Calculating Net Force Activities for Middle School Science
Mastering net force calculations is made easy with this engaging student-led lesson aligned to TEKS 6.7B. Students learn to calculate net force in horizontal and vertical directions using diagrams while identifying balanced and unbalanced forces. The unit follows the 5E Model, starting with interactive engagement activities and a hands-on station lab featuring nine differentiated stations, including experiments, reading comprehension, research, video analysis, categorization, and extension challenges. Editable presentations, interactive notebooks, and note-taking templates support explanation, while student-choice projects reinforce learning. STAAR 2.0-aligned assessments and worksheets help evaluate understanding. Available in printable and digital formats, this lesson ensures flexibility for all learners, including Spanish-language support for key materials. The resources below will give students a comprehensive understanding of net forces. All of the following materials are also included in the Kesler Science Membership.
The Kesler Science Calculating Net Force 5E Lesson provides a comprehensive, student-led unit on calculating net force in horizontal and vertical directions using diagrams and identifying balanced and unbalanced forces. It includes editable presentations, worksheets, assessments, and student-choice projects, with Spanish translations for vocabulary, station lab reading passages, and interactive notebooks. Designed for multimodal learning, the lesson is fully aligned with TEKS 6.7B and supports differentiated instruction.
The unit follows the 5E Model, beginning with engagement activities and class discussions. The hands-on exploration station lab includes nine differentiated stations, offering interactive experiences such as experiments, reading comprehension, research tasks, video analysis, categorization activities, written responses, illustrations, assessments, and an extension challenge station. Explanation materials feature editable PowerPoints, interactive notebooks, and note-taking templates. Students elaborate through choice projects on net forces and evaluate their understanding with STAAR 2.0-aligned assessments, worksheets, and review questions.
With printable and digital formats, this low-prep lesson is ideal for in-class or virtual learning, providing flexibility and support for all students.
The Kesler Science Calculating Net Force 5E Lesson provides a comprehensive, student-led unit on calculating net force in horizontal and vertical directions using diagrams and identifying balanced and unbalanced forces. It includes editable presentations, worksheets, assessments, and student-choice projects, with Spanish translations for vocabulary, station lab reading passages, and interactive notebooks. Designed for multimodal learning, the lesson is fully aligned with TEKS 6.7B and supports differentiated instruction.
The unit follows the 5E Model, beginning with engagement activities and class discussions. The hands-on exploration station lab includes nine differentiated stations, offering interactive experiences such as experiments, reading comprehension, research tasks, video analysis, categorization activities, written responses, illustrations, assessments, and an extension challenge station. Explanation materials feature editable PowerPoints, interactive notebooks, and note-taking templates. Students elaborate through choice projects on net forces and evaluate their understanding with STAAR 2.0-aligned assessments, worksheets, and review questions.
With printable and digital formats, this low-prep lesson is ideal for in-class or virtual learning, providing flexibility and support for all students.
Engage your students with this student-led station lab aligned to the 2021 TEKS 6.7B standard. Designed for in-class or virtual learning, this interactive lesson guides students as they calculate net force on an object in horizontal or vertical directions using diagrams to determine if forces are balanced or unbalanced.
Students explore the concept through nine differentiated stations featuring videos, readings, research, and hands-on activities. They demonstrate their learning by organizing information, illustrating models, writing responses, and completing assessments. A bonus challenge station offers extension activities, and English and Spanish reading passages support differentiated learning.
This low-prep, high-engagement resource promotes active learning and critical thinking.
Engage your students with this student-led station lab aligned to the 2021 TEKS 6.7B standard. Designed for in-class or virtual learning, this interactive lesson guides students as they calculate net force on an object in horizontal or vertical directions using diagrams to determine if forces are balanced or unbalanced.
Students explore the concept through nine differentiated stations featuring videos, readings, research, and hands-on activities. They demonstrate their learning by organizing information, illustrating models, writing responses, and completing assessments. A bonus challenge station offers extension activities, and English and Spanish reading passages support differentiated learning.
This low-prep, high-engagement resource promotes active learning and critical thinking.
