Physical Science · Energy
Collisions & Energy
Ask questions, make predictions, and use collision evidence to reason about changes in motion and energy.
Lesson plan
Collisions & Energy
A step-by-step guide to help you teach this lesson.
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Lesson overview
What students will learn
- Ask a testable question about how launch speed affects a collision outcome.
- Predict before testing and compare target motion in matched slow and fast trials.
Key science ideas
- A moving object can transfer energy to another object during a collision.
- Objects can speed up, slow down, stop, or change direction after a collision.
- A faster-moving object may produce a different collision outcome than a slower-moving object.
Lesson at a glance
- Grade 4
- 45 min
- ~10 min prep
- 4-PS3-3
- 5 materials
What’s included
- Lesson Plan
- Investigation
- Teacher Slides
- Printable Worksheet
- Teacher Answer Key
- Interactive Activity
- Vocabulary