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Science Lesson Kit · Teacher Resource

Patterns of Motion & Prediction — 5E Lesson Plan

Physical Science · 45 minutes

Grade 3

5E lesson flow

  1. 01

    Engage

    5 min

    Teacher Does

    Show a neutral system.

    Students Do

    Name possible positions.

    Ask

    • What can we record?

    Look For

    Position language.

  2. 02

    Explore

    12 min

    Teacher Does

    Reveal eight observations one at a time.

    Students Do

    Record each position.

    Ask

    • What repeats?

    Look For

    L-C-R-C.

  3. 03

    Explain

    8 min

    Teacher Does

    Guide pattern analysis.

    Students Do

    Cite two repetitions.

    Ask

    • What is the chunk?

    Look For

    Exact sequence.

  4. 04

    Elaborate

    12 min

    Teacher Does

    Test predictions and introduce the seesaw.

    Students Do

    Commit, test, and transfer.

    Ask

    • Did it match?

    Look For

    Evidence comparison.

  5. 05

    Evaluate

    8 min

    Teacher Does

    Introduce a soft stop.

    Students Do

    Choose whether to revise.

    Ask

    • What changed?

    Look For

    New evidence.

Student goal

I can use repeated motion observations to predict and test what happens next.

Learning objectives

  • Record repeated positions to identify a motion pattern.
  • Use an observed pattern to predict and test the next positions.
  • Revise a prediction when a changed setup produces new evidence.

Materials

  • Safe tethered pendulum or teacher-operated swing model
  • Position picture cards
  • A toy cart and soft foam stop
  • Recording sheet

Before class

  • Prepare the exact eight-position record.
  • Hide future observations.
  • Prepare a seesaw transfer record.
  • Prepare a soft-stop record.

Prior knowledge

  • Students can name left, center, and right positions.

Vocabulary

motion
A change in position over time.
pattern
A repeated or regular way something changes.
position
Where an object is located.
observation
Information noticed and recorded.
predict
To state what is likely to happen next using evidence.
evidence
Observations or measurements that support an idea.

Differentiation

  • Use picture cards.
  • Allow oral rehearsal.
  • Provide movable position labels.

Assessment

  • Check the chunk.
  • Check the two-position prediction.
  • Check revision reasoning.

Exit ticket

State the pattern, prediction, and reason to revise.

Extension

Create another observable repeating-position system.