The Calculating Net Force Student Choice Projects align with the 2021 TEKS standard 6.7B, allowing middle school students to select a project that suits 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 included in the Calculating Net Force Complete Lesson for TEKS 6.7B.
These flexible, multimodal projects offer creative ways for students to demonstrate their understanding. Teachers can adjust the rubric to fit grading needs. Two versions of the project page support differentiation, with modified options for students needing remediation and challenge opportunities for advanced learners.
The projects require standard classroom supplies like paper, markers, and scissors, and many can be completed digitally.
The Calculating Net Force Student Choice Projects align with the 2021 TEKS standard 6.7B, allowing middle school students to select a project that suits 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 included in the Calculating Net Force Complete Lesson for TEKS 6.7B.
These flexible, multimodal projects offer creative ways for students to demonstrate their understanding. Teachers can adjust the rubric to fit grading needs. Two versions of the project page support differentiation, with modified options for students needing remediation and challenge opportunities for advanced learners.
The projects require standard classroom supplies like paper, markers, and scissors, and many can be completed digitally.
The Unbalanced Forces Board Game Inquiry Lab aligns with TEKS, helping students demonstrate and calculate how unbalanced forces affect an object's speed and direction. This resource includes three differentiated labs designed to accommodate various learning levels.
The labs offer structured, modified, and independent versions, allowing flexibility for different student needs. The dependent lab provides a balance of procedural instructions and inquiry questions for on-level learners, the modified lab offers a highly structured experience with sentence stems or multiple-choice questions for students needing support, and the independent lab encourages student-led exploration with minimal guidance for advanced learners. Editable pages, reflection questions using Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER), and teacher resource pages simplify instruction and assessment.
Using materials like Newton cards, a football field board, a push force arrow, dice, and dry-erase markers, students engage in a hands-on experience to explore unbalanced forces in motion. Answer keys and teacher directions are included for easy implementation.
The Unbalanced Forces Board Game Inquiry Lab aligns with TEKS, helping students demonstrate and calculate how unbalanced forces affect an object's speed and direction. This resource includes three differentiated labs designed to accommodate various learning levels.
The labs offer structured, modified, and independent versions, allowing flexibility for different student needs. The dependent lab provides a balance of procedural instructions and inquiry questions for on-level learners, the modified lab offers a highly structured experience with sentence stems or multiple-choice questions for students needing support, and the independent lab encourages student-led exploration with minimal guidance for advanced learners. Editable pages, reflection questions using Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER), and teacher resource pages simplify instruction and assessment.
Using materials like Newton cards, a football field board, a push force arrow, dice, and dry-erase markers, students engage in a hands-on experience to explore unbalanced forces in motion. Answer keys and teacher directions are included for easy implementation.
The Net Force Escape Room is an interactive activity that helps students demonstrate their understanding of net force, balanced and unbalanced forces, and how unbalanced forces affect an object’s motion. Aligned with TEKS and NGSS, this escape room offers an engaging way for students to apply their knowledge.
Teachers have full control over the eight independent puzzles, allowing for customization based on class time and student needs. The escape room can be conducted using manila envelopes for a simple setup or a more immersive experience with locks and a storage box. Digital versions are available through PowerPoint or Google Slides, and a printable version allows for at-home use.
Included in the resource are teacher directions, detailed answer keys, a digital answer sheet, an editable teacher version, and a video challenge to set the scene. Students will solve puzzles using printable props, and the experience is enhanced with prize ideas, reward templates, and themed signs for post-activity photos. This engaging escape room will have students excited about learning and eager to participate.
The Net Force Escape Room is an interactive activity that helps students demonstrate their understanding of net force, balanced and unbalanced forces, and how unbalanced forces affect an object’s motion. Aligned with TEKS and NGSS, this escape room offers an engaging way for students to apply their knowledge.
Teachers have full control over the eight independent puzzles, allowing for customization based on class time and student needs. The escape room can be conducted using manila envelopes for a simple setup or a more immersive experience with locks and a storage box. Digital versions are available through PowerPoint or Google Slides, and a printable version allows for at-home use.
