Big idea: Forces and motion
Forces make things change. Understanding forces helps us to predict and control physical change.
"Forces and motion" is one of 15 big ideas of science in the Best Evidence Science Teaching collection. Understanding of the big idea is built up by a series of key concepts at age 11-16, which have been organised into teaching topics.
The research-informed resources for each key concept make up a progression toolkit that provides:
appropriately-sequenced steps for learning progression
diagnostic questions to reveal preconceptions and common misunderstandings
response activities to challenge misunderstandings and encourage conceptual development
Resources for age 11 to 14
Topic 1: Forces
Topic 2: Moving by force
Topic 3: More about force
Resources for age 14 to 16
Topic 4: Measuring and calculating motion
Topic 5: Energy of moving objects
Energy of objects in a gravitational field
Energy transfer, conservation and dissipation
Topic 6: Forces make things change
Is there a recommended teaching order?
The Best Evidence Science Teaching resources can be incorporated into your existing scheme of work, if desired.
However, we have used research evidence on learning pathways and on effective sequencing of ideas to develop maps that suggest how key concepts can be sequenced to build understanding of big ideas of science. These maps can help with curriculum planning.
