Observe and record how the object's speed or direction changes. - Kindergarten Science

SECTION 1

People Have Always Watched Things Move!

People have always watched things move. Long ago, people looked at balls, carts, and falling rocks. They asked, "Why do things move?"

That is a great question! Let's see how people learned about pushes and pulls.

Long Ago • Rolling Logs

People pushed heavy logs to move big stones. They saw that a push makes things go!

Old Times • Wheels and Carts

People made carts with wheels. Pulling a cart made it move forward.

A While Ago • Balls and Ramps

A scientist rolled balls down ramps. He watched them go fast and slow.

Today • You Are a Scientist!

Now YOU can watch things move. You can draw what you see!

Today we ask: What happens when we push or pull something? Let's find out together!

SECTION 2

Big Ideas About Pushes, Pulls, and Motion

When things move, we call it motion. That means something is going from one place to another. A ball rolling across the floor is in motion!

A Push Makes Things Move

When you push a toy car, it moves away from you. A push moves things away.

A Pull Makes Things Move

When you pull a wagon, it comes toward you. A pull brings things closer.

Things Can Go Fast or Slow

A push or pull can make something go faster or slower. That means its speed changes.

Things Can Change Direction

A push or pull can also change which way something goes. That means its direction changes.

We Can Watch and Record

Scientists watch carefully. That is called observing. We can draw pictures of what we see.

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KEY TAKEAWAY

Think about kicking a ball. When your foot hits the ball, you give it a push. The ball moves! It can go fast, slow, straight, or turn. You can watch what happens and tell a friend or draw a picture.

SECTION 3

See How a Ball Moves!

Look at the picture below. It shows a ball being pushed. Watch how the ball's motion changes!

This picture shows what happens when you push a ball. First the ball is still. Then you push it and it starts to move slowly. A bigger push makes it go faster!

See the ball? First it was not moving. Then the push made it go. The little dots show where the ball has been. More dots mean it is going faster!

SECTION 4

How Pushes and Pulls Change Motion

A push or a pull can change the way something moves. Let's see all the things that can happen!

Making Something Start Moving

A toy car sits on the floor. It is not moving. You give it a push. Now it rolls! The push made it start to move.

Making Something Go Faster

A ball is rolling slowly. You push it again. Now it goes faster! A push can make moving things speed up.

Making Something Slow Down or Stop

A ball rolls toward you. You put your hand in front of it. The ball slows down and stops. Your hand gave it a push the other way!

Making Something Change Direction

A ball rolls past you. You tap it from the side. Now it goes a different way! The push changed its direction. That means the way it is going.

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Remember!

A push or pull can make something start, go faster, slow down, stop, or turn. All of those are changes in motion!

SECTION 5

How to Watch and Record What You See

Good scientists don't just look. They observe carefully. That means they look very closely. Then they record what they see. That means they save it so they can remember.

This picture shows three ways to record what you observe. You can draw a picture, tell a friend, or act it out. The bottom shows how to draw a ball's path with arrows!

Arrows are very helpful! An arrow shows which way something went. You can draw arrows in your pictures to show the direction of motion.

SECTION 6

Let's Try It! Watching a Toy Car

Imagine you have a toy car. Let's observe and record what happens when you push it!

Pushing a Toy Car on a Table

1
Step 1 — Look at the Car

The toy car is sitting on the table. It is not moving. We observe: The car is still.
2
Step 2 — Give It a Gentle Push

You give the car a small push. It starts to roll slowly across the table. We observe: The car is moving slowly.
3
Step 3 — Give It a Bigger Push

This time you push harder. The car rolls much faster! We observe: The car is moving faster now.
4
Step 4 — Tap It From the Side

The car is rolling straight. You tap it on the side with your finger. Now it turns! We observe: The car changed direction.
5
Step 5 — Record What You Saw

Now draw a picture! Draw the car. Use arrows to show the way it moved. You are recording your observations like a real scientist!

You observed: a push made the car go, go faster, and turn. Great job!

SECTION 7

Different Pushes Do Different Things

Not all pushes and pulls are the same. Let's see what different pushes can do to a ball!