Included in the resource are teacher directions, detailed answer keys, a digital answer sheet, an editable teacher version, and a video challenge to set the scene. Students will solve puzzles using printable props, and the experience is enhanced with prize ideas, reward templates, and themed signs for post-activity photos. This engaging escape room will have students excited about learning and eager to participate.
This Unbalanced Forces Science Reading Comprehension Lesson helps students explore how unbalanced forces change an object’s speed or direction through a nonfiction article, comprehension questions, and a question-design activity. Designed for grades 6-8 (and advanced 5th graders), the leveled passage supports science literacy and reading comprehension.
The resource includes two leveled articles (Lexile 1100-1300), five to seven comprehension questions, a hands-on mini-project, and a Cornell notes template. It features engaging, printable graphics and is compatible with Google Classroom, MS Teams, Schoology, and Canvas for virtual or in-person learning.
Perfect for sub plans, ISS, extra credit, or whole-class instruction, this resource fosters critical thinking, classroom discussions, and textual analysis while reinforcing key unbalanced force concepts.
This Unbalanced Forces Science Reading Comprehension Lesson helps students explore how unbalanced forces change an object’s speed or direction through a nonfiction article, comprehension questions, and a question-design activity. Designed for grades 6-8 (and advanced 5th graders), the leveled passage supports science literacy and reading comprehension.
The resource includes two leveled articles (Lexile 1100-1300), five to seven comprehension questions, a hands-on mini-project, and a Cornell notes template. It features engaging, printable graphics and is compatible with Google Classroom, MS Teams, Schoology, and Canvas for virtual or in-person learning.
Perfect for sub plans, ISS, extra credit, or whole-class instruction, this resource fosters critical thinking, classroom discussions, and textual analysis while reinforcing key unbalanced force concepts.
The Unbalanced Forces Science Writing Prompt Activity engages middle school students in a creative skit or drama-based writing exercise to reinforce their understanding of how unbalanced forces change the speed or direction of an object's motion. Aligned with TEKS, this student-centered activity supports science reasoning and exploration while offering flexibility for both in-person and virtual learning.
This resource includes teacher directions with an answer guide, project ideas, and rubrics, along with projection and print handouts in both full-sized and half-sheet formats. A digital interactive PowerPoint version, compatible with Google Slides, allows for seamless remote or in-person completion. Ideal for cross-curricular activities, pre-test assessments, student choice projects, early finisher elaboration, extra credit, make-up work, TELPAS samples, and differentiation, this engaging writing prompt fosters creativity and science literacy. It also works well as a display for bulletin boards or as part of a student writing anthology.
The Unbalanced Forces Science Writing Prompt Activity engages middle school students in a creative skit or drama-based writing exercise to reinforce their understanding of how unbalanced forces change the speed or direction of an object's motion. Aligned with TEKS, this student-centered activity supports science reasoning and exploration while offering flexibility for both in-person and virtual learning.
This resource includes teacher directions with an answer guide, project ideas, and rubrics, along with projection and print handouts in both full-sized and half-sheet formats. A digital interactive PowerPoint version, compatible with Google Slides, allows for seamless remote or in-person completion. Ideal for cross-curricular activities, pre-test assessments, student choice projects, early finisher elaboration, extra credit, make-up work, TELPAS samples, and differentiation, this engaging writing prompt fosters creativity and science literacy. It also works well as a display for bulletin boards or as part of a student writing anthology.
The WIKI Tickets© Force and Motion Set provides engaging formative assessments for 6th-8th grade science, offering flexible ways to check student understanding. This set includes 14 topics, each available in five formats: a full-screen projection version, three print handout sizes, and a digital interactive version compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides.
Aligned with NGSS and TEKS standards, these assessments cover key concepts such as calculating speed and unbalanced forces, graphing motion, gravity and mass, inclined planes, invisible forces, Newton’s laws, speed and acceleration, and velocity. Some topics have multiple tickets, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the standards. A bonus Table of Contents file is included to show alignment.
