Test Force Effects in a System Activities for 5th Grade Science

This engaging 5E lesson on force effects in a system helps 5th-grade students design simple experimental investigations, such as testing a car on a ramp or a balloon rocket on a string. Aligned with TEKS 5.7B, the unit features interactive activities, a hands-on station lab with nine differentiated stations, and editable PowerPoints with notebook templates in English and Spanish. Students explore force through reading, research, videos, and experiments, then showcase their understanding through writing, organizing, illustrating, and assessments. With student-choice projects and STAAR 2.0-aligned evaluations, this flexible resource supports both in-person and virtual learning. The resources below will give students a comprehensive understanding of investigating the effects of forces. All of the following materials are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.

The Kesler Science Test Force Effects in a System 5E Lesson is a comprehensive physical science unit for 5th grade, focused on designing simple experimental investigations to test the effect of force on an object, such as a car on a ramp or a balloon rocket on a string. This editable, low-prep lesson includes presentations, worksheets, assessments, and student-choice projects for differentiated, student-led learning.

Aligned with the 2021 TEKS 5.7B standard, the lesson follows the 5E Model: engaging activities, a hands-on station lab with nine differentiated stations, and editable PowerPoints with interactive notebook templates in English and Spanish. Students explore concepts through reading, research, videos, and hands-on experiments, then demonstrate understanding through writing, organizing, illustrating, and assessment activities.

The unit also offers student-choice projects for elaboration and updated STAAR 2.0-aligned assessments for evaluation. With printable and digital formats, this lesson is adaptable for both in-person and virtual learning.

Engage your 5th-grade class with this student-led station lab aligned with the 2021 TEKS 5.7B standard on forces and motion. In this interactive lesson, students design and conduct simple experiments to test the effects of force on an object in a system. This low-prep resource encourages hands-on, self-directed learning and promotes critical thinking throughout the investigation process.

The lab features nine differentiated stations, offering a personalized learning experience where students work independently or in small groups. Activities include hands-on experiments, videos, readings, research tasks, and creative exercises. Students engage with new concepts by exploring, watching, reading, and researching how forces affect motion, while also demonstrating their understanding through organizing, illustrating, writing, and completing assessments.

A bonus challenge station offers extension activities like crosswords, games, and mini-projects for advanced learners. This flexible resource is designed for both in-class and virtual learning environments, supporting diverse learning needs with differentiated reading passages available in English and Spanish.

The Test Force Effects in a System Student Choice Projects align with the 2021 TEKS physics standard 5.7B, offering 5th graders the opportunity to select a physics project that matches their preferred output style. A project page outlines six student-led options, plus a “design your own” project, with an editable rubric for teacher, peer, or self-assessment. This resource is also part of the Test Force Effects in a System Complete Lesson for TEKS 5.7B.

These flexible, multimodal projects allow students to creatively demonstrate their understanding. Two versions of the project page support differentiation: one offers modified options for students needing extra support, while the other provides challenges for advanced learners, all using the same adjustable rubric.

The resource includes nine project options, a “design your own” project, a teacher directions page for guidance, and editable rubric pages that assess vocabulary, concepts, presentation, clarity, and accuracy. Projects use common classroom supplies such as paper, markers, and scissors, with many options also available for digital completion.

Engage Test Force Effects in a System Student Choice Projects align with the 2021 TEKS physics standard 5.7B, offering 5th graders the opportunity to select a physics project that matches their preferred output style. A project page outlines six student-led options, plus a “design your own” project, with an editable rubric for teacher, peer, or self-assessment. This resource is also part of the Test Force Effects in a System Complete Lesson for TEKS 5.7B.

These flexible, multimodal projects allow students to creatively demonstrate their understanding. Two versions of the project page support differentiation: one offers modified options for students needing extra support, while the other provides challenges for advanced learners, all using the same adjustable rubric.

The resource includes nine project options, a “design your own” project, a teacher directions page for guidance, and editable rubric pages that assess vocabulary, concepts, presentation, clarity, and accuracy. Projects use common classroom supplies such as paper, markers, and scissors, with many options also available for digital completion.

The Testing Forces Science and ELA Integrated Writing Activity engages 5th-grade students in creatively applying their understanding of different forces through a news event report. Aligned with TEKS, this activity encourages students to design simple experimental investigations that test the effect of force on an object, while strengthening both science reasoning and writing skills. Designed for in-person or virtual learning, it keeps students engaged inside and outside the classroom.

This low-prep, student-centered resource includes teacher directions with an answer guide, project ideas, and rubrics; projection-ready and printable handouts featuring prompts, self-checks, and pre-writing strategies; and a digital PowerPoint version compatible with Google Slides for remote learning.

Ideal for cross-curricular activities, pre-test assessments, student choice projects, early finisher enrichment, extra credit, make-up work, TELPAS samples, or differentiation exercises, this writing prompt fosters creativity and critical thinking. It also makes an excellent addition to classroom displays or student anthologies. This resource is intended for review purposes and assumes students have prior knowledge of the topic or access to research materials.

WIKI Tickets© formative assessments are a fun and engaging way to check student understanding of physical science concepts for 3rd–5th grade. This set includes 37 assessments, each available in five formats: a full-screen projection version, three printable handout sizes, and an interactive digital version compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides. Designed to align with NGSS and TEKS standards, every standard is covered with at least one ticket, and some topics include multiple assessments for deeper exploration. A helpful table of contents is also included to show the alignment with specific standards.

These assessments cover a wide range of topics, including forces and motion, forms and transfers of energy, states and properties of matter, electrical circuits, magnetism, gravity, and waves. Additional concepts such as conservation of mass, mixtures and solutions, reflection and refraction, and the Sun’s energy are also addressed. WIKI Tickets© can be used as exit tickets, bellringers, or quick comprehension checks and are adaptable for in-person, 1:1 digital, or virtual learning environments. Whether projected, printed, or assigned digitally, they offer a flexible, ready-to-use tool for assessing student progress.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Essential Questions and Standards

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

Essential Questions

How do we design experimental investigations?
How can changing the force on an object affect its motion?

Standards

TEKS Science - 5.7B Test Force Effects in a System