STEMvestigation: Newton's 2nd Law DOWNLOAD

This activity uses a little drama to illustrate Newton’s 2nd Law of motion. Though most middle-grade students have a sense of this law, they haven’t necessarily put words or a title to it. Students can begin framing the 2nd law in scientific terms by taking a quick turn to push others on the scooter. Students use a big pendulum to hit the scooter with a controlled force; further forming the concept that acceleration and mass are inversely related. Finally, students can extend the activity to mathematically illustrate this fact through the formula, F=ma.