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Balanced and Unbalanced Forces Activities
for Middle School Science

The resources below will provide students a comprehensive understanding of balanced and unbalanced forces. All of the following lessons are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

The Balanced and Unbalanced Forces 5E Lesson includes materials for every "E" phase, including the Speed, Velocity, and Acceleration Station Lab for Exploration and an interactive PowerPoint with digital INB templates for Explanation.

The lesson also includes introduction materials for Engagement, student-choice project ideas for Elaboration, and assessments for Evaluation.

After completing the Balanced and Unbalanced Forces 5E Lesson, students will be able to compare and contrast balanced and unbalanced forces as well as demonstrate how unbalanced forces change the speed or direction of an object's motion.

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The Balanced and Unbalanced Forces Inquiry Lab is a hands-on activity that is differentiated for advanced, on-level, and modified middle school students.

Students will apply and identify unbalanced forces that affect the position, speed, and direction of an object.

The Balanced and Unbalanced Forces Inquiry Lab includes a brief reading passage, comprehension checks, hands-on activities, reflection questions, and a CER conclusion.

distance-learning Distance-Learning Ready

Year-Round Resources

These year-round activities will increase your students' understanding of many middle school science topics. All of these activities are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Visual Data & Graphing

You're not alone if your students struggle with understanding graphs, charts, and tables. It's a skill that takes an enormous amount of practice. This resource will help students build a strong foundation in analyzing data and creating their own data visualizations.

Bell Ringers and Warm-Ups

These middle school science bell ringers are an excellent way to engage your students as soon as they walk into your classroom. This comprehensive FULL YEAR resource includes everything you need to start off each science class with an interesting warm-up activity.

Review Board Games

Each game board has been carefully designed to keep students engaged. There are 10 different action spaces on each board and dozens of question cards. All of the actions are related to science concepts and keep the students motivated throughout the game.

Each game is ready to play. Simply print out the board and the cards and let the students enjoy reviewing nine different units.


Essential Questions and Standards

Below are the essential questions and standards associated with the lessons and activities included in the balanced and unbalanced forces unit. This topic is only one of more than 100 middle school science topics included in the Kesler Science Membership.

Essential Questions
  • What are the balanced and unbalanced forces?
  • How do unbalanced forces cause a change in position, direction, and speed of an object?
Standards
  • MS PS2-1 - Apply Newton’s third law to design a solution to a problem involving the motion of two colliding objects
  • MS PS2-2 - Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object
  • TEKS Science 8.6 A - Demonstrate and calculate how unbalanced forces change the speed or direction of an object's motion
  • TEKS Science 6.8 B - Identify and describe the changes in position, direction, and speed of an object when acted upon by unbalanced forces

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Kesler Science Membership

Imagine never having to search for another middle school science lesson again. The membership gives you access to ALL of the Kesler Science products in one place (Yes, including everything above).

Say goodbye to long hours of lesson prep.