A unit of the course: the story, then chapter by chapter — sections, numbered lessons, a source or the numbers to read, three checks each — a review per chapter, and the wrap-up at the end.
Drawn scene: a playground at golden hour with a swing mid-arc, a slide, a wagon being pulled and a ball rolling down a small hill
1Unit
Pushes, Pulls and Stuff
Physical Science
Look around your room. A ball rolls. A door swings shut. A cup holds juice. A coat keeps rain off. Every one of these has a science story. This unit tells two of them.
First, pushes and pulls. Nothing moves on its own. Something pushes it or pulls it. You will learn how to start things, stop things, and turn things.
Then, stuff. Everything is made of some material. Hard or soft. Bendy or stiff. Soaks up water or not. You will learn to describe stuff, sort it, and pick the right stuff for a job.
How we figured it out
Wake up
You push the blanket off. You pull on your socks.
Breakfast
You pour milk. It takes the shape of the bowl. The spoon keeps its shape.
Front door
You push the heavy door. It swings open. A big push works better than a little one.
Rainy walk
Rain rolls off your coat. It does not soak in. Good material!
Recess
You kick a ball. It rolls. It bumps another ball. That one moves too.
Lunch
An ice cube melts in your cup. Now it is water.
Art time
You sort buttons. Hard ones here. Soft cloth there.
Cleanup
A heavy box of books will not lift. You push it. It slides.
Home
You build a block tower. Then you take it apart. Same blocks.
Dinner
An egg cooks in the pan. It turns white. It will not turn back.
Bedtime
You pull up the blanket. A pull brings it close.
1
Chapter
Pushes and Pulls
Forces and Motion
Big questionWhat makes things start, stop and change the way they go?
The story
Who Is Pushing? Who Is Pulling?
Come to the playground. Look close. Someone is pushing. Someone is pulling.
It is recess at a school in Chicago. The playground is full. Ana sits on a swing. Her friend Leo stands behind her. Leo pushes the swing. Ana flies up. She comes back down. Leo pushes again.
Over by the fence, Sam has a wagon. It is full of balls. Sam grabs the handle. He pulls. The wagon rolls along. It bumps over a crack. Sam pulls harder. The wagon keeps going.
Near the slide, a soccer ball sits still. Mia runs up. She kicks it. The ball zooms across the grass. It hits the wall. It bounces back. Now it rolls the other way.
Look around. Every moving thing got a push or a pull. The swing. The wagon. The ball. Nothing started moving on its own. Somebody made it move.
Talk about itPick one thing on your playground. Who pushes it? Who pulls it?
Section 1
Making Things Move
1.1
A Push Makes It Go
Main ideaA push moves a thing away from you.
A ball sits on the floor. It does not move. It waits. Then you push it. Your hand moves it away from you. Now the ball rolls. Your push made it go.
A is a . A force is what makes things move. When you push, you press on a thing. You move it away from you. A push can be small. A push can be big.
Look for pushes. You push a door open. You push a cart. You push a button. You push off the wall in a pool. Pushes are everywhere.
Words to know
push
to press on a thing and move it away from you
force
a push or a pull
Check yourself
1. What made the ball roll?
Why: The ball sat still until a hand pushed it. The push made it go.
2. Which one is a push?
Why: Pressing the door moves it away from you. That is a push. Dragging and tugging are pulls.
3. A push moves a thing which way?
Why: When you push, you press on a thing. It moves away from you.
1.2
A Pull Makes It Come
Main ideaA pull moves a thing toward you.
A wagon sits on the grass. You grab the handle. You pull. The wagon comes toward you. It rolls along behind you. Your pull made it go.
A is a force too. When you pull, you tug on a thing. You move it toward you. You pull a rope. You pull a zipper. You pull a dog on a leash.
A push and a pull are both forces. A push sends a thing away. A pull brings a thing closer. Both can start a thing moving.
