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Why do things move? The universe, and everything in it, is continuously moving and changing. Movement and change are concepts that we need to understand to make sense of the world around us. They are linked to concepts of energy and force. Scientists and engineers apply these concepts to study the performance of athletes and in the design of toys, cars and spacecraft. The On the move unit is an ideal way of linking science with literacy in the classroom. Students develop an understanding of how things move. They explore the push and pull forces they can use to move objects in ways such as sliding, bouncing and spinning. Through investigations, students observe and gather evidence about rolling objects and explore the idea of fair testing.

Unit at a glance (PDF)
Unit outcomes (PDF)
Unit overview (PDF) (DOC)
Equipment lists (PDF)
Assessment resources
Resource sheets
Factual and narrative texts

Assessment resources

In Primary Connections units, assessment is an ongoing and embedded process which enhances learning.

Recording and reporting tools included are:

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Assessment checklists (PDF) (DOC) Assessment rubrics (PDF) (DOC) Science journal/work sample tags (PDF) (DOC)

These tools provide only a snapshot of the variety of assessment and reporting methods that can be used in conjunction with Primary Connections.

Resource sheets

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Chance dance cube 1 (PDF) Chance dance cube 2 (PDF) Role badges (PDF) (RTF)

Factual and narrative texts

Factual texts:

Animal actions series: What can run? What can jump? What can swim? What can fly?
Whitehouse, Patricia (Raintree imprint, Harcourt Education Ltd 2004, 24pp)
ISBN: 1844437094 (What can run?), 1 844 43708 6 (What can jump?), 1 844 43710 8 (What can swim?), 1 844 43707 8 (What can fly?)

Investigations series: rolling; sliding; pushing; pulling
Whitehouse, Patricia (Raintree imprint, Harcourt Education Ltd, 2003, 24pp)
ISBN: 1 84421553 9 (Rolling), 1 844 21554 7 (Sliding), 1 844 21551 2 (Pulling), 1 844 21552 0 (Pushing)

Let's get moving series (Little Nippers): in the jungle; on safari; under the sea; up a mountain
Lynch, Emma (Heinemann Library, 2004, 24pp)
ISBN: 0 4311 6477 0 (In the jungle), 0 431 16478 9 (On safari), 0 431 16479 7 (Under the sea), 0 431 16480 0 (Up a mountain)

Ways into science series: how animals move
Riley, Peter (Franklin Watts 2003, 30pp)
ISBN: 074964740X

Narrative texts:

Sometimes I like to curl up in a ball
Churchill, Vicki, Fuge, Charles (Gullane Childrens Books 2001, 12pp)
ISBN paperback: 1862333963
ISBN hardback: 1862332533
The story of Wombat, who jumps high, screams loud, walk in circles, stand stills, makes funny faces, runs fast and at the end of a long, movement filled day, curls up in a ball.