Year 5 · Autumn 1.1 · Step 8

Earth & Space

Explore gravity

The non-contact force pulling everything towards Earth — and how objects fall when air resistance is negligible.

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

Recap of last lesson: water resistance.

Recap: resistance forces

🌱 Seedling
Working towards

Name two forces that slow moving things down.

🌿 Sapling
Expected
  1. What do air and water resistance have in common?
  2. Which shapes reduce them?
🌳 Oak
Greater depth

All these forces need contact. Can you think of a force that works without touching?

Bridge into todayFriction and resistance are contact forces. Today: a non-contact force that pulls everything down — gravity.
Starter 5 min

Predict what happens when two objects are released together from the same height. Compare a gravity-only model with a fall through air.

Which hits the ground first?

Gravity is a non-contact force. Every object with mass has a gravitational pull — the greater the mass, the greater the pull. Gravity pulls everything towards Earth's centre.

🌱 Seedling
Working towards

Gravity pulls objects ____ (up / down).

🌿 Sapling
Expected

Why is gravity a non-contact force?

🌳 Oak
Greater depth

Predict: do heavier objects always fall faster? Explain your thinking.

I do · 1 6 min

Teacher models. Watch, then separate mass from weight.

Gravity, mass and weight

▶ Can't see it? Watch "What is gravity? — Year 5 Forces" on YouTube

Swap the clip: change the ID after /embed/ (now 6rE78Ieu7s0).

Say thisMass is how much matter is in an object. Weight is the downward gravitational pull on it, measured in Newtons (N) with a Newton meter. Gravity acts towards Earth's centre because Earth has the greatest mass.
⚖️
Massamount of matter
🡇
Weightpull in Newtons
🌍
Towards centreEarth's huge mass
We do · 1 6 min

Use a Newton meter together; read weight in N.

Measure weight in Newtons

⚖️ mass = grams (matter)  |  🡇 weight = Newtons (pull of gravity)

Show it
Hang an object on the Newton meter → the spring stretches → read the force in N.
Same object on the Moon would have the same mass but less weight — the Moon's gravity is weaker.
I do · 2 4 min

Play the gravity-only model: the balls start together with no air resistance. It does not show every real fall through air.

Free fall: no air resistance

heavy light no air resistance → equal acceleration, whatever the mass

A gravity-only model: released together from rest at the same height, the balls land together because air resistance is absent.

Model the ruleWith no air resistance, objects have the same acceleration regardless of mass. Released together from rest at the same height, they land together. In air, drag changes their motion: equal size alone does not guarantee an equal fall.

Watch for: "heavier things always fall faster" and "there is no gravity on the Moon" (there is — it's weaker).

We do · 2 5 min

Sort a few statements as a class.

True, myth, or mass/weight?

Decide together
"Gravity pulls towards Earth's centre."   "Heavier objects always fall faster."   "Weight is measured in Newtons."
True fact, myth to bust, or a point about mass/weight?
Independent 10 min

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

Gravity sorter

✅ True about gravity

🚫 Myth to bust

⚖️ About mass & weight

Tap a card to sort it…

🌱 Seedling
Working towards

Sort the cards. Then finish: Gravity pulls objects towards Earth's ____.

🌿 Sapling
Expected

Sort them, then explain the difference between mass and weight.

🌳 Oak
Greater depth

Explain why objects of different mass, released together from rest at the same height, land together when air resistance is negligible.

Exit ticket 4 min

Answer at your tier, then hand it in.

Show what you know

🌱 Seedling
Working towards
  • Gravity is a ____ force (contact / non-contact).
  • Which way does gravity pull?
🌿 Sapling
Expected
  • What is the difference between mass and weight?
  • What unit is weight measured in?
🌳 Oak
Greater depth

Is there gravity on the Moon? Explain what happens to mass and weight there.

TA Focus · Gravity
Two ideas to keep separate: mass (matter, grams) and weight (gravity's pull, Newtons). The big myth is 'heavier always falls faster' — point to the gravity-only model. The balls are released together from rest at the same height with no air resistance. Equal size alone does not guarantee an equal fall through air. Also gently correct 'no gravity on the Moon' — it's weaker, not absent.
Cold Call · Question bank
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