Newton's Second Law of Motion Activities for Middle School Science

These Newton’s Second Law of Motion Student Choice Projects align with the 2021 TEKS standards, allowing students to demonstrate their understanding through six project options or a design-your-own approach. A flexible, editable rubric supports teacher, peer, or self-assessment. This resource is also included in the Newton’s Second Law Complete Lesson.

Designed for differentiation, the project includes a modified version for students needing support, while advanced learners can complete multiple projects. The Force & Motion Bundle covers nine topics, and the MEGA Student Choice Bundle offers 84 topics for Grades 6-8.

With minimal prep, students can complete projects using basic classroom supplies or digital tools. This versatile, ready-to-use resource provides an engaging, student-led learning experience.

This Newton’s Second Law Lab engages students in hands-on experiments to explore the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration. By applying varying amounts of force to a golf ball and a ping pong ball, students measure distances traveled to analyze Newton’s second law in action.

The resource includes three differentiated labs: the Dependent Lab offers guided inquiry, the Modified Lab provides structured support with simplified questions, and the Independent Lab encourages student-driven exploration. Teacher directions, answer keys, and editable CER reflection questions are included for assessment.

Aligned with the 2021 TEKS and NGSS standards, this ready-to-use lab saves prep time while offering a highly engaging, inquiry-based experience. It is also available in the Complete Inquiry Labs Bundle and Force & Motion Inquiry Labs Bundle for additional savings.

This Newton’s Second Law Reading Comprehension Lesson engages students in exploring real-world applications of motion through a nonfiction article, comprehension questions, and a mini-project. Designed for grades 6-8 (and advanced 5th graders), the leveled passage helps build science literacy and reading comprehension with Lexile levels 1100-1300.

Students will analyze Newton’s second law, research a modern space rocket, illustrate its features, and explain how it overcomes gravity. The resource includes 5-7 comprehension questions, a Cornell notes template, and interactive activities. It is compatible with Google Classroom, MS Teams, Schoology, and Canvas, making it ideal for in-person or virtual learning.

Perfect for sub plans, extra credit, ISS, or whole-class discussions, this resource enhances critical thinking, textual analysis, and science comprehension while reinforcing key physics concepts.

The Motion Science Writing Prompt Activity engages middle school students in applying physical science concepts through a news event report format. Aligned with NGSS standards, this low-prep, student-centered activity helps students explore how forces and mass affect motion while strengthening their science reasoning and writing skills.

This resource includes teacher directions, rubrics, projection and print handouts, and a digital version for Google Slides. It works well for cross-curricular activities, pre-test assessments, student choice projects, and enrichment for early finishers. Ideal for extra credit, make-up work, and differentiation, this writing prompt enhances science literacy and engagement, making it a valuable classroom tool.

The Force and Motion WIKI Tickets© Formative Assessments provide engaging, flexible ways to check student understanding in 6th-8th grade science. This set includes 14 topics, each available in five formats: a full-screen projection version, three printable handouts, and a digital interactive version compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides.

Aligned with NGSS and TEKS standards, these assessments work as exit tickets, bellringers, or quick checks in both in-person and virtual learning settings. Covering key topics like Newton’s laws, speed calculations, graphing motion, and unbalanced forces, WIKI Tickets© offer a versatile, ready-to-use resource to track student progress effectively.

Lesson Extensions provide engaging, student-choice activities to challenge early finishers and deepen understanding of NGSS and TEKS force and motion standards. They 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 serve as lesson wrap-ups, enrichment, or independent challenges. Covering key force and motion topics, they provide high-level, flexible resources for middle school physics instruction.

This Amazing Anchors Phenomenon Lesson introduces and reinforces Newton’s second law of motion through a real-world example—pushing a lawn mower. The lesson includes an introductory reading with comprehension and extension questions, followed by an explanatory reading that breaks down the forces involved to deepen student understanding.

Aligned with the 2021 TEKS and NGSS standards, 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 differentiated version provides sentence starters for student support. Designed to bookend a lesson, these readings serve as engaging supplements to reinforce key physics concepts in any in-person or virtual classroom.