Lesson Plan: Understanding Pressure
Grade Level: 6th Grade
Subject: Science
Duration: 50 minutes
Common Core Standards:
- MS-PS2-2: Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object's motion
depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object.
Lesson Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Define pressure and explain its relationship to force and area
2. Identify examples of pressure in everyday life
3. Demonstrate understanding through simple experiments
I. Introduction (5 minutes)
Hook:
Ask students: "Have you ever walked on snow and sunk in? What about when you wore
snowshoes? Why do you think there's a difference?"
Explain that today's lesson will explore the concept of pressure and how it affects our daily lives.
II. Direct Instruction (15 minutes)
A. Define Pressure
- Pressure is the amount of force applied over a specific area
- Formula: Pressure = Force ÷ Area
- Units: Pascals (Pa) or pounds per square inch (psi)
B. Relationship between Force, Area, and Pressure
- More force = more pressure
- Larger area = less pressure
- Smaller area = more pressure
C. Examples in Daily Life
1. Snowshoes distribute weight over a larger area, reducing pressure
2. Sharp knife concentrates force on a small area, increasing pressure
3. Lying down vs. standing up (same weight, different area)
III. Guided Practice (15 minutes)
Activity: Pressure Experiments
Divide the class into small groups and have them rotate through three stations:
1. Clay and Objects
- Materials: Clay, various objects (pencil, eraser end, coin)
- Task: Press objects into clay with equal force, observe depth of impressions
2. Water Bottle Pressure
- Materials: Plastic water bottles with holes at different heights
- Task: Observe water flow from different holes when bottle is full
3. Balloon on Bed of Nails
- Materials: Inflated balloon, board with many nails (teacher demonstration)
- Task: Observe how balloon doesn't pop when pressure is distributed
IV. Independent Practice (10 minutes)
Worksheet: Pressure Scenarios
Students complete a worksheet with various scenarios, identifying high and low pressure
situations and explaining their reasoning.
Example questions:
1. Why do snowshoes help you walk on snow without sinking?
2. How does a sharp knife cut more easily than a dull one?
3. Why might a heavy person sink less in quicksand than a lighter person?
V. Closure (5 minutes)
Exit Ticket:
Students write down:
1. One new thing they learned about pressure
2. One question they still have about pressure
Preview:
Mention that in the next lesson, we'll explore how pressure works in liquids and gases.
Extension Activities:
- Research how animals use pressure to their advantage (e.g., camels' wide feet, woodpeckers'
skulls)
- Design an experiment to measure the pressure exerted by different shoes
Accommodations:
- Provide visual aids for pressure formula and examples
- Allow use of calculators for pressure calculations
- Offer sentence starters for written responses
Remember to adjust the complexity of explanations and activities as needed for your 6th-grade
students, and be prepared to provide additional support or challenge as required.
