Force and Motion of Gliding Ghosts Investigation

Can a ghost fly across the classroom using only air to power it? In this engaging scientific investigation, students will observe how the force of air causes a ghost to glide across the classroom. They will first observe how force can be used to move an object and identify different types of movement, such as moving in a circle, zig zag, and in a straight line. Once the students make initial observations about how the ghost moves, we can change some variables, make predictions, and do simple investigations to see how making small changes will impact the gliding ghost. In this activity, the students not only see the impact of force on an object, they also get to further investigate how making changes to the force or the object can impact that movement as well.

Big idea: Any time we observe something move in the world, it is because of a force. When we make changes to the force, the resulting movement often changes too.

What’s Included in This Product

-Reading passage on force and motion in printable student page and PowerPoint

-Force and motion student page at two different levels

-Materials prep guide for teachers to set up investigation (includes pictures)

-Gliding Ghosts cut-outs

-Gliding Ghosts investigation script for teachers

-Instructional write-up

This activity can be purchased as part of a bundle at a discounted price through the link below.

Halloween Science Activity Bundle

This bundle includes these other Halloween science activities:

Blind As A Bat? Echolocation Activity

Our Not-So-Scary Skeleton Activity

Sweet Science: A Candy Investigation

Standards

NGSS

Core Disciplinary Ideas

PS2.A: Forces and Motion. Pushes and pulls can have different strengths and directions. (K- PS2-1),(K-PS2-2) Pushing or pulling on an object can change the speed or direction of its motion and can start or stop it. (K-PS2-1), (K-PS2-2)

PS3.C: Relationship Between Energy and Forces. A bigger push or pull makes things speed up or slow down more quickly. (secondary to K-PS2-1)

Crosscutting Concepts: Patterns, Cause and Effect, Systems and System Models

Scientific and Engineering Practices: Developing and using models, constructing explanations (for science), obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Common Core State Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4

Science Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)

K.2B – TSIET plan and conduct simple descriptive investigations such as ways objects move;

K.6D – TSIET observe and describe the ways that objects can move such as in a straight line, zigzag, up and down, back and forth, round and round, and fast and slow.

2.6C – TSIET trace the changes in the position of an object over time such as a cup rolling on the floor and a car rolling down a ramp.

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Terms of Use

By purchasing this file, you agree to the following terms. All rights reserved by author. This product is to be used by the original downloader only for personal or classroom use only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. All graphics and fonts are also protected by copyright from their original author/artist.

Keywords

force, motion, Halloween science, ghost, movement, change in position, push, pull, investigation