Unit Title: Motion

Subject/Grade: 6th grade Science- Physical Science

Standard: 6.PS An objects motion can be described by its speed and the direction in which it is
moving
Purpose of the unit: This unit will add to students knowledge of motion and speed and provide
students the ability to calculate speed, understand distance vs. time graphs, and describe an
objects motion using these features.
Key concepts: Position, Motion, Relative Motion, Speed, Velocity
Desired outcomes:

Students will be able to identify when motion has occurred.

Students will be able to measure distance and time over which an object has travelled.
Students will develop the skill to calculate speed.
Students will learn to read and create speed graphs including identifying when an object
had a constant speed or when the object was at rest.
Students will understand the basic concept of velocity.

Means of measuring objectives: Students will be given a pre-test which will require them to read
and interpret a distance vs. time graph.
Resources: Motion and Forces Textbook, Chapter 1 Sections 1.1, 1.2; Chapter 4 pg. 122
Unit time length: 2.5 weeks
Week 1: Section 1.1
Objective: An object in motion changes position.
Prior Knowledge:

Objects move and can move in different ways.

Every object has an initial position and that position can change.

Days 1-2: Students will learn how to describe an objects position.

Lesson questions:

What is position?
What are ways to describe position?
What must you use in order to describe the position of an object?
How can you use position descriptions in Social Studies? (describing the location
of a city)

Formative Assessment:

Multi-level questioning
Position worksheet
Admit slip

Days 3-4: Students will learn how to describe an objects motion.

Lesson questions:

What is motion?
What ways can you describe an object in motion?
Can motion appear different depending on how you look at it?
What are different frames of references you can use while sitting on a bus?

**Students will also learn that motion can appear different based on the frame of reference
chosen.
Formative Assessment:

Responses during Demonstration

Vocabulary: position, reference point, distance, actual distance, straight-line distance, motion,
relative motion, frame of reference
Week 2: Section 1.2
Objective: Speed measures how fast position changes.
Prior Knowledge:

Position is measured using a reference point another position/location.

One way to describe position is using distance and direction.
An object in motion changes position over time.

Days 1-2: Students will learn how to calculate an objects speed.

Lesson questions:

What is speed?
What components are needed to calculate speed?
What is the formula for speed?

Formative Assessment:

3-2-1
Thumbs up-thumbs down
Worksheets assigned as classwork/homework

Days 2-3: Students will learn how to graph speed using position/distance vs. time graphs.
Students will learn how to describe an objects velocity.

Lesson questions:

What are your axes on a graph?

On which axis should distance be placed? Time?
How does a graph representing constant speed look?
How will a graph look when an object is at rest?
What is velocity?
How are velocity and speed different?
Can an object have the same speed but different velocity?

Formative assessment:

Exit slip

Days 4-5: Mini lab

During the lab students will focus on the following:

Measuring distance and time

Calculating the objects speed using measurements collected
Graphing the objects speed
Reading graphs created by other groups
Describing the velocity of the object

Formative Assessment:

Points acquired during lab based on completion of lab.

Vocabulary: motion, distance, speed, average speed, horizontal axis, vertical axis, velocity
Week 3: Kinetic and Potential Energy
Objective: An object has kinetic energy when in motion and potential energy depending on its
position.
Day 1-2: Students will be able to identify when an object has kinetic and potential energy.
Lesson questions:
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What is kinetic energy?

What is potential energy?
When can an objects amount of kinetic energy change?
When can an objects amount of potential energy change?

Vocabulary: position, motion, kinetic energy, potential energy

Formative Assessment:

Exit Slip
Review sheet/practice test over entire unit

Unit Summative Assessment: End-of-unit test, including similar pre-test question to measure
learning of unit objectives.