Falling for Fun: Drop and Investigate

Let’s Be Curious! Talk with your child about why things fall. Explain that gravity is the force that pulls things down to the Earth, like tomatoes and even our own bodies! But depending on the shape of the object, it might fall differently. Invite your child to carefully jump off a stair, large rock, or another object at a safe height. Ask your child, “Do you fall fast or slowly? How do other objects fall?”

Let’s Make a Plan! Invite your child to test this question: How do objects fall differently? Gather a variety of household and natural items to drop together.

Print out the observation chart or make your own with one side labeled “fast” and the other side labeled “slow.” Ask your child, “Which items do you predict will drop fast or slowly. Why?” Then, help your child place the objects into small piles on the corresponding sides of the chart to show their prediction.

Let’s Explore! Together with your child, drop the different objects one at a time from a high, safe place. Observe how they fall. Use a timer to note how fast an object falls or try dropping items at the same time to compare.

After all of the objects have been dropped, help your child group the items into two piles, “fast” and “slow.” Talk with your child about their observations. Why did the objects fall the way they did? Ask your child if what they observed matches with their predictions.

Let’s Share! Draw, write, or paste a picture of the objects in the appropriate column on the observation chart. Ask your child questions, such as, “What did you notice? Did anything surprise you?” Then, help your child share their findings with a friend or family member.