CURRICULUM RESOURCES
Year 4 | Physical sciences | Smooth moves | NEW – fully aligned to the Australian Curriculum
Why do balls roll? Why do apples fall from trees? Why do some things slide across ice but not on carpet? What makes our bikes stop when we brake? We use all types of forces including friction, gravity and pushes and pulls when we exercise, ride bicycles and drive cars. Engineers and scientists use their knowledge of forces and motion to design things for our homes, work and school.
The Smooth moves unit is an ideal way to link science with literacy in the classroom. It provides students with the opportunity to explore forces and motion. Through hands-on activities students identify forces that act at a distance and those that act in direct contact and investigate how different-sized forces affect the movement of objects.
It is recommended that the Push pull unit be taught before the Smooth moves unit to provide students with learning opportunities that introduce and explain concepts about forces and motion which are used in the Smooth moves unit.
Unit at a glance (PDF)
Equipment lists (PDF)
Alignment with the Australian Curriculum: Science (PDF)
Alignment with the Australian Curriculum: English and Maths (PDF)
Indigenous Perspectives framework (PDF)
Indigenous Perspectives Teaching and learning guide
Factual and narrative texts
Useful websites
Factual texts:
Fantastic Forces series: Friction and resistance; Gravity
Oxlade, Chris (Heinemann Library, 2007, 32pp)
ISBN: 0 43118 0410 (Friction and resistance), 0 43118 0427 (Gravity)
Push and pull
Guillain, Charlotte (Heinemann, 2009, 32pp)
ISBN: 1 43291 3921
Investigations series: rolling; sliding; pushing; pulling
Whitehouse, Patricia (Raintree imprint, Harcourt Education Ltd, 2003, 24pp)
ISBN: 1 84421 5539 (Rolling), 1 84421 5547 (Sliding), 1 84421 5512 (Pulling), 1 84421 5520 (Pushing)
Gravity: Forces and Motion
Lynette, Rachel (Heinemann, 2009, 48pp)
ISBN: 1 43291 0965
The Extreme Zone: Forces and Motion
Mason, Paul (Raintree, 2006, 32pp)
ISBN: 1 41091 9196
Forces and Motion: From Push to Shove
Cooper, Christopher (Heinemann, 2004, 32pp)
ISBN: 1 40340 951X
Forces: The ups and downs
Sadler, Wendy (Raintree, 2006, 32pp)
ISBN: 1 41091 5506
Engineering interact
A free educational resource for 9–11 year olds which introduces students to science and engineering concepts.
BBC Kids
An educational resource containing videos, images, games and websites for children.
ZOOM activities
Science activities and games for children.
The Science Spot
Explores science concepts through activities, games, trivia and puzzles.