Grade 5 – “13 Newtons”

It was a Science class in the year 2016-17. Theme was Mass and Weight. As it was a physics theme at the end of the year, the children were very enthusiastic and looking forward for each science class for some hands on experiment .Newton’s three laws of motion had to be taught. Many were aware of the very famous “Newton’s third law”- Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.. The boys were at their hilarious best to give examples of what they thought of the third law- If someone beats me, I give him back with equal force- That’s the third law!! They were even ready to demonstrate the law….
I got an idea….Eureka!! Let me try the same thing on them. So, I said, “You are going to derive the other two laws. I am only enact the clues.” The children eagerly accepted the challenge I had thrown out on them.

I got an idea….Eureka!! Let me try the same thing on them. So, I said, “You are going to derive the other two laws. I am only enact the clues.” The children eagerly accepted the challenge I had thrown out on them.
I started by pushing a toy car. “The force you applied has made the car move.” said one child. “Friction is making the car slow down”, said another. Next, I just let the car be… without moving. “The car is not moving” , shouted the children in chorus. A little prodding from my side, helped the children to reason out why the car was not moving… Thus the first law was derived…. “Objects continue what they are doing until a force speeds them up or slows them down” (Friction here). Half mission accomplished…

Now, for the second law… I could see the bright eager faces of the children ready to crack the second law. Wish learning physics was as fun and challenging when I was a student , a thought was running at the back of my mind. I geared up for the Second law. I asked a volunteer to carry a book. “Oh! That’s very easy aunty.. Is this the second law?”, he asked. With vanity in his face, he carried the book in one hand. “Wonderful dear, Now carry the chowki”, I said. This time he carried the chowki with a little grunt. “Now Newtons.. Time to guess the second law”, I announced. Pat came the reply from the volunteer, “It is easier to carry the book than the chowki”. There was some pondering on this statement and finally the second law was derived- Heavier objects need more force to move them.

I was amazed by the way the kids could derive the laws so easily. These laws were intimidating when I had tried to learn and understand them as a student myself. The informal text which was used in the work book, rather than the laws itself, made my work very easy. There was no need for the children to memorize the laws. However the children could never forget the laws in the future classes too. They had to relate to the examples demonstrated and they could see the law unfold in front of them. It was a fulfilling class for both the children and me.