Last week we started a Project Lead the Way science unit on forces and motion called "Pushes and Pulls."  In this unit, students will explore different forces and identify them as pushes or pulls.  We will also explore the effects of different strengths and directions of pushes and pulls on the motion of an object.  So far we have learned that pushes are forces that move an object away and pulls are forces that move the object closer.  While most often we can see the force being applied, we have also talked about forces that we might not see, including wind and gravity.

Over the last few days we have been noticing pushes and pulls that we use throughout our days.  It's amazing how many we were able to identify once we started paying attention!  Some of these include pushing or pulling a door to open it, pulling on snow pants, shoes, boots, mittens, pushing in a chair, pushing and pulling pencils and markers to write, pulling paper towels out of the dispenser, pushing and pulling the faucet to turn it on and off, pushing and pulling sleds, snowballs, swings and myriad other objects on the playground.  When we start thinking about it the list is endless.

Pushing in a chair

Pushing and pulling to cut

Using wind to push a propellor

Pushing the door open

Pulling a zipper

Pushing and pulling a crayon

Pushing a sled

Pushing and pulling the tire swing

Pushing a swing

Pushing a snowball... up the hill!

Pulling to climb up the structure