ScienceForces & MotionAges 12–13

Newton's First & Second Laws

State and apply Newton's First Law (an object stays at rest or constant velocity unless acted on by a resultant force) and Second Law (force = mass × acceleration), including the relationship between mass, force, and acceleration

Lesson

Set out your lesson

Practise the bounded task in Newton's First & Second Laws; see exact limits before inferring broader coverage.

Before teaching

Use this short check, then start teaching.

Activity

Multiply/divide, name mass and force, distinguish velocity from acceleration.

Policy

Exact directed source edges retained; earlier authorship is not learner attainment.

Printer, credit, and teaching notes

Exact directed source edges retained; earlier authorship is not learner attainment.

Materials

These supplied stage cards
Scrap paper and pencil; oral/pointing response where appropriate

Sequence

Read readiness and decide on support without treating prerequisite authoring as learner readiness.
Open Show first and explain its model.
Use Guided Try with support and its separate adult key.
Close Show and guided keys before Try, unless this Try is explicitly supported.
Reflect on an actual attempt, including help used.

No Printer

Use the supplied screen cards; copying the exact task to paper is optional, not required.

Privacy

Use only invented scenarios and optional anonymous local notes. Do not request names, photos, family finances, medical data, accounts or uploads. Stop uncomfortable physical activity.

Use the complete materials on screen or print only the current sheet. Keep adult guidance out of learner view.

Next: Show

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Entire curriculum

1858 concepts · 9 subjects

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Teaching approaches

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1 approach

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Practise the bounded task in Newton's First & Second Laws; see exact limits before inferring broader coverage.

Family records and proof options

Keep a record of your learning

Save photos, notes, and attendance. Export a proof packet for compliance or portfolio reviews.

View learner plans ($12/mo per learner) See sample family archive

Learning resources

Extra practice links — they do not replace Gakuva’s teaching approach.

PhET Interactive Simulations · Practice link — not the full lesson

Gravity Force Lab

Open practice(new tab)

Before you open · source notes

Gravity Force Lab supports hands-on exploration for Newton's First & Second Laws. Not every lab worksheet.

Free interactive page, no sign-in required for the tested path.

Before you open

Ask the learner what they changed in the sim or page and what they observed.

Opening this link does not save learning or assess mastery.

Source, access and review notes

Public PhET Interactive Simulations page. An anonymous GET on 2026-11-12 returned HTTP 200 with no login or payment prompt for this URL. Opening the link does not save practice or assess mastery. An adult should preview and guide the learner.

PhET Interactive Simulations. “Gravity Force Lab.” External page; Gakuva does not copy, host, embed, or redistribute materials.

Unknown — link only

Check understanding

States Newton's First Law and gives a real example (e.g. why a moving spacecraft doesn't need engines in space)
Uses F = ma to calculate force, mass, or acceleration given the other two quantities
Explains why a heavier object requires more force to achieve the same acceleration
Explains why seatbelts are needed in cars using Newton's First Law

“If your child was asked why you need a seatbelt in a car but not when sitting still, could they explain what Newton's First Law says about moving objects — and then calculate how much force a 60 kg person experiences in a sudden stop?”

Curriculum record

Type: Conceptual
Subject: Science
Domain: Forces & Motion
Age range: Ages 12–13

Standards

ngss-ms:MS-PS2-1ngss-ms:MS-PS2-2uk-nc-2013:KS3.Sci.Phys.MotionAndForces.7