🍎 Lesson Plan: Circular Motion with Fall Harvest Game 🍂

Movement Monday: November Circular Motion Lesson

Classroom-Ready Smartboard Activities for K-5th Grade

📚 Grades K-1: Discovering Spinning Motion
This Month™ Connection: This November activity connects fall harvest themes with foundational physics concepts. Perfect for introducing seasonal vocabulary while building observation skills!
Teachers' Resources and Review of Key Concepts:
When objects spin in circles and are released, they move in a straight line (not toward or away from the center). This demonstrates Newton's First Law: objects continue moving in the same direction unless a force acts on them. The string provides the force that keeps the basket moving in a circle—when we let go, that force disappears, so the basket goes straight!

For K-1: Focus on observation ("it goes straight!") rather than force explanations.
Learning Objectives:
  • Students will observe that objects moving in circles go straight when released
  • Students will identify and name different colored apples
  • Students will practice predicting outcomes before testing
Standards Alignment:
NGSS K-PS2-1: Motion and stability (Forces and interactions)
Common Core Math: K.MD.A.1 (Describe measurable attributes)
Materials Needed:
This activity beautifully integrates fall vocabulary (harvest, basket, apples) with foundational physics observation. Young learners don't need to understand "force" yet—they just need to SEE the pattern!
⏱️ Total Time: 20-25 minutes
Lesson Procedure

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

Hook: "Has anyone ever spun around in circles? What happened when you stopped spinning?"
  • Ask students to share experiences with spinning (playground, dancing, etc.)
  • Show the game on smartboard: "Today we're going to spin a basket and see what happens!"
  • Point out the five different colored apples
Have students count the apples together and name each color before starting.

2. First Demonstration (5 minutes)

  • Predict: "When I let go of the basket, which way do you think it will go?"
  • Take several student predictions (no right or wrong yet!)
  • Invite a student to tap "Spin Basket" on the smartboard
  • Watch it spin together: "Everyone watch the basket go round and round!"
  • Invite another student to tap "Let Go!"
  • Observe: "Look at the purple trail! Which way did it go?"

3. Color Challenge Activity (8 minutes)

  • "Let's try to hit the RED apple!"
  • Student comes up and tries
  • Repeat with different colored apples, allowing multiple students to try
  • Ask: "Why is it tricky to hit the apples?"
  • Guide observation: "The basket goes straight, not in a curve!"
Encourage all students by celebrating attempts: "Great try! You're learning how the basket moves!"

4. Class Discussion (5 minutes)

Guiding Questions:
  • "When we let go, does the basket fly straight toward us?"
  • "Does it keep going in a circle?"
  • "Which way DOES it go?"

5. Multiple Choice Quiz (2-3 minutes)

  • Scroll down to the quiz on the smartboard
  • Read each answer choice together
  • Students vote with thumbs up for their choice
  • Tap the answer on smartboard to reveal explanation
  • Read and discuss the feedback together
Assessment & Extensions

Classroom-Ready Assessment:

  • ✓ Observe student predictions and explanations during discussion
  • ✓ Listen for directional vocabulary (straight, round, toward, away)
  • ✓ Note which students can identify the straight-line path
  • ✓ Can students name all five apple colors correctly?

November Extension Activities:

  • Art Connection: "Draw & Color" - Students draw the basket spinning and flying off, then color the apples red, yellow, green, orange, and black
  • Movement Activity: "Harvest Dance" - Students spin slowly with arms out, then "fly straight" when teacher calls "Let go!" Great for kinesthetic learners!
  • Real Object Demo: Safely demonstrate with a soft ball in a mesh bag on a string (outdoors recommended)
  • Literacy Connection: Read books about harvest time and circular motion (spinning, stirring, swinging)
For kindergarteners, focus heavily on observation and color recognition. First graders can begin simple "why" discussions like "What makes it go straight?"
📚 Grades 2-3: Understanding Motion & Direction
This Month™ Connection: November's harvest season provides the perfect context for exploring circular motion! As children help with fall activities like stirring apple cider or swinging harvest baskets, they're experiencing real physics in action.
Teachers' Resources and Review of Key Concepts:
What is Circular Motion? When an object moves in a circle at constant speed, it's constantly changing direction, which means it's accelerating even though speed stays the same.