What You Do	What Happens	What Changed?
Small push forward	Ball rolls slowly	Ball started moving
Big push forward	Ball rolls fast	Ball is going faster
Tap it from the side	Ball turns	Ball changed direction
Put your hand in front	Ball slows down	Ball is going slower

How different pushes change the motion of a ball

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KEY TAKEAWAY

Think about playing catch. When someone throws the ball to you, they give it a push. When you catch it, your hands slow it down. When you throw it back, you push it a new way. Every time, the ball's motion changes because of a push or pull!

SECTION 8

What Will You Learn Next?

Right now, you are learning to watch and record how things move. When you are older, you will learn even more cool things about motion!

What You Do Now	What You'll Do Later
Watch things move	Test what makes things move in different ways
Draw pictures of motion	Use charts and measurements
Push and pull things	Learn how stronger pushes change motion more

Your learning journey with motion

For now, keep watching, keep drawing, and keep asking questions. That is what scientists do!

SECTION 9

Practice Problems

Read this story, then answer the questions below.

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Story: Mia's Marble

Mia has a shiny marble. She puts it on a flat table. The marble sits still. Mia pushes the marble gently. It rolls slowly across the table. Then she gives it a bigger push. The marble rolls faster! The marble hits a book on the table. It turns and rolls a different way. Then it rolls onto the carpet and slows down until it stops.

Question 1: CONCEPTUAL

What made the marble start to move? A) The table made it go B) Mia pushed it C) The marble moved by itself

Show answer

B) Mia pushed it. The marble was sitting still on the table. It did not move until Mia pushed it. A push is needed to make something start moving. Things do not start moving all by themselves! (Science Practice: Making observations. Core Idea: Pushes and pulls change the motion of objects.)

Question 2: BASIC

What happened when the marble hit the book? A) It stopped and never moved again B) It turned and rolled a different way C) It went up into the air

Show answer

B) It turned and rolled a different way. When the marble hit the book, the book pushed on the marble. That changed the marble's motion. The marble turned and went a different way! (Crosscutting Concept: Cause and effect — the book caused the marble to change how it was moving.)

Question 3: INTERMEDIATE

Why did the marble slow down and stop on the carpet? A) The carpet made it harder for the marble to roll B) Mia told it to stop C) The marble was tired

Show answer

A) The carpet made it harder for the marble to roll. The carpet is soft and bumpy. It made it harder for the marble to keep rolling. That is why the marble slowed down and stopped. Marbles do not get tired because they are not alive! (Core Idea: Pushes and pulls can make things slow down and stop.)

Question 4: APPLIED

Mia wants to record what she saw. What is the BEST way to do it? A) Draw a picture of the marble's path with arrows B) Wait until tomorrow to try to remember what happened C) Just tell a friend she played with a marble

Show answer

A) Draw a picture of the marble's path with arrows. Drawing a picture with arrows shows exactly how the marble moved and where it went. Waiting until tomorrow might mean you forget what happened. Just saying you played with a marble does not describe what the marble did. A picture with arrows records your observations so you can remember and share them! (Science Practice: Recording observations using drawings.)

Question 5: CRITICAL THINKING

Think and Share: Draw a picture of Mia's marble rolling across the table and hitting the book. Use arrows to show which way the marble went. Then share your picture with a friend and explain what happened!

Show answer

Great answers will show the marble starting on one side, an arrow pointing to the book, and then another arrow pointing a different direction after the marble hits the book. When you share your picture, you might say something like: "Mia pushed the marble. It rolled to the book. The book made it turn!" Your picture and your words both record your observations. Scientists use drawings and words to share what they see. That is how we all learn from each other! (Science Practice: Recording observations and communicating information. Crosscutting Concept: Cause and effect — the push caused motion, and the book caused a change.)

SUMMARY

Let's Remember What We Learned!

Summary

A push or pull can make something start moving, go faster, go slower, stop, or change direction. All of those are changes in motion!

You can observe (watch carefully) and record (save what you saw) by drawing pictures, using arrows, telling a friend, or acting it out. You are a scientist! Keep watching, keep drawing, and keep asking questions!