Objective:  Students will explore what happens to moving objects when they stop or start suddenly (inertia).

Materials:  toy truck, books, brick (optional), Science Journal

Vocabulary: inertia (optional)

Duration:  1 day, 40 minutes

Grouping:  Whole class

Preparation:  None

Activate prior knowledge:  Ask, "How many of you ride bicycles?  How many of you wear helmets? Why? Why not?  Say, 'Today we are going to find our what happens when a motion is interrupted suddenly."

Activity:  Ask:  What happens to moving objects when they stop suddenly?
(1) Have students write their hypothesis in their journals. (2) Put two books on or in a toy truck.  Gently push the truck to make it move.  Stop the truck slowly.  What happened to the books, the truck?  (Students should record their observations in their science journals.)-Results.  (3)  Again, put the books on the toy truck.  Push the truck so it bumps into a brick or the wall.  What happened to the books, the truck? Results.  Why did this happened?-Conclusion

Wrap-up:  Discussion

Follow-up or Homework:  Write a persuasive paragraph to your classmates about why he/she should wear seatbelts.