Molloy College

Division of Education
Teacher Candidate: Palma Taranto College Supervisor: Catherine Phillips
Content Area: Science Cooperating Teacher: Stephanie Lotito
th
Grade: 4 Lesson#1 Topic: Energy Changes in Collisions Date: 10 April 2018
School District: Valley Stream 13 School: James A. Dever Elementary

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES (s) (Lesson Objective(s)*)

After students learn new vocabulary and interpret the essential question, “What happens when
objects collide?” students will analyze Newton’s Cradle to determine energy in collisions by
acquiring data and formulating predictions of how many balls can be used to perform motion and
force, and then will answer 6 out of 7 questions correctly on the Kahoot! quiz.

NYS STANDARDS AND INDICATORS

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
Disciplinary Core Ideas
4-PS3-3 Energy
4-PS3-3 Ask questions and predict outcomes about the changes in energy that occur
when objects collide
Indicator: This will be evident when students are observing, predicting, and acquiring
data during the Newton’s Cradle activity.

ELA Standard: New York State Next Generation English Language Arts Learning
Standard
Writing Standards
Research to Build and Present Knowledge
4W6
Conduct research to answer questions, including self-generated questions, and to build
knowledge through investigating multiple aspects of a topic.

Indicator: This will be evident when students are formulating hypotheses, observations,
and predictions on collision and energy during the Newton’s Cradle activity and during
the Buncee presentation.

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
• Buncee presentation
https://app.edu.buncee.com/buncee/3aba4cefd2454cdab78666f5badee12b
• SMART Board
• Chrome books
• Inspire Science: Science Handbook, Notebook, Teacher Manual, Online Program
© Molloy College, Division of Education, Rockville Centre, NY 11571
Revised 10/25/16
*edTPA academic language
 • Newton’s Cradle (two models)
• “Amazing Demonstration Of A Giant Newton's Cradle!”
http://viewpure.com/8dgyPRA86K0?start=0&end=0 [0:42-3:50]
• “Motion” worksheet
• “Energy” packet
• “Newton’s Cradle Activity” (triangle, square, circle) worksheet
• Kahoot! Quiz “Energy Changes in Collisions” https://play.kahoot.it/#/?quizId=9e333f9d-
3e57-4dbb-b6a4-bd70cd2de1f6

MOTIVATION (Engaging the learner(s)*)

Motivation: Students will have a story read aloud about a toy car crash in their I.S. Student
Notebook on page 20. Students will discuss and form an opinion if they agree or disagree about
energy and how it is transferred when two objects interact. Students must decide if they believe
energy can be a force that is transferred in a collision. What do you think happens when energy is
used forcefully? Who do you agree with the most, Alonso, Bert, or Gus? Why do you agree with
that person?

DEVELOPMENTAL PROCEDURES
(including Key Questions)
1. Students will be shown a short video of a car crash. Once the video is finished, students will
write down questions they have in their Inspire Science Student Notebook on page 21. (What
do you remember about kinetic and potential energy? Was the energy that was used during
the collision kinetic or potential? What questions do you have from the video you watched?)
2. Students will be asked to recall prior knowledge of what they may know about their new
vocabulary. Students will be given an “Energy” packet to fill in the definitions and other
missing words throughout the presentation about energy and collisions. (What do you know
about contact force/noncontact force, gravity, energy transfer, and conservation of energy?
What is force? What is motion? Who is Isaac Newton?)
3. Teacher will introduce and model the group activity that involves two Newton’s Cradles
models and a video of a large Newton’s Cradle demonstration. Students will be placed into
three groups and will work together in discussing predictions depending on how many balls
are being used when acquiring data on the “Newton’s Cradle Activity” worksheet. Students
will explain about what type of energy is used, how many balls are used, and will justify their
predictions by what they observe. (Have you seen this model before? If so, where? What do
you think will happen if you release one ball to hit the others? What type of energy is being
used in the model? Does everyone have a worksheet? Has everyone had the chance to see the
two models and video demonstration?)
4. Students will return after their group work to discuss their predictions and results. (What
were your results from your predictions and observations? Do you agree or disagree with
what you found?)

© Molloy College, Division of Education, Rockville Centre, NY 11571

Revised 10/25/16
*edTPA academic language
5. Teacher will ask students to retrieve their chrome-books and will participate in the Kahoot!
activity. (Has everyone received the code to log onto Kahoot?)

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES (Learning Strategies*)

Direct Instruction
Indicator: This will be evident when the teacher is presenting about forces and motion,
and how it interplays with energy and collisions.
Scaffolding
Indicator: This will be evident when students are building on prior knowledge of kinetic
and potential energy.

ADAPTATIONS (Exceptionality*)
The students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) will be given a checklist to remain on task
during direct instruction and group activity.

DIFFERENTIATION OF INSTRUCTION

Struggling Students
Students will be given the “Newton’s Cradle Activity” (triangle) worksheet and will complete
three trials on the table by experimenting the differences of using one, two, and four balls for the
following three trials. The table and the amount of balls needed are used as a guide for the
students to follow for controlled inquiry.

