt future lessons accordingly.
"Good morning, class! Today, we are going to discuss Newton's First Law of Motion. Can anyone tell me what they think this law is about?
[Pause for responses]
"Great ideas! Newton's First Law states that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
"Now, let’s talk about a concept called inertia. Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. For example, if I have this ball here (hold up a ball), and I roll it, it will keep rolling until something like friction or a wall stops it.
"Let's take a moment to look at a couple of examples on the board. [Use the whiteboard to illustrate examples, like a car suddenly stopping or a book staying on a table].
"Does anyone have any other examples of inertia?
[Take a few responses and engage with the students]
"Wonderful! Keep those examples in mind as we move into our next activity."
"Next, I’d like you all to get into groups of four. You can move your desks or sit together wherever you are comfortable.
"Once you’re in your groups, I want you to brainstorm and come up with as many real-life examples of Newton's First Law and inertia as you can. Think about things in your daily life — sports, cars, or even during a ride in a bus.
"I’ll provide you with some printed cards to fill out with your examples. Don’t worry; I’ll be walking around to help if you have any questions.
[Give students a minute to organize themselves and start brainstorming]
"Let’s spend 10 minutes on this task! Ready? Go!"
"Time’s up! Now I’d like to hear what each group has come up with. Each group will have a couple of minutes to present their examples.
[Assign each group some time to present. As they share, circulate around the room to listen and provide encouragement.]
"Fantastic! I love all the examples you’ve shared. Remember to hand in your printed cards as you finish. This will help me assess what you’ve learned today."
"Now that we have done a great job discussing inertia, it’s time for a short physical activity!
"We're going to have a relay race that demonstrates inertia. Here’s how it will work: I’ll divide you into two teams. Each team will take turns rolling a ball to the other side of the room and back.
"When you roll the ball, notice how it keeps moving until it hits something — that’s inertia in action!
"Let’s set up and have some fun! Teams, get ready!"
[Facilitate the relay race, ensuring safety and engagement, then lead a short discussion afterward.]
"Alright, everyone, what did you notice about the ball during the race?
[Encourage students to share their observations related to inertia.]
"Great job today, everyone! Let’s take a moment to recap what we learned.
"Who can remind us of Newton's First Law?
[Prompt students to summarize it.]
"And how does inertia play into this law?
[Allow for responses.]
"I'm really impressed with your contributions today! Remember, inertia is all around us, influencing how objects move or stay still."
"Before we wrap up, I want to assign your homework for the week.
"I’d like you to write a short paragraph about an example of Newton's First Law from your own life — it could be an experience at home, in sports, or anywhere else. Please explain how inertia plays a role in that example.
"Remember, this is individual work, so you won’t present it next class. I want you to think deeply about this, so make sure to do your best!"
"I’ll now collect your printed cards from the group activity. Please pass them to the front.
"As I collect them, I’ll randomly check a few to see how well we've grasped today’s lesson.
[Collect the cards, performing random checks and providing immediate feedback as necessary.]
"Thank you for your participation today! You all did a fantastic job engaging with Newton’s First Law. I look forward to reading your homework!"
| Slide Number | Image | Slide Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | {Image: A classroom setting with students} | - Introduction to Newton's First Law of Motion - Question to engage students: What do you think this law is about? |
| 2 | {Image: A graphic of Newton's First Law} | - Newton's First Law: Objects at rest stay at rest; objects in motion stay in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. |
| 3 | {Image: A ball being rolled} | - Introduction to Inertia - Definition of inertia: Resistance to changes in motion - Example: A rolling ball continues until stopped |
| 4 | {Image: Whiteboard with examples} | - Illustrating examples of inertia: - Car suddenly stopping - Book staying on a table |
| 5 | {Image: Students raising hands} | - Encouraging student engagement - Asking for more real-life examples of inertia |
| 6 | {Image: Groups of students brainstorming} | - Group Activity: Brainstorm real-life examples of Newton's First Law and inertia - Topics: Sports, cars, daily life |
| 7 | {Image: Printed cards for examples} | - Instructions for group activity: - Organize into groups of four - Fill out printed cards with examples |
| 8 | {Image: Group presentations in progress} | - Group Work: Presenting examples - Circulating around to provide encouragement |
| 9 | {Image: Students participating in a relay race} | - Physical Activity Break: Relay race to demonstrate inertia - Each team rolls a ball to see inertia in action |
| 10 | {Image: Students discussing observations} | - Discussion after the activity: - Sharing observations about the ball's motion and inertia |
| 11 | {Image: Students raising hands again} | - Lesson Recap: - Summarizing Newton's First Law - Inertia's role in the law |
| 12 | {Image: Homework assignment on a desk} | - Homework Assignment: - Write a paragraph about a personal example of Newton's First Law and inertia |
| 13 | {Image: Students passing up cards} | - Collecting printed cards from group activity - Random checks to assess understanding |
| 14 | {Image: Teacher providing feedback} | - Providing immediate feedback on cards - Acknowledging student participation and understanding |
| 15 | {Image: A classroom celebrating learning} | - Conclusion: Thanking students for participation - Anticipating their homework submissions |
Define Newton's First Law of Motion in your own words. How does it relate to inertia?