Words to know
pull
to tug on a thing and move it toward you
Check yourself
1. Which one is a pull?
Why: Tugging the handle brings the wagon toward you. That is a pull.
2. A pull moves a thing which way?
Why: When you pull, you tug on a thing. It comes toward you.
3. What do a push and a pull both do?
Why: A push and a pull are both forces. Both can make a still thing start to move.
Section 2
Changing How Things Move
1.3
Making It Stop
Main ideaA push or a pull can stop a moving thing.
A ball rolls toward you. You put out your hands. The ball hits your hands. Your hands push back. The ball stops. A push stopped it.
A moving thing keeps going. It needs a force to . A wall can push on a ball. The grass rubs on a ball. Your hands can catch a ball. Each one is a push that makes the ball stop.
Pulls can stop things too. A dog runs. The leash goes tight. The leash pulls the dog. The dog stops.
Words to know
stop
to end moving and hold still
Check yourself
1. What stops a rolling ball?
Why: A moving thing needs a force to stop. Hands, a wall or grass can push on it.
2. The leash goes tight. What happens to the running dog?
Why: The tight leash pulls on the dog. The pull stops the dog.
3. You catch a ball. What do your hands do?
Why: Your hands push back on the ball. That push makes it stop.
1.4
Big Push, Little Push
Main ideaA bigger push makes a bigger change.
Tap a toy car. It rolls a little. It stops fast. Now push the car hard. It zooms across the room. It goes far. The big push made a big change.
A small push makes a small change. A big push makes a big change. The same is true for pulls. Pull a wagon gently. It creeps. Pull it hard. It jumps forward.
Try it. Roll a ball with a soft push. Mark where it stops. Roll it with a hard push. Mark again. Which mark is farther? That is your .
Words to know
evidence
what you see or measure that shows an idea is true
Check yourself
1. You want the car to go far. What should you do?
Why: A big push makes a big change. The hard push sends the car far.
2. A soft push makes what kind of change?
Why: A small push makes a small change. The car moves only a little.
3. Jae's ball rolled to the fence. What does that show?
Why: The ball went far. A big push makes a big change. So the kick was hard.
1.5
Changing Direction
Main ideaA push or a pull can change which way a thing goes.
A ball rolls to the left. You tap it with your foot. Now it rolls to the right. Your push changed its . Direction is the way a thing goes.
Kick a ball at a wall. The wall pushes back. The ball bounces off. It comes back a new way. A push can turn a moving thing.
Pulls turn things too. A kite flies straight. You pull the string. The kite swoops to the side. The pull changed its direction.
Words to know
direction
the way a thing is going
Check yourself
1. What is direction?
Why: Direction is the way a thing goes, like left or right.
2. A ball hits a wall and bounces back. What did the wall do?
Why: The wall pushed back on the ball. The push sent it a new direction.
3. You pull a kite string. What can happen?
Why: A pull can turn a moving thing. The kite swoops to the side.
Section 3
Pushes That Help Us
1.6
Ball Meets Ball
Main ideaThings that touch can push each other.
A blue ball sits still. A red ball rolls at it. Bump! The red ball pushes the blue ball. The blue ball starts to roll. The red ball slows down.
Balls that can push each other. Blocks can push each other too. So can toy cars. When two things bump, each one pushes the other.
You can plan a bump. Roll a marble at a block. The block moves. Aim well. You can knock down a tower with one marble.
Words to know
touch
to bump into or press on another thing
Check yourself
1. The red ball rolls into the blue ball. What happens?
Why: The red ball pushes the blue ball when they touch. The push makes it roll.
2. When two balls bump, which one pushes?
Why: When two things bump, each one pushes the other. The red ball slows down too.
3. The bowling ball hits one pin. How do the other pins fall?
Why: Each falling pin touches the next pin and pushes it over.
1.7
Ramps and Heavy Boxes
Main ideaA push can solve a problem, like moving a heavy box.