Average Students
Students will be given the “Newton’s Cradle Activity” (square) worksheet and will complete
three trials on the table by experimenting the differences of using one ball to however many they
would like to use in the following two trials. The first trial is a guide, where trial two and three
are up to the group members for guided inquiry.

Advanced Students
Students will be given the “Newton’s Cradle Activity” (circle) worksheet and will complete
three trials on the table by experimenting the differences of using however many balls they
would like to use in the following three trials. The students are given free inquiry to test using
the model.

© Molloy College, Division of Education, Rockville Centre, NY 11571

Revised 10/25/16
*edTPA academic language
 ASSESSMENT (artifacts* and assessment [formal & informal]*)
Students will be progress monitored throughout the lesson to be sure they are on task by
questioning, group work, and overall focus (Formative). Students will be quizzed on Kahoot!
answering six out of seven questions correctly (Summative).

INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
After students learn about energy and collisions, students will answer page 23 and 24 in their
Inspire Science: Student Notebook by making predictions of collision variables using three
different balls from around their household. Students must complete 7 out of 8 problems.

FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES: DIRECT TEACHER INTERVENTION AND

ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT

Direct Teacher Intervention

Students, under direct teacher intervention, will complete pages 25-26 in the Inspire Science:
Student Notebook in order to practice vocabulary and short response questions. Teacher will use
the Newton’s Cradle as a demonstration for completing the questions.

Academic Enrichment
Students will complete the “Motion” worksheet about Isaac Newton, completing two out of the
three sections. Students will illustrate and interpret the quotes of Newton.

© Molloy College, Division of Education, Rockville Centre, NY 11571

Revised 10/25/16
*edTPA academic language
 REFERENCES

Brusspup. (2017, December 20). Amazing demonstration of a giant newton’s cradle. [Video

file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dgyPRA86K0

Engage NY. (2017). New york state next generation english language arts learning standards.

Retrieved from http://www.nysed.gov/common/nysed/files/nys-next-generation-ela-

standards.pdf

Have Fun Teaching. (2018). Force and motion worksheet 2. Have Fun Teaching. Retrieved from

http://files.havefunteaching.com/free-worksheets/grade/third/science/force-and-motion-

worksheet-2.pdf

McGraw-Hill. (2017). Inspire Science: Be a Scientist. Columbus, OH: McGraw-Hill.

NGSS Lead States. (2013). Next generation science standards: For states, by states. Retrieved

from https://www.nextgenscience.org/

© Molloy College, Division of Education, Rockville Centre, NY 11571

Revised 10/25/16
*edTPA academic language
 ENERGY
Vocabulary
Contact Force: Force that results from the interaction of two objects in contact with
each other.

Noncontact Force: Force that occurs without objects touching.

Gravity: A noncontact force that acts over a distance and pulls all objects toward
each other.

Energy Transfer: The movement of energy from one object to another or the change
of energy from one form to another.

Conservation of Energy: The theory that states that energy may change form, but it
cannot be created or destroyed.

What is Force?
A force is ______________________________.

A force can cause an ___________ to start ________ or

________ direction.

© Molloy College, Division of Education, Rockville Centre, NY 11571

Revised 10/25/16
*edTPA academic language
It can also cause an object to ________ up, ______ down, or
stop.

Motion and Speed

The ______________ of an object is its location.

_________ is the process of an object ________ position over

time.

The ____________ of an object is how ___________ its position

changes over time.

As Isaac Newton Once said…

"An objects motion will stay in motion
unless an external force is applied to it.”

© Molloy College, Division of Education, Rockville Centre, NY 11571

Revised 10/25/16
*edTPA academic language
 Newton’s Cradle Activity
Determine by the amount of balls used for the cradle to acquire if it is contact
or noncontact force, if it is kinetic or potential energy, and how much time the
balls will move.

# of Balls Used Prediction

© Molloy College, Division of Education, Rockville Centre, NY 11571

Revised 10/25/16
*edTPA academic language
 Newton’s Cradle Activity
Determine by the amount of balls used for the cradle to acquire if it is contact
or noncontact force, if it is kinetic or potential energy, and how much time the
balls will move.

# of Balls Used Prediction

© Molloy College, Division of Education, Rockville Centre, NY 11571

Revised 10/25/16
*edTPA academic language
 Newton’s Cradle Activity
Determine by the amount of balls used for the cradle to acquire if it is contact
or noncontact force, if it is kinetic or potential energy, and how much time the
balls will move.

# of Balls Used Prediction

© Molloy College, Division of Education, Rockville Centre, NY 11571

Revised 10/25/16
*edTPA academic language
 © Molloy College, Division of Education, Rockville Centre, NY 11571
Revised 10/25/16
*edTPA academic language
Did I….
• Fill out my graphic organizer?

• Help out my teammates?

• Organize my data in the table?

• Raise my hand to answer questions?

• Predict what will happen?

• Help clean up?

© Molloy College, Division of Education, Rockville Centre, NY 11571

Revised 10/25/16
*edTPA academic language