← Back to lesson

Science Lesson Kit · Teacher Resource

Collisions & Energy — 5E Lesson Plan

Physical Science · 45 minutes

Grade 4

5E lesson flow

  1. 01

    Engage

    6 min

    Teacher Does

    Demonstrate a gentle ball-block collision.

    Students Do

    Describe before-and-after motion.

    Ask

    • What changed during the collision?

    Look For

    Speed/direction/motion observations.

  2. 02

    Explore

    14 min

    Teacher Does

    Guide groups through slow and faster launch trials.

    Students Do

    Predict, test, and measure block movement.

    Ask

    • What should stay the same?

    Look For

    Controlled comparisons.

  3. 03

    Explain

    9 min

    Teacher Does

    Connect collision, transfer, variable, and energy to the evidence.

    Students Do

    Use a before/after model and measurement table.

    Ask

    • Where do you see evidence of change?

    Look For

    Motion changes tied to collision.

  4. 04

    Elaborate

    8 min

    Teacher Does

    Provide a new collision question such as changing target mass or launch speed one at a time.

    Students Do

    Make and justify a prediction before testing or analyzing prepared data.

    Ask

    • What evidence would test your prediction?

    Look For

    Testable questions and measurable outcomes.

  5. 05

    Evaluate

    8 min

    Teacher Does

    Give a short unfamiliar collision dataset.

    Students Do

    Write a claim with measurement evidence.

    Ask

    • Does your claim match the data?

    Look For

    Evidence-based explanation.

Student goal

I can predict collision outcomes and use measurements to explain what changed.

Learning objectives

  • 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.
  • Identify when a changed target makes a collision comparison confounded.

Materials

  • Small balls or toy cars
  • Lightweight blocks/cups
  • Ramp or launch line
  • Measuring tape
  • Recording sheet

Before class

  • Choose low-energy, tabletop collision materials.
  • Mark a clear launch path.
  • Test the setup so objects remain on the work surface.
  • Open Teach Mode.

Prior knowledge

  • Moving objects have energy.
  • Students can measure distance and compare values.

Vocabulary

collision
An event in which objects hit or push against each other.
energy
A quantity that can be transferred and cause change.
transfer
To move from one object or place to another.
motion
A change in position over time.
predict
To state what you expect using evidence or a pattern.
variable
A factor that can change in an investigation.
confounded
A comparison in which more than one important variable changed.

Differentiation

  • Use arrow diagrams to represent motion.
  • Provide a preformatted data table.
  • Allow oral claim-evidence responses before writing.
  • For extension, compare two target masses while keeping launch conditions similar.

Assessment

  • Check predictions before trials.
  • Review measurement tables.
  • Score the final claim for evidence use.

Exit ticket

Use one collision measurement to explain how motion changed.

Extension

Design a safe collision question that changes one variable and identifies one measurement.