A big box sits on the floor. It is too heavy to lift. What can you do? Push it! Get low. Put your hands on the box. Push with your legs. The box slides.
Still too heavy? Ask a friend. Two pushes are bigger than one. Or put the box on a cart. Wheels roll. A cart makes pushing easy.
A helps too. A ramp is a flat slope. Push the box up the ramp. It is easier than lifting. Movers use ramps every day.
Words to know
ramp
a flat slope that goes from low to high
Check yourself
1. A box is too heavy to lift. What can you try?
Why: You do not have to lift it. A push can slide the box across the floor.
2. Two friends push together. What kind of push is that?
Why: Two pushes are bigger than one. A bigger push moves a heavier box.
3. What does a ramp help you do?
Why: A ramp is a slope. You push the box up it instead of lifting it.
Chapter review
Pushes and Pulls
0 / 6
1. What is a force?
Why: A force is a push or a pull. Forces make things move, stop and turn.
2. A push moves a thing which way?
Why: A push presses on a thing and sends it away from you.
3. You want a ball to go far. What push do you use?
Why: A big push makes a big change. The hard push sends the ball far.
4. A ball rolls onto thick grass and stops. Why?
Why: The grass rubs on the ball. That push slows it down until it stops.
5. A rolling ball bumps a still ball. What happens to the still ball?
Why: Things that touch can push each other. The rolling ball pushes the still one.
6. A box is too heavy to lift into a truck. What helps most?
Why: A ramp lets you push the box up instead of lifting it.
Send it to your teacher
2
Chapter
What Things Are Made Of
Matter
Big questionHow do we pick the right stuff to build with?
The story
The Cushion Fort
Rain is falling. Three kids build a fort in the living room. What will they use?
It is raining in Chicago. Rosa, Ben and Kim cannot go outside. So they build a fort. Rosa pulls the cushions off the couch. Ben brings a box of wooden blocks. Kim drags in a big soft blanket.
Ben stacks the blocks. They are hard. They stand up straight. He makes two towers. Rosa leans the cushions on the towers. The cushions are soft. They bend a little. They do not fall.
Kim throws the blanket over the top. The blanket is thin and floppy. It cannot stand up on its own. But it makes a great roof. The fort is dark inside. Perfect.
Later, they take it all apart. The cushions go back on the couch. The blocks go in the box. The blanket goes on the bed. Tomorrow they can build again.
Talk about itWhy did they use blocks for the walls and a blanket for the roof?
Section 1
Looking at Materials
2.1
Hard, Soft, Rough, Smooth
Main ideaYou can describe a material by how it looks and feels.
Pick up a rock. It is hard. Pick up a pillow. It is soft. Rub a brick. It is rough. Rub a spoon. It is smooth. These are properties. A property is a way to describe a thing.
A is the stuff a thing is made of. Color is a property. Hard or soft is a property. Rough or smooth is a property. Your eyes and hands find the properties.
Try it. Close your eyes. A friend puts a thing in your hand. Feel it. Hard or soft? Rough or smooth? Can you guess what it is?
Words to know
property
something you can see or feel about a thing, like its color or how hard it is
material
the stuff a thing is made of
Check yourself
1. Which one of these is a property?
Why: Rough or smooth is a way to describe a thing. A spoon and a pillow are things.
2. How do you find out if a thing is rough?
Why: Your hands feel rough and smooth. Rub the thing to find out.
3. What is a material?
Why: A material is the stuff a thing is made of, like wood or glass.
2.2
Does It Bend? Does It Soak?
Main ideaSome materials bend and some soak up water.
Bend a rubber band. It stretches. Let go. It snaps back. Bend a stick. It does not bend much. Push harder. Snap! It breaks. Rubber bends. Wood does not.
Drip water on a paper towel. The water sinks in. The towel gets wet. It the water. Drip water on a plastic plate. The water sits on top. It rolls off. Plastic does not absorb water.
