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
Key concept 1
What forces do
Key concept 2
Describing forces
Key concept 3
Balanced and unbalanced forces
Key concept 4
Friction
Key concept 5
Energy stores and transfers
Topic 2: Moving by force
Key concept 1
Describing speed
Key concept 2
Motion graphs
Key concept 3
Changing motion
Key concept 4
Drag
Topic 3: More about force
Key concept 1
Mass and weight
Key concept 2
Hidden forces
Key concept 3
Turning effects
Resources for age 14 to 16
Topic 4: Measuring and calculating motion
Key concept 1
Velocity
Key concept 2
Acceleration
Key concept 3
Velocity-time graphs
Topic 5: Energy of moving objects
Key concept 1
Energy of moving objects and of springs
Key concept 2
Energy of objects in a gravitational field
Key concept 3
Energy transfer, conservation and dissipation
Topic 6: Forces make things change
Key concept 1
Resultant force in two dimensions
Key concept 2
Force, mass and acceleration
Key concept 3
Changing momentum
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.