Key Points for Grades 2-3:
  • Centripetal force (meaning "center-seeking") keeps objects moving in circles
  • The string pulling inward provides this force
  • When force stops (string released), the object goes straight (Newton's First Law)
  • Real-world example: Friction keeps cars turning corners; without it, cars go straight!
Remember: If the string breaks, the object flies off tangent to the circle (the direction it was already moving), NOT straight outward!
Learning Objectives:
  • Students will explain that objects move in straight lines unless a force acts on them
  • Students will understand that the string provides the force keeping objects in circular motion
  • Students will use scientific vocabulary: circular, straight, force, direction
  • Students will make predictions and test hypotheses
Standards Alignment:
NGSS 3-PS2-1: Plan and conduct an investigation of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces
Common Core ELA: SL.2.1, SL.3.1 (Participate in collaborative discussions)
Common Core Math: 2.MD.A.1, 3.MD.C.6 (Measurement and geometry)
Materials Needed:
  • Smartboard with Fall Harvest Game loaded
  • Science journals or printable worksheets
  • Chart paper for class vocabulary/observations
  • Optional: Soft ball on string for demonstration
  • Vocabulary word cards: circular motion, force, straight line, predict
This Month™ Classroom Setup:
⏱️ Total Time: 30-35 minutes
Lesson Procedure

1. Engagement & Prior Knowledge (5 minutes)

Opening Question: "What happens when you're on a merry-go-round and you let go? Why do you fly off?"
  • Activate prior knowledge about spinning and playground experiences
  • Introduce vocabulary: circular motion, force, straight line
  • Write vocabulary on chart paper with simple definitions
  • Seasonal connection: "In November, people used to swing harvest baskets just like in our game! Have you ever helped stir a big pot or carried a bucket? That's circular motion!"
For vocabulary introduction, use visuals! Draw quick sketches next to each word—a circle with arrows for "circular motion," push/pull arrows for "force," etc.

2. Initial Predictions (5 minutes)

  • Show game on smartboard but don't play yet
  • "The basket is going to spin in a circle. When we let go, what will happen?"
  • Students write predictions in journals with drawings
  • Share a few predictions with the class
  • Key question: "Will it fly toward the center, fly straight out, or do something else?"
Encourage students to draw arrows showing the path they predict.

3. Interactive Investigation (12 minutes)

Round 1: Observation
  • Play game 2-3 times, different students operating smartboard
  • "Watch the purple trail carefully! What does it show us?"
  • Discuss: "Did it go the way we predicted?"
Round 2: Targeted Practice
  • "Now let's try to hit specific apples. Which apple should we aim for first?"
  • Students take turns trying to hit different colored apples
  • After each attempt: "When did you let go? Where was the basket pointing?"
  • Class discovery: "We don't let go when pointing AT the apple!"
Round 3: Explain the Pattern
  • "What pattern do you notice about when to let go?"
  • Guide toward: "Let go when the basket is MOVING TOWARD the apple"
  • "The basket goes straight once we release it!"

4. Scientific Explanation (5 minutes)

Key Concept: Objects want to move in straight lines. The string provides a force that pulls the basket into a circle. When we let go, the force stops, so the basket goes straight!
  • Connect to vocabulary: The force from the string keeps it in circular motion
  • Without that force, it goes in a straight line
  • Relate to real life: Car turning (force = friction), planets orbiting (force = gravity)

5. Quiz & Assessment (5-8 minutes)

  • Scroll to multiple choice quiz on smartboard
  • Students discuss in pairs: "What do we think the answer is and why?"
  • Vote as a class (show of hands for A, B, or C)
  • Select answer on smartboard and read explanation together
  • Discuss: "Does this match what we observed?"
Assessment & Extensions

Formative Assessment:

  • Review journal predictions and observations
  • Check for understanding through class discussion participation
  • Exit ticket: "Draw and label the path of the basket when released"

Vocabulary Assessment:

  • Can students use terms "circular motion," "force," and "straight line" correctly?
  • Can they explain WHY the basket goes straight?