Bendy or stiff is a property. Absorbs water or not is a property. You can test both. Bend it. Drip on it. Watch what happens.
Words to know
absorb
to soak up water like a sponge
Check yourself
1. What does absorb mean?
Why: Absorb means to soak up water, like a towel or a sponge.
2. Which one soaks up water?
Why: Water sinks into a paper towel. It rolls off plastic and glass.
3. What happens when you bend a rubber band and let go?
Why: Rubber bends and stretches. When you let go, it snaps back.
2.3
Sorting Things
Main ideaWe can sort things into groups by their properties.
Dump out a box of stuff. Buttons, rocks, cotton balls, spoons. Now them. Put the hard things here. Put the soft things there. You made two groups.
You can sort by any property. Sort by color. Sort by rough or smooth. Sort by what bends. The same button can go in many groups. It is red. It is hard. It is smooth.
Sorting helps us see patterns. All the metal things are hard and shiny. All the cloth things are soft. A is something that happens again and again.
Words to know
sort
to put things into groups that are alike
pattern
something that happens the same way again and again
Check yourself
1. What does it mean to sort?
Why: Sorting means putting things that are alike into the same group.
2. A rock is gray, hard and rough. Which group can it go in?
Why: The rock is hard. So it goes in the hard group.
3. Every metal spoon is hard and shiny. What is that called?
Why: It happens the same way again and again. That is a pattern.
Section 2
The Right Stuff for the Job
2.4
A Raincoat and a Window
Main ideaWe pick a material because of its properties.
It is raining. You need a coat. Would a paper coat work? No. Paper absorbs water. It gets soggy. A rubber coat works. Water rolls off. Rubber does not absorb water.
A window lets in light. You need to see through it. Wood is hard but you cannot see through it. Glass is hard and . Glass is the right material for a window.
Think about the job. Then think about the properties. A pillow needs soft. A hammer needs hard. A towel needs to absorb. Match the material to the job.
Words to know
clear
easy to see through, like glass
Check yourself
1. Why is rubber good for a raincoat?
Why: Rubber does not absorb water. Rain rolls off and you stay dry.
2. Why is glass good for a window?
Why: You can see through glass. It is also hard, so it keeps out wind.
3. You need a towel. What property matters most?
Why: A towel's job is to dry things. It must soak up water.
2.5
Solids and Liquids
Main ideaA solid keeps its shape. A liquid takes the shape of its cup.
A block is a . Put it in a cup. It is still a block. Put it in a bowl. Still a block. A solid keeps its own shape.
Water is a . Pour it in a cup. It is cup-shaped. Pour it in a bowl. Now it is bowl-shaped. A liquid takes the shape of what holds it.
Liquids pour. Solids do not pour. Milk pours. Juice pours. A spoon does not pour. A rock does not pour. Watch it. That is the test.
Words to know
solid
a thing that keeps its own shape, like a block
liquid
a thing that pours and takes the shape of its cup, like water
Check yourself
1. Which one is a solid?
Why: A block keeps its own shape. Milk and juice pour.
2. You pour water into a bowl. What shape is the water?
Why: A liquid takes the shape of what holds it. In a bowl it is bowl-shaped.
3. What is one way to tell a liquid?
Why: Liquids pour. Solids do not.
Section 3
Building and Changing
2.6
Small Pieces, Big Things
Main ideaA big thing can be built from small pieces and taken apart again.
One block is small. Stack ten blocks. Now you have a tower. Stack more. Now it is a castle. Big things can be built from small .
You can take a big thing apart too. Knock down the tower. Now you have ten blocks again. Build a bridge with them. Then a boat. The same pieces make many things.
A brick house is like this. Each brick is small. Thousands of bricks make a wall. Look at the bricks on a building in your town. Count a row.
Words to know
piece
one small part of a bigger thing
Check yourself
1. What can you build from many small blocks?
Why: Small pieces stack up into a big thing, like a tower.