WIKI Tickets© can be used in both in-person and virtual learning environments. They work as exit tickets, bellringers, or quick checks, whether projected for class discussion, printed as handouts, or assigned digitally. These colorful, engaging assessments help gauge student progress in any instructional setting.
The WIKI Tickets© Force and Motion Set provides engaging formative assessments for 6th-8th grade science, offering flexible ways to check student understanding. This set includes 14 topics, each available in five formats: a full-screen projection version, three print handout sizes, and a digital interactive version compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides.
Aligned with NGSS and TEKS standards, these assessments cover key concepts such as calculating speed and unbalanced forces, graphing motion, gravity and mass, inclined planes, invisible forces, Newton’s laws, speed and acceleration, and velocity. Some topics have multiple tickets, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the standards. A bonus Table of Contents file is included to show alignment.
WIKI Tickets© can be used in both in-person and virtual learning environments. They work as exit tickets, bellringers, or quick checks, whether projected for class discussion, printed as handouts, or assigned digitally. These colorful, engaging assessments help gauge student progress in any instructional setting.
Lesson Extensions provide engaging, student-choice activities designed to challenge early finishers and deepen their understanding of force and motion standards. These activities help fill downtime, reinforce critical thinking, and keep students engaged with rigorous yet enjoyable learning opportunities.
Each extension includes four interactive components: Puzzler for problem-solving, Maker Space for hands-on STEAM activities, Tech Connection for digital demonstrations, and Word Master for creative writing. With teacher directions, answer keys, and both print and projection versions, these extensions are perfect for lesson wrap-ups, enrichment, or independent challenges.
Covering topics such as electromagnetic forces, graphing motion, gravity, Newton’s laws, speed, velocity, acceleration, and unbalanced forces, these extensions are aligned to NGSS and TEKS science standards, ensuring students explore key physics concepts at a deeper level.
Lesson Extensions provide engaging, student-choice activities designed to challenge early finishers and deepen their understanding of force and motion standards. These activities help fill downtime, reinforce critical thinking, and keep students engaged with rigorous yet enjoyable learning opportunities.
Each extension includes four interactive components: Puzzler for problem-solving, Maker Space for hands-on STEAM activities, Tech Connection for digital demonstrations, and Word Master for creative writing. With teacher directions, answer keys, and both print and projection versions, these extensions are perfect for lesson wrap-ups, enrichment, or independent challenges.
Covering topics such as electromagnetic forces, graphing motion, gravity, Newton’s laws, speed, velocity, acceleration, and unbalanced forces, these extensions are aligned to NGSS and TEKS science standards, ensuring students explore key physics concepts at a deeper level.
This Amazing Anchors Phenomenon Lesson introduces unbalanced forces through a real-world connection with the Tripoli Rocketry Association. It includes an introductory reading with comprehension and extension questions to prepare students for further learning, followed by an explanatory reading that breaks down the science of unbalanced forces with additional reinforcement questions.
Aligned with TEKS, this no-prep resource includes teacher directions, answer keys, projection slides, and both print and digital formats for Google Classroom and other LMS platforms. A modified version provides sentence starters for student support. Designed to bookend a lesson, these engaging readings serve as supplements to reinforce learning in any in-person or virtual classroom.
This Amazing Anchors Phenomenon Lesson introduces unbalanced forces through a real-world connection with the Tripoli Rocketry Association. It includes an introductory reading with comprehension and extension questions to prepare students for further learning, followed by an explanatory reading that breaks down the science of unbalanced forces with additional reinforcement questions.
Aligned with TEKS, this no-prep resource includes teacher directions, answer keys, projection slides, and both print and digital formats for Google Classroom and other LMS platforms. A modified version provides sentence starters for student support. Designed to bookend a lesson, these engaging readings serve as supplements to reinforce learning in any in-person or virtual classroom.
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 atoms unit. This topic is only one of more than 100 middle school science topics included in the Kesler Science Membership.
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How is net force of an object shown in a horizontal or vertical direction using diagrams?
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How do we determine if the forces are balanced or unbalanced?
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TEKS Science - 6.7B Calculating Net Force
Kesler Science Membership
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