Extensions:

  • Math Connection: Measure and compare angles for hitting different apples
  • Writing: "Explain to a younger student why the basket doesn't fly to the center"
  • Science Experiment: Test with real objects (under supervision) - does a heavier object behave differently?
  • Challenge: Can you collect all 5 apples in the fewest tries? Record and graph class results

Differentiation:

  • Support: Provide sentence frames: "When we let go, the basket goes ______ because ______"
  • Challenge: "What would happen if the string was longer? Shorter? If we spun faster?"
📚 Grades 4-5: Forces, Motion & Newton's First Law
This Month™ Connection: November's Movement Monday explores how harvest activities—from swinging baskets to stirring kettles—demonstrate fundamental physics principles. This lesson connects seasonal activities to real-world science, making abstract concepts tangible and memorable!
Teachers' Resources and Review of Key Concepts:
When an object moves in a circle at constant speed, it is constantly changing direction, which means it is accelerating even though its speed stays the same.

Key Concepts:

  • Centripetal force keeps object moving in circle
  • Always directed toward center of circle
  • Speed constant, but velocity changes (direction changes)
  • Changing velocity = acceleration toward center

Examples of Circular Motion:

Example Centripetal Force
Moon orbiting Earth Gravity
Car turning corner Friction between tires and road
Ball on string swung in circle Tension in string
Satellite orbiting Earth Gravity

Important Points:

  • Without centripetal force, object moves in straight line (Newton's First Law)
  • Faster speed needs larger centripetal force
  • Smaller radius needs larger centripetal force

Study Tips for Students:

  • Centripetal = "center seeking"
  • If string breaks, object flies off tangentially (perpendicular to radius)
  • There is NO "centrifugal force" pushing outward – that's just inertia!
Learning Objectives:
  • Students will explain Newton's First Law of Motion (inertia)
  • Students will identify centripetal force and understand its role in circular motion
  • Students will predict and explain the tangent path of released objects
  • Students will apply concepts to real-world scenarios
  • Students will use scientific vocabulary: inertia, centripetal force, tangent, velocity
Standards Alignment:
NGSS 5-PS2-1: Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down
NGSS MS-PS2-2: Plan an investigation to provide evidence that motion depends on forces
Common Core ELA: W.4.1, W.5.1 (Write opinion pieces supporting a point of view with reasons)
Common Core Math: 4.MD.C.5, 5.G.A.1 (Geometric measurement and understanding)
Materials Needed:
  • Smartboard with Fall Harvest Game loaded
  • Science notebooks for data collection and diagrams
  • Vocabulary reference sheet (see Teacher Background section above)
  • Optional: Ball on string for demonstration
  • Optional: Protractors for angle measurement extension
  • Diagram handouts or graph paper for students to sketch paths
This Month™ Preparation:
  • Navigate to the Fall Harvest Game at this clickable URL: https://month.thence.us/motion-monday-fall-harvest-challenge/
  • Review the "Teacher Background" section above before teaching
  • Print or project the examples table showing real-world centripetal forces
  • Have Newton's First Law written on board: "An object in motion stays in motion..."
  • Queue up the game with the quiz section visible for reference
⏱️ Total Time: 40-45 minutes
Lesson Procedure

1. Phenomenon Introduction (7 minutes)

Driving Question: "Why don't passengers fly off a spinning carnival ride? What force keeps them moving in a circle?"
  • Show video clip or discuss experience of carnival rides, cars turning corners, etc.
  • Introduce key vocabulary on board:
    • Inertia: Objects resist changes in motion
    • Centripetal force: Inward force causing circular motion
    • Tangent: Straight line touching a circle at one point
    • Velocity: Speed with direction
  • "Today we'll investigate what happens when centripetal force is removed"

2. Hypothesis Development (8 minutes)

  • Display the game on smartboard
  • Students work in pairs to discuss and write hypotheses in notebooks:
    • "When the basket is released, what path will it follow?"
    • "Draw a diagram showing your predicted path"
    • "Explain your prediction using scientific reasoning"
  • Share 2-3 different hypotheses with the class
  • Record common predictions on board (likely: straight out, toward center, continued curve)
Encourage students to reference Newton's First Law even if they can't perfectly explain it yet.