2. You knock down a block tower. What do you have?
Why: Taking a thing apart gives you the same pieces back.
3. A brick wall is made of what?
Why: Each brick is small. Many bricks together make a wall.
2.7
Heat It, Cool It
Main ideaHeating and cooling change things. Some changes go back. Some do not.
Put an ice cube in the sun. It . Now it is water. Put the water in the freezer. It gets cold. It turns back into ice. This change can go back.
Butter is like this too. Warm it. It melts. Cool it. It gets hard again. Ice and butter can go back and forth.
Now cook an egg. The clear part turns white. It gets firm. Cool the egg. It stays cooked. It will not turn runny again. Some changes do not go back. Burnt toast stays burnt.
Words to know
melt
to turn from a solid into a liquid when it gets warm
Check yourself
1. You put ice in the sun. What happens?
Why: The sun warms the ice. Warm ice melts into water.
2. Which change can go back?
Why: Cool the melted butter and it gets hard again. Toast and eggs stay changed.
3. You cool a cooked egg. What happens?
Why: Cooking an egg is a change that does not go back.
Chapter review
What Things Are Made Of
0 / 6
1. What is a property?
Why: A property is something you can see or feel about a thing.
2. Which material soaks up water?
Why: Paper towels absorb water. Water rolls off plastic and glass.
3. Why is glass a good window?
Why: Glass is clear. Light comes in and you can see out.
4. Which one takes the shape of its cup?
Why: Milk is a liquid. A liquid takes the shape of what holds it.
5. You take apart a block castle. What can you do next?
Why: The same pieces can be built into many different things.
6. Which change does not go back?
Why: Burnt toast stays burnt. Ice and butter can go back to solid.
Send it to your teacher
★
Unit wrap-up
Pushes, Pulls and Stuff
Twelve words, twelve meanings
0 / 8
Tap a word, then tap its meaning. A right pair locks in green.
Words
Meanings
Unit test
Fifteen questions across the unit
0 / 10
1. What is a force?
Why: A force is a push or a pull. Forces make things move.
2. A pull moves a thing which way?
Why: When you pull, you tug on a thing. It comes toward you.
3. You want a toy car to go far. What do you do?
Why: A big push makes a big change. The car goes far.
4. A ball hits a wall and comes back. What did the wall do?
Why: The wall pushed back on the ball. That push changed its direction.
5. Which is a property of a rock?
Why: A rock is hard. It does not pour or soak up water.
6. Why is paper a bad raincoat?
Why: Paper absorbs water. It gets soggy in the rain.
7. Which one keeps its own shape?
Why: A block is a solid. Solids keep their own shape.
8. A box is too heavy to lift. What can help?
Why: You can push the box up a ramp instead of lifting it.
9. Which change can go back?
Why: Cool melted butter and it gets hard again. Eggs and toast stay changed.
10. A rolling ball bumps a still ball. What happens?
Why: Things that touch can push each other. The rolling ball pushes the still one.
Send it to your teacher
Write it
Pick the best material for a toy boat: paper, sponge or plastic. Say which one you pick. Tell what you saw happen in the water. Tell why that makes it the best.
Claim: say which material you pick.
Evidence: tell what happened to each one in the water.
Reasoning: say what property makes your pick float.
The other side: say why one of the others would not work.
0 wordsSaved on this device as you type.
Practice rooms
Rooms already on the site that belong to this unit — cards, quizzes, a lab.
Every lesson keeps its own three checks; a lesson is ticked when all three are right. Chapter reviews, the unit test and its spiral review (five questions from earlier units in this band) score on the page. When the site is connected to your sheet, or the link carries ?dest=, each one also has a Send box: the first-try score, the standards, the supports used, the attempt number and the minutes go to your sheet as an IEP data point.
Print this page for a paper copy of the readings, the sources, the words and the questions; the answers print as dashed boxes under each question.
Fact-check notes for this course live in the handoff: quotes marked (paraphrased) were set that way on purpose.