Year 5 · Autumn 1.1 · Step 1

Earth & Space

Friction

The contact force that slows things down — always pushing against the way an object moves.

Arrival Starter I do We do Independent Exit ticket

🌱 Seedling · Working towards 🌿 Sapling · Expected 🌳 Oak · Greater depth

⏱ Whole lesson ≈ 44 min · pick a tier in the bar, or leave on "All"

Arrival 4 min

Whiteboard settler. Year 3 recap — children met forces and friction before.

Recap: what is a force?

🌱 Seedling

Working towards

A force is a ____ or a ____.

push · pull · colour

🌿 Sapling

Expected

Give an example of a push and a pull.
What can a force change about an object?

🌳 Oak

Greater depth

Name a force you already know. Where have you felt something slowing you down?

Bridge into todayForces push and pull. Today we meet the force that slows things down when surfaces touch — friction.

Starter 5 min

Rub hands together — feel the warmth. Where else does friction show up?

Grip or slip?

Friction is a contact force between two surfaces. It always acts in the opposite direction to the way an object is moving.

🌱 Seedling

Working towards

Which needs grip?

walking boots · ice rink

🌿 Sapling

Expected

Name one place friction helps and one place it gets in the way.

🌳 Oak

Greater depth

Does friction only happen between rough surfaces? Explain what you think.

I do · 1 6 min

Teacher models. Watch, then pull out the key idea.

What is friction?

▶ Can't see it? Watch "Friction: high vs low — Year 5 Forces" on YouTube

Swap the clip: change the ID after /embed/ (now bm8qsbmvMOc).

Say thisFriction is a contact force — it needs two surfaces touching. It opposes motion, so it slows things down. Rough surfaces make more friction; smooth surfaces make less — but there is always some.

🤝

Contactsurfaces touch

↔️

Opposes motionslows things down

🛞

Usefulgrip, brakes

We do · 1 6 min

Decide together: does friction help or hinder here?

Helpful or in the way?

🛞 car tyres 🚲 bike brakes 👟 shoe soles 📦 pushing a heavy box ⚙️ machine parts wearing out

Two columns

Tyres, brakes, soles → friction helps (grip & stopping). Pushing a heavy box, parts wearing → friction gets in the way.

Friction is not "good" or "bad" — it depends on the job.

I do · 2 4 min

Play the animation. Bust: friction only happens when moving / only on rough surfaces.

Which way does friction push?

As the box moves right, friction pushes left — always against the motion.

Model the ruleFriction always acts against the direction of movement. It happens even between smooth surfaces like glass — and it is there even when an object is not moving yet.

Watch for: "friction only happens when things move" and "friction only happens on rough surfaces".

We do · 2 5 min

Quick true/false to check the two misconceptions have shifted.

True or false?

Decide together

"Friction only happens when two surfaces are moving." "Friction only happens on rough surfaces."

Both are false — say why using the words contact and oppose.

Independent 10 min

On your own. Sort each one, then write at your tier.

Friction sorter

👍 Friction helps

👎 Friction gets in the way

🚫 Myth to bust

Tap a card to sort it…

🌱 Seedling

Working towards

Sort the cards. Then finish: Friction always acts ____ the motion.

🌿 Sapling

Expected

Sort them, then write one place friction helps and one place it is a nuisance, with a reason.

🌳 Oak

Greater depth

Explain why brakes on a bike rely on friction, and why the same force wears the parts out over time.

Exit ticket 4 min

Answer at your tier, then hand it in.

Show what you know

🌱 Seedling

Working towards

Friction is a ____ force (contact / non-contact).
Which way does friction act?

🌿 Sapling

Expected

Give one way friction is useful.
Does friction happen on smooth surfaces? Explain.

🌳 Oak

Greater depth

Two sticks rubbed together get warm. Explain what friction is doing.