Teaching Newton’s Laws of Motion? All three of these activities can be completed in under 30 minutes and require easy to access materials.

Total Time: 30 minutes
Materials:

• Plastic Cups
• Index Cards
• Coins
• Empty Food Can
• Full Food Can
• Balloons

Newton’s Second Law of Motion

Steps:

1. Tilt a table in the classroom by placing books under one end to create a ramp. 
2. Take an empty can and a full can and roll down your “ramp” at the same time. 

Student Observations

• Students will observe the full can roll faster than the empty can.
  

Newton’s Third Law of Motion

Steps:

1. Blow up a balloon to a medium size (do not tie it in a knot) 
2. Let the balloon go and observe how it moves. 
3. Blow up the balloon again to a larger size (do not tie it in a knot) 
4. Let the balloon go and observe how it moves. 

Student Observations

• Students will observe when the balloon is blown up larger it moves farther and faster than when blown up smaller.
  

FAQ

Should students work individually or with partners?

We suggest students work in pairs so they have someone to discuss what they observe. Groups of 3 can work but the smaller the better because when groups become too large someone seems to get left out of the conversation.

What if I don’t have canned food?

Soda cans or even soda bottles can work too. However, students should catch the full cans of soda and/or bottles before they fall to the ground so they don’t accidentally explode on the floor.

How can I keep the classroom from becoming chaotic during the investigations?

Always go over expectations before having students start the activity. Here are some common expectations, add your own to reflect your own classroom needs.

• No running
• Watch for others around you
• Stay in your assigned area
• Handle materials carefully
• If I say "Freeze," stop immediately and listen.