Our new forces and motion game puts kids in the driver’s seat. Abby races her sparkly jelly go-kart through a sunny skate park, and every right answer makes the kart act out the science word: it lurches forward for a push, wobbles on bumpy ground for friction and swerves for a new direction.
Third graders push swings and pull wagons every day, but naming the force is the tricky part. The big idea is simple: a force is a push or a pull, and forces change how things move. This game says it the same way teachers do, “A push moves things AWAY. A pull brings things TOWARD you,” and lets kids see each force happen right after they name it.
Each sentence sits on a card above three colored gates. Abby reads the sentence, kids choose the word that fits, and Abby reads the whole finished sentence back, so every answer is heard in context.
- A forces and motion game for 3rd grade (great review for 2nd and 4th grade too).
- A short “Watch me!” example, then 3 rounds: push, pull and force; friction, magnets and direction; motion and speed.
- Abby reads every direction out loud, and a wrong pick gets a hint that names the idea, so kids learn instead of guess.
- Based on the Forces Motion Worksheet, so you can play it, then print it.
Why kids love this forces and motion game
Abby reads it all
Every direction and every sentence is read aloud. Wait a moment and Abby reads the question and the three choices again.
Drive the kart
Tap a gate, drag the kart into a lane, or tap a word ball. Each round plays a different way.
See the force
The kart acts out every right answer, and a magnet yanks a bolt across the track.
Learn from every tap
A wrong pick gets a hint, never the answer: “A pull brings things TOWARD you. Which way did the ball go?”
Watch the forces and motion game
See the whole game, from the first “Watch me!” example to the five-star finish. Find more on the Have Fun Teaching YouTube channel.
How to play the forces and motion game
Listen to Abby
Abby reads the sentence with a blank, like “I kick a ball away from me. I give it a blank.”
Round 1: tap a gate
Tap the gate with push, pull or force, and Abby drives right through it.
Round 2: steer, then tap
Drag the kart or tap the road to move lanes, then tap the sign for friction, magnet or direction.
Round 3: tap a word ball
Tap the ball with motion or speed. It flies into the sentence and Abby races up that lane.
The Forces and Motion Game is part of the Have Fun Teaching membership. Members can open it full screen on any device. New here? Start your 3 free days and play it today.
What kids learn from the forces and motion game
A force is a push or a pull
The big idea of 3rd grade forces (NGSS 3-PS2-1), said the same way all game long.
Push away, pull toward
Kids sort everyday actions like kicking a ball and opening a drawer.
Friction slows things down
A rolling ball stops because the ground rubs on it, not because it “runs out of force.”
Magnets pull without touching
A magnet pulls iron nails and holds a drawing on the fridge (NGSS 3-PS2-3).
Direction, motion and speed
A force can change which way something goes, and how fast it moves.
See it, then name it
The kart acts out each word, and Abby reads the whole sentence back, so kids see and hear every idea.
Teacher tip: play it, then test it
Play the game on the whiteboard as a class, then hand out the Forces Motion Worksheet. Have kids say the anchor phrase together, “A force is a push or a pull!”, then try it with a toy car. Check off each step as your class finishes it:
More forces and motion resources
Keep the science going with these printables for push and pull, friction and magnets.
Science · WorksheetForces Motion Worksheet
Science · WorksheetLabeling Force and Motion Worksheet
Science · Word WallForce and Motion Word Wall
Science · WorksheetDrawing Friction Worksheet
Science · ActivityFun with Magnets Science Activity
Science · WorksheetMagnetism Experiment Worksheet
Explore more resources
Get every game with a membership
Science practice, ready for the whole year
Members play the Forces and Motion Game and every other Have Fun Teaching game, and download the printables, songs and videos that go with it.
- Every Have Fun Teaching game, including the Forces and Motion Game
- Every printable, song and video, Preschool–6th
- Unlimited downloads, new resources added daily
- Use it with your class or your kids at home
Forces and motion game FAQ
What is the Forces and Motion Game?
The Forces and Motion Game is an online science game for kids from Have Fun Teaching. Abby drives her sparkly go-kart through a skate park, and kids pick the force and motion word that completes each sentence. After every right answer, Abby reads the whole sentence aloud and the kart acts out the word.
What grade is the forces and motion game for?
It is made for 3rd grade and works well as review for 2nd and 4th grade too. Abby reads every direction and every sentence aloud, so kids can play on their own.
Which science words does the game teach?
Round 1 teaches push, pull and force. Round 2 teaches friction, magnets and direction. Round 3 teaches motion and speed. Every word is used in a real sentence, like “I kick a ball away from me. I give it a push.”
Can kids play it on a tablet or phone?
Yes. The game runs in the browser on computers, tablets, phones, Chromebooks and interactive whiteboards. There is nothing to install.
Is there a printable version?
Yes. The game is based on the Forces Motion Worksheet, so kids can play the game and then practice the same words on paper.
Ready to race with Abby?
Press Play and let your kids push, pull and steer their way through every force and motion word in the skate park, all on their own.
Works on computers, tablets, phones and interactive whiteboards.
