One way to engage students in teaching difficult science concepts like force and motion is to help them relate the new concepts to the world around them. books are an engaging way to enhance lessons and drive concepts home. here is an excellent list of books on force and motion that focuses on concepts like push, pull, inertia, gravity, friction, wind power, and speed.
Most of these force and moving picture books are aimed at students in kindergarten through third grade. they are fun, easy for students to read on their own or for you to read aloud. Vibrant and colorful illustrations provide another layer of instruction that students will love.
You are reading: Force and motion books
This list is an excellent companion to the Third Grade Science Stations and 5e Force & Motion Lesson Plans, which can be purchased separately or as part of a Science Pack. third grade science the force and motion science stations focus is in ngss 3-ps2.a and includes the same concepts found in the book list such as push, pull, inertia, gravity, friction, wind power and speed.
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newton and me ~ lynne mayer grade: k-3
On a Saturday morning, a dog named Newton wakes his son up for a fun-filled day. Along the way, they discover the wonderful world of force and motion.
Through fun and easy-to-read rhymes, students learn the laws of force and motion. Can the ball move on its own? How does the grass affect the movement of the ball? what role does gravity play in the speed of a truck?
The book includes additional activities for creative minds. the book’s website also includes learning activities and interactive quizzes.
and everyone was yelling: “pull!” ~ claire llewellyngrade: pre-k-3
The farmer and the animals need to get to the market, but they run into some obstacles along the way.
a great book for students to learn about the different physics forces needed for motion. Will the animals need to push or pull to get up the hill or out of the mud?
There is a more detailed explanation of forces, a glossary of “useful words” and “fun facts” at the end of the book.
oscar and the cricket ~ jeff waringgrade: pre-k – 3
Need a little help teaching your students about movement? Oscar is the cat you need.
students will love learning with oscar through various activities that will show them the different types of forces needed for motion. bonus: the back of the book contains supplemental activities for even more science fun!
give it a push! give it a yank! ~ jennifer boothroydgrade: 1-4
the force acts around us, all the time. a student pushes a friend on a swing. another student pulls on a rubber band to launch a water balloon. but do we really know what force is?
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This is an engaging book that teaches students the physical laws of force and motion and how they affect both.
The book contains a glossary, a “ball toss” game, and a list of additional books and resources to explore further.
the magic school bus plays ball ~ joanna colegrade: 1 – 3
A list of science books is not complete without the magic school bus. every student loves the fun adventures of mrs. frizzle and her students.
In this book, students will learn about force and friction in an original and exciting story. Plus, there are plenty of hands-on activities for students to apply what they’ve learned and discover more.
movement: push and pull, fast and slow ~darlene stillegrade: k – 4
what is movement? changing from where I am to where I want to be? Do I move in a straight line or in a curved line? up or down? forward or backward? How does speed affect my movement?
A fun exploration of forces and motion including speed, inertia, direction, and gravity. more focused on speed and friction than pushing and pulling.
Lots of cool experiments, fun facts, and more resources to maximize your student’s learning experience.
roller coaster ~ marla frazeegrade: preschool – 3
Students will love this exciting minute-by-minute recreation of a roller coaster! They’ll explore every climb and dip with the ponytailed girl in the front car.
This exciting ride will teach students about force, motion, and gravity in a way they won’t soon forget!
This is a great read aloud and allows teachers to ask students questions about how roller coasters work and what forces are used during each part of the ride.
forces make things move ~ kimberly bradleygrade: k – 4
a detailed explanation of forces and motion through fun and vibrant images and text.
friction, speed, gravity, inertia. students learn how each of these plays a role in the big picture of force and motion.
Additional activities to explore friction and more included.
eyewitness: strength and movementlevel: 3 – 7
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need a book that explores force and movement on a deeper, more advanced level?
Onsite, students will gain a deeper understanding of force and motion as they explore ancient and modern examples of how they are applied.
This book has been called “a museum between the covers of a book”. students will love the pictures and lessons on force and motion.
move it!: movement, forces and yougrade: k – 3
packed with hands-on activities and facts that will engage your students!
Students will love the experiments for their fun, teachers will love them for how easy they are to set up!
Simple explanations, colorful images and lots of activities.
the boy who harnessed the wind ~ william kamkwambanote: 1 – 3
william kamkwamba knows desperate situations. he knows how to beat them too.
a great read-aloud story that will teach students about the power of wind power and how it relates to motion and electricity.
william kamkwamba’s story will inspire students with a real-life example of overcoming obstacles.
same shmequal ~ virginia krollgrade: prek – 3
Do size and strength impact strength? If a mouse plays tug of war against a bear, who will win?
In this richly illustrated book, students learn about balance in force and motion. Mouse and his friends discover, through math and problem solving, how to create two equally balanced teams to play tug-of-war. Will they be meat eaters versus plant eaters? or is there a better way to balance teams?
by the end of the book, students will learn the four definitions of ‘same’ as defined by the worlds of math, art, science, and team sports.
a list of all 12 force and motion picture books in one place
- me and newton ~ lynne mayer, grades k-3
- and everyone yelled, “pull!” ~ claire llewellyn, grade: pre-k-3
- oscar and the cricket ~ jeff waring grade: pre-k-3
- give it a push! give it a yank! ~ jennifer boothroyd, grade: 1-4
- the magic school bus plays catch ~ joanna cole, grade: 1 – 3
- movement: push and pull, fast and slow ~ darlene stille , grade: k – 4
- roller coaster ~ marla frazee, grade: preschool – 3
- forces make things move ~ kimberly bradley, grade: k – 4
- eyewitness: force and movement, level: 3 – 7
- move!: movement, forces and you, grade: k – 3
- the boy who harnessed the wind ~ william kamkwamba , grades: 1 – 3
- same shmequal ~ virginia kroll, grades prek-3
We hope you enjoy reading these books and exploring force and motion with your students!
The 3rd grade science stations and 5e force and motion lesson plans have taken the guesswork out of planning what to teach in science. the force and motion science stations focus is in ngss 3-ps2.a and includes the same concepts found in the book list such as push, pull, inertia, gravity, friction, wind power and speed.
You can see more detailed information about the third grade science stations in this blog post. More information on the 5e science stations, as well as examples of the unit’s balanced and unbalanced forces, is also available.
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