The answer is gravity: an invisible force that pulls objects toward each other. Earth’s gravity is what keeps you on the ground and what makes things fall. An animation of gravity at work. Albert Einstein described gravity as a curve in space that wraps around an object—such as a star or a planet.
Worksheet Activities Include:
- Gravity in Outer Space: This section helps children understand that there is gravity in space, albeit much weaker than on Earth. It’s a great starting point for discussing why astronauts float in their spacecraft.
- The Moon’s Gravity: One of the exercises mentions that the moon has 1/6 the gravity of Earth, introducing kids to the concept that different celestial bodies have varying levels of gravitational pull.
- Gravity’s Pull: Children will learn that gravity is the force that keeps us on the ground, and it’s the same force that causes objects to fall.
- The Earth’s Gravitational Pull: The worksheets explain how gravity pulls objects toward the center of the planet, a concept that can lead to further discussion on the shape of the Earth and how gravity keeps the oceans from floating away into space.
Making Gravity Learning a Blast:
To maximize the learning fun, remember to:
- Match the Mystery: Choose worksheets that align with your child’s age and interests, keeping them engaged and curious.
- Get Hands-On: Incorporate real-world examples, demonstrations, and hands-on activities like dropping objects or building simple towers to solidify concepts.
- Let’s Play!: Foster a playful and supportive learning environment where exploration and experimentation are encouraged. Laughter is a powerful learning tool!
- Extend the Adventure: Keep the learning journey going with activities like visiting a science museum, reading books about gravity, or building a simple parachute to test gravity’s pull.
Answer Key
