Forces and Motion Game

A force is a push or a pull, and forces change how things move. The Forces and Motion Game turns the Forces Motion Worksheet into a sparkly go-kart race through a sunny skate park, with Abby in the driver’s seat: kids read each sentence and choose the force and motion word that completes it, from push and pull to friction, magnet, direction, motion and speed. It is a forces and motion game for 3rd grade that teaches the science words kids need, with new sentences they have not seen on the worksheet.

Round one starts with a short “Watch me!” example, then kids tap the gate with the right word, and learn that a push moves things away and a pull brings things toward you. In round two kids drag Abby’s kart under a sign, then tap it, while they sort out friction, magnets and direction. In round three kids tap a word ball to finish the sentence about motion and speed. After every right answer Abby reads the whole sentence aloud, and the kart acts out the word: it lurches forward for a push, wobbles and slows for friction, swerves for a new direction, a magnet grabs a bolt, and the speed meter zooms into the green. When kids try another word, Abby says what that word means and gives a hint, so every try teaches something. Play it in your browser on a phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.

What’s Included

• Online game that plays in any browser on desktop, tablet and phone
• Included with every Have Fun Teaching membership
• 3 rounds with 3 different ways to play: push, pull and force; friction, magnets and direction; then motion and speed (18 questions)
• Every sentence read aloud, hints that name each science word, a kart that acts out every answer, sound effects and a star score
• Teachers can assign it in Classroom with one class link and see when each student is done

Here are three reasons this forces and motion game helps kids learn. First, kids see each force before they name it, the way a hands-on science lesson works: the kart is pushed, slowed by friction and turned in a new direction right on the screen. Second, Abby uses the same classroom words every time, like “a push moves things AWAY” and “a pull brings things TOWARD you,” so the words stick. Third, every hint explains the science, like how friction from the grass is what slows a rolling ball to a stop.

Keep the learning going after the Forces and Motion Game. Roll a toy car on carpet and then on a smooth floor and ask, “Where is there more friction?” Roll a ball and kick it back to change its direction, and look for magnets on the fridge. For practice on paper, print the matching Forces Motion Worksheet.

Related Resources

• Also available as a printable worksheet: Forces Motion Worksheet
• Labeling Force and Motion Worksheet
• Drawing Friction Worksheet
• Is it Magnetic Worksheet
• Magnetism Experiment Worksheet