Elementary school students, as scientists, investigate gravity and patterns in motion to answer the lesson question: How does gravity affect objects? Students consider the forces acting on an object at rest. Students identify that gravity is a force acting on the object and generate questions about gravity and how objects with different weights are lifted. Next, students decide to investigate their questions using the cubes from Lesson 1 and a spring scale. Students predict which cube will require the largest force to lift it and measure the force with a spring scale. Students notice a pattern: heavier objects need a bigger force to lift them. Students then consider the direction of the force of gravity and the force exerted by a table or the ground on objects at rest. Finally, students apply the new ideas about forces to the JWST rocket launch and revise their models.

This lesson plan is lesson two of the Launching the James Webb Space Telescope Unit. The unit was created in collaboration with AIAA and Estes Education.

Click the Download PDF button above for the complete Lesson Plan.

Student Materials

Per Student

• Handout 2.1: Investigation
• Handout 2.2: Rocket Launch Phases

Per Small Group (2 to 4 students)

• 4 density blocks of different weights with hooks labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4
• Spring Scale with Newton Measurement

Teacher Materials

• L2 Slides
• Chart paper