3. Data Collection & Investigation (15 minutes)

Trial 1-3: Observation Phase
  • Run game 3 times with different student operators
  • Class observes and takes notes on the purple trail path
  • "Pause and draw: Sketch the path you observed. Is it what you predicted?"
  • Discuss: "What do you notice about the direction? Is it radial (toward/away from center) or tangent (straight ahead)?"
Trial 4-6: Targeted Investigation
  • "Now let's test our understanding by hitting specific apples"
  • Choose target apple (e.g., "Let's hit the green apple")
  • Before release: "Where should the basket be when we let go?"
  • Students predict, then test on smartboard
  • Record: Success or miss? If miss, why?
  • Repeat with different colored apples
Data Analysis Discussion
  • "What pattern do you see about when to release?"
  • "Why can't we let go when the basket is pointing at the apple?"
  • Guide toward: "The basket maintains its velocity (speed + direction) at the moment of release"

4. Scientific Explanation & Newton's First Law (10 minutes)

Newton's First Law: An object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.
Connect to the Game:
  • While spinning: The basket WANTS to go straight (inertia), but the string provides centripetal force pulling it toward the center, creating circular motion
  • When released: Centripetal force disappears, so inertia takes over - the basket continues in a straight line tangent to the circle
  • The "feeling" of being pushed out: That's not a real force! It's your body wanting to go straight while the ride pulls you in
Real-World Applications:
  • Car turning: Friction provides centripetal force. If road is icy (no friction), car continues straight!
  • Satellites orbiting Earth: Gravity provides centripetal force
  • Tetherball: String tension provides centripetal force
  • Washing machine spin cycle: Drum provides centripetal force on clothes, water flies out tangentially through holes

5. Assessment: Multiple Choice & Extension (5-7 minutes)

  • Complete the quiz on smartboard together
  • Discuss each answer choice scientifically:
    • Why is B correct?
    • Why do people often predict A (radial path)?
    • What misconception does C represent?
  • Read and analyze the explanation provided
  • Connect back to Newton's First Law
Assessment & Extensions

Formative Assessment:

  • Science Notebook: Review hypotheses, observations, and explanations
  • Class Discussion: Monitor use of scientific vocabulary and reasoning
  • Exit Ticket: "A car is driving around a circular track. If the tires suddenly lose all friction, what path will the car take? Draw and explain using Newton's First Law."

Summative Assessment Options:

  • Written Explanation: "Explain to a younger student why objects don't fly toward the center when released from circular motion. Use at least 3 vocabulary terms."
  • Diagram & Label: Create a detailed diagram showing circular motion, forces, and the tangent path
  • Real-World Application: Identify 3 examples of circular motion in daily life and explain the centripetal force in each

Extensions & Challenges:

  • Math Integration: Use protractors to measure angles for optimal apple-hitting. Create a chart showing angle of release vs. success rate
  • Engineering Challenge: Design a carnival ride that uses circular motion. What safety features prevent people from flying off?
  • Research Project: How do astronauts train in circular motion? What is artificial gravity?
  • Speed Investigation: "What would happen if the basket spun faster? How would that affect the force needed?" (Answer: Force needed increases with speed!)
  • Digital Design: Can students modify the game (if given access to code) to show force arrows or adjust speed?

Cross-Curricular Connections:

  • Math: Calculate circumference of circular path, relate to distance traveled
  • History: Research Newton's life and the development of his laws
  • Art: Create motion art using string painting (spin paint on string)
  • ELA: Write persuasive letter to carnival ride designer about safety

Differentiation:

  • Support:
    • Provide vocabulary cards with definitions and visuals
    • Use sentence starters: "When the string is released, _____ because _____"
    • Focus on observation before explanation
  • Challenge:
    • Introduce centrifugal "force" as apparent force (not real force)
    • Calculate: If radius doubles, what happens to required force?
    • Explore: What is the relationship between speed and centripetal force? (quadratic)

Home Connection:

Send home the game link and challenge: "Find 5 examples of circular motion at home or in your neighborhood. Take photos and explain what provides the centripetal force in each case."

For advanced students, introduce the formula F = mv²/r conceptually (not for calculation at this level, but to show how speed affects force needed).

📅 This Month™ Movement Mondays

Bringing timely, standards-aligned physics concepts to life through seasonal activities!

💡 Perfect for November classroom demonstrations • Works on smartboards, iPads, and all touch devices • No prep required—just open and teach!