Spencer Thomas

11-3-15
Dr. Binns 3221
EdTPA Indirect Instruction Lesson Plan Template
Eggs and Gravity
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Central Focus/Big Idea: How does gravity affect a falling object?
Subject of this lesson: Gravity
Grade Level: 5th
NC Essential Standard(s): 5.P.1.1 Explain how factors such as gravity, friction, and change in
mass affect the motion of objects.
Next Generation Science Standard(s): 5-PS2-1 Support an argument that the gravitational
force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down.
21st Century Skills: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 4th Grade Outcome: Students
construct their own scientific understanding and develop their scientific process skills by asking
scientific questions, designing and conducting investigations, constructing explanations from
their observations, and discussing their explanations with others.
Collaboration 4th Grade Outcome: Students work collaboratively with others, both in small and
large groups, in their science classroom.
Initiative and Self-Direction 4th Grade Outcome: Students are able to design an investigation
based on a question they have generated from their own curiosity.

Academic Language Demand

Language Function: Students will be able to explain why gravity effects falling objects
and predict what will happen to the egg as it hits the ground.
Analyze

Argue

Categorize

Interpret

Predict

Question

Scientific Vocabulary:

Compare/contras
t
Retell

Describe
Summarize

Explain

Gravity: the force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth, or toward any other
physical body having mass
Inertia: a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform
motion in a straight line, unless that state is changed by an external force.
Force: strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement.
Gravitational force: A force that attracts any object with mass
Net force: The overall force acting on an object

Instructional Objective: Students will be able to describe the effects that gravity has on a falling
object. They will successfully be able to list the effects that gravity has on an object with 80
percent accuracy.
Prior Knowledge: Students should know Newtons Laws of Physics and how they relate to force
and gravity.
Content Knowledge: Teacher should know how gravity effects objects and how to explain the
series of events to students. Teacher should be able to explain Newtons Laws of Physics and
how this relates to gravity.
Accommodations for special needs: For students with special needs I will assist them in
making their egg cartons. Premade egg cartons will be available if students arent able to
complete the assignment of building the egg carton themselves. I will also provide a list of
simplified vocabulary for those students who have a hard time comprehending/ For ELL
instruction in their native language will be provided. Also when possible I will provide videos
with subtitles or videos in their native language will be available.
Materials and Technology requirements:
Egg drop school tube video
Egg drop worksheet
8 balloons
40 paper clips
40 tooth picks
8 plastic sheets
40 Straws
40 Cotton balls
Computer/projector
Pencil
Paper
Scissors
Total Estimated Time: 2 class periods
Source of lesson: website, 9th grade science project

Egg Drop Project 1:

https://www.schooltube.com/video/f80eba6196364324ac9f/Egg%20Drop%20Project%201
Egg Drop Lesson Plan
http://www.stem.neu.edu/programs/k-12-school-field-trips/egg-drop/
Egg Drop Activity Handout
http://www.stem.neu.edu/programs/k-12-school-field-trips/egg-drop/

Safety considerations: teachers will cut everything out, Teacher will also drop eggs from ladder.
Make sure that students are aware of their surroundings and that they are following all class rules
while building their egg crate.

Content and Strategies (Procedure)

Engage:
Students will begin by each student collecting the egg drop handout. When students return to
their seat tell them that they are going to be testing gravity today using eggs. This should raise
questions and curiosity from the students. Students are allowed to spend 100 dollars according to
the worksheet on materials needed to build the egg crates for the egg drop. Prices vary so they
will have to choose the best possible combination to protect the egg from dropping.
Ask questions pertaining to gravity.
What is the Newtons first law of motion?(Answer: an object in motion stays in motion
in the same direction or at rest until acted upon by another source.)
What is the second law? (Answer: Change in speed or acceleration)
What is the third law? (Answer: For every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction)
What materials do you think will work best for the egg drop? (answer: Answers will
vary)
Explore:
Students will draw their sketch of the crate that they are going to build. After each group has
finished drawing their sketch they will begin to collect the materials needed to build their crate.
The crate needs to be able to withstand the impact that gravity has on a falling object. The
students will have to work together to come up with ideas on what is the best way to build the

crate. If the egg crate isnt supported enough then the egg will crack. If it is supportive then the
egg will be left in one piece. Remind the students that the crate has to withstand an 8 foot drop so
their crate needs to be sturdy.
Watch the following video about the egg drop after the students have made their crates.
https://www.schooltube.com/video/f80eba6196364324ac9f/Egg%20Drop%20Project%201
After the video explain to students that this is the task that they will be completing today in their
groups. Explain that at the end of the period that we will take these eggs outside and drop them
from a ladder to see how gravity effects a falling object.
Based off of the following video make predictions on what you think will happen in the
experiment.

What material do you think would protect the egg the most? (Answer: answers will vary)
What do you think will happen to the crate made of Popsicle sticks? (Answer: It will/ will
not break)
What do you think will happen to the crate made of paper? (Answer: The egg will break)
What do you think will happen when the eggs hit the ground? (Answer: Answer will vary
although I anticipate most students saying that the egg is going to break.)
What do you think is the least effective material? (Answer will vary)
What do you think is the most effective material? (Answer Will vary)

(If time is allotted) Take students outside and drop their egg crates. Do so one at a time that way
they can focus on what each crate does. Some will bounce while other will just hit the ground.
Some eggs will crack and others will not. The egg drop should only take about 10-15 minutes to
complete and each group will get to see their egg dropped.
Revisit students predictions to see if they were correct or incorrect.
Explanation:
After completing the egg drop students will return to the classroom. Allow students time to get in
their chair and settled down from all of the excitement that they are having!
Ask students questions to see how what they have been learning in science relates to what we
have learned today.

What made the egg drop? ( Answer: Gravity)

How does gravity work? (Answer: it pulls everything to the center of the earth.)
Is there anything that can effect gravity or change gravity? (Answer: weather)

How would the weather effect the gravitational pull on the egg? (Answer: it would speed
up or slow down how fast the egg hits the ground. The wind could also possibly blow the
egg crate.)
Are there any other factors could change how the egg would drop? (Answer: wind, the
shape of your crate, )
If you dropped your text book and the egg at the same time which one would hit the
ground first?( Answer Tie)
If you dropped the egg and a paperclip which would hit the ground first? (Answer: Tie)
If you jumped out of an airplane with the egg which would hit the ground first? (Answer:
Tie)

Elaborate:
When students return to their seats they will be asked to come up with other ways to test gravity
with objects other than eggs. Using books and pencils and by dropping other objects at the same
time. If time permits children will get back into groups and they will test gravity and the effects it
has on other objects other than an egg. Students should then discuss with their partner the
observations that they have noticed about these objects as well.

What would fall faster a heavier object/ lighter object? (Answer: They would hit at the
same time)
What would happen if there was more or less gravity? ( things would float like on the
moon or the gravitational pull force would crush things)
Is there gravity on places other than earth? (Answer: slightly)

After students return to their seats have them fill out the second part of the worksheet which will
be used for the summative assessment.
Evaluate:
Summative assessment: The second page of the worksheet will be collected and must be
answered with 80% accuracy
Formative assessment: The questions that I asked during the lesson will be used to check for
conceptual understanding.

To be completed after the lesson is taught as appropriate

Assessment Results of all objectives/skills:

Reflection on lesson:
CT signature/confirmation: _________________________________ Date: ________________