Lesson 1: What is gravity?
This Year 5 gravity lesson introduces pupils to gravity and explores how this force acts on objects on Earth and in space. Pupils learn why unsupported objects fall towards Earth, consider how the strength of gravity varies and investigate the common misconception that heavier objects fall faster than lighter objects.
The lesson directly supports the Year 5 Science National Curriculum requirement to explain that unsupported objects fall towards the Earth because of the force of gravity acting between the Earth and the falling object. Pupils build on their previous understanding of pushes and pulls to explore gravity as a force that acts between objects.
What is gravity and how does it work?
Pupils learn that gravity is a force that pulls objects towards one another. They explore how Earth’s gravity pulls objects towards the Earth, while also considering gravity on the Moon and other planets and how gravitational force is related to the size and mass of objects.
Using demonstrations and discussion, pupils consider why a ball thrown into the air returns to the ground, how rockets overcome the force of gravity and why astronauts experience different gravitational effects on the Moon. The lesson also introduces pupils to the contributions of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein to our understanding of gravity.
Do heavier objects fall faster?
Pupils predict what will happen when two objects with noticeably different masses are dropped from the same height. They then observe the objects being dropped together and use the result to challenge the misconception that a heavier object must fall faster than a lighter one.
Pupils learn that objects of different masses accelerate at the same rate due to gravity when other factors are excluded. The lesson finishes by comparing a flat and crumpled sheet of paper, introducing the question of why some objects fall more slowly and providing a natural link to the next lesson on air resistance.
What’s included in this Year 5 gravity lesson?
- Launchable teaching slides for whole-class teaching
- Detailed lesson plan with National Curriculum coverage, teacher knowledge, vocabulary, misconceptions and assessment questions
- Differentiated Gravity Worksheet with questions and sentence stems where appropriate
- Practical demonstration comparing how objects of different masses fall
- Activities exploring gravity on Earth, the Moon and different planets
- Planet gravity game for exploring differences in gravitational force
- Gravity Explorer Cards for further practical investigation
- Opportunities to explore the work of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein
- Continuous provision ideas using falling objects, balloons and gravity-based toys and games
- Further challenge comparing the gravitational force of different planets
✨ How to use the launchable slides
Launch the presentation directly in your browser and use it on your interactive whiteboard.
📝 Click Notes to see teacher guidance, answers and additional information where included.
⬅️ ➡️ To move through the presentation, click on the slides first, then use the left and right cursor arrow keys on your keyboard.
For technical and copyright reasons, these presentation slides are available to launch online rather than download.
Explore the full Year 5 Forces resources, or explore our Year 5 science scheme of work and resources.
This resource is part of the Mrs Mactivity Science Scheme of Work →