Give three examples of how you see Newton's First Law in your daily life. Be specific about the scenarios you encounter.
Explain the concept of inertia. Why is it important to understand when discussing motion?
Describe a situation in sports where Newton's First Law is demonstrated. What role does inertia play in that example?
In a brief paragraph, discuss an instance at home where you noticed an object at rest or in motion. How does this relate to Newton's First Law?
How might understanding Newton's First Law be useful in your everyday activities, such as riding in a car or playing an instrument?
After participating in the relay race, what did you observe regarding inertia? How did these observations reinforce your understanding of Newton's First Law?
What questions do you still have about Newton's First Law and inertia that you would like to explore further?
Newton's First Law of Motion states that an object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion.
Examples can vary but might include: a skateboard rolling down a hill, a book on a table remaining still until pushed, or a car coming to a sudden stop.
Inertia is the resistance of any physical object to any change in its velocity (which includes changes to the object's speed or direction of motion). It's important because it helps explain why objects behave the way they do.
An example might be a player making a shot in basketball; the ball continues its motion toward the hoop until it hits the backboard or the floor. Inertia keeps the ball moving in the same direction unless acted upon.
An instance can be described as: a ball rolling across the floor will eventually stop due to friction (an unbalanced force), demonstrating Newton's First Law.
Understanding Newton's First Law can help predict how objects will move or not move in everyday activities, like anticipating the stop of a car or the swing of a pendulum.
During the relay race, students might have observed that the ball continued to roll until it hit an obstacle, reinforcing the concept of inertia and illustrating Newton’s First Law.
Questions could vary; for example: What happens to inertia in space? Why do heavier objects show more inertia? How can we observe this in different environments?
| Question | Answer |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
| What does Newton's First Law of Motion state? | |
| How does inertia affect objects in motion? | |
| Can you provide an example of inertia from your daily life? | |
| What happens to a ball when you roll it on a flat surface? | |
| How does friction impact the motion of an object? | |
| What are some real-life scenarios that illustrate Newton's First Law? | |
| How would you describe the relationship between force and motion according to Newton's First Law? | |
| Why is it important to understand the concept of inertia in everyday life? | |
| How did the relay race help you understand inertia? | |
| What is an example from sports that demonstrates Newton's First Law? | |Can anyone explain how inertia affects our daily activities, like riding a bicycle or getting off a bus?
Think about a sports activity you enjoy. How does Newton's First Law and the concept of inertia apply to that sport?
If you could demonstrate Newton's First Law using a real-life scenario in your house, what would it be and how would you set it up?
Why do you think it’s important to understand inertia when it comes to driving a car? Can you give an example?
If you could create a superhero whose power relates to inertia, what unique ability would they have and how would it work?
Let's get moving, class, hooray!
Here are some exercises for us today:
#### Jumping Jacks
Raise your hands, then out to the side,
Jump like a star, have a little pride!
#### Squats
Feet apart, lower your rear,
Stand back up, let’s give a cheer!
#### High Knees
Run in place, lift those knees high,
Touch the sky, oh my, oh my!
#### Arm Circles
Circle those arms, both forward and back,
Feel them stretch, stay on the track!
#### Lunges
Step forward wide, bend that knee,
Switch it up! Let’s do it with glee!
#### Marching in Place
Lift your knees, swing your arms too,
Let’s keep moving, it’s fun to do!
#### Side Steps
Step to the left, then to the right,
Keep on moving, hold on tight!
#### Speed Skaters
Leap to the side, then to the other,
Like you’re skating, oh, what a bother!
#### Balance on One Leg
Stand up tall, lift one foot high,
Hold it there, don’t let it fly!
#### Cool Down Stretches
Reach for the sky, then touch your toes,
Breathe in deep, let your worries go!
So stand up now, let’s get in a groove,
With these simple exercises, let’s make our bodies move!