Push and pull forces booklet

calendar_month 2025-09-24

visibility 17

bug_report Crash report

Unit 1: Living things
Unit 2: Sound
Unit 3: Materials in my world
Unit 4: The Earth
Unit 5: Humans
Unit 6: Forces

Pushes and pulls are forces. We use forces to start, stop, speed up, slow down, or change direction.
Some objects are easy to move; others are hard. The size of the force and the object affect how it moves.

Bulldozer pushing soil with force

Getting started

Find safe things you can pull and push. Share an example with a friend, then ask them to show a different example. Think of other machines that push and pull to make things move.

Classroom items labeled push or pull

Push or pull?

Look around the classroom and predict which things you can push or pull. Try them out and check your predictions. Label each item with “push” or “pull”. Notice which things did not move when you pushed or pulled them and think about why.

Children pushing and pulling a wagon in a playground

Talking about forces

Describe the pushing force and the pulling force you can see. Are the forces too big or too small? How could you make a bigger force?
Sometimes we push or pull to start things moving. To make things stop we also use a push or a pull (a force in the opposite direction).

Think like a scientist: How far will it slide?

You will need: a chair, a large rubber band, bricks, large sheets of paper, sticky tape, and things to slide.
Question: “With the same push, how far will each thing slide?” Pull back the rubber band the same amount each time to give the same push. Let go and measure how far each object slides.

Measuring how far objects slide with a constant push

Object	How far?
box	9 bricks
pencil case

Fair test tip: Always start from the same line and pull the band back the same distance.

Safety: Take care fastening the rubber band to the chair and when releasing it.

1) List three classroom items you can push and three you can pull.
2) In the wagon picture, describe where the pushing and pulling forces act.
3) Why might something not move when you push it? How could another child help?
4) In the sliding test, why must you start from the same line and pull the elastic band back the same distance?
5) Predict which object will slide the furthest. Explain your reasoning.

Summary

• Pushes and pulls are forces that start, stop or change motion.
• Bigger pushes/pulls usually move objects further; heavy objects need larger forces.
• Keep the push the same to compare objects fairly and measure distance moved.
• Work safely when using elastic bands and when moving objects.