Changing Direction with Collisions

Active learning works well for this topic because collisions happen quickly and unpredictably in real time. Students need to see forces in action to trust their own observations rather than relying on abstract explanations. Hands-on movement and collisions build lasting understanding that words alone cannot.

• Kindergarten
• Science
• 3 activities
• 15 min–30 min

Learning Objectives

1. Predict the change in direction of a toy car when it collides with a stationary object.
2. Compare the path of a rolling ball on two different surfaces, such as carpet and tile.
3. Explain how the angle of a ramp affects the speed and distance a toy travels after a collision.
4. Demonstrate how a gentle push versus a hard push changes the outcome of a collision with a wall.

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 30 min·Pairs

Inquiry Circle: Redirect the Ball

Pairs set up a simple ramp with a wooden block at the bottom as a wall. They roll a ball, mark where it ends up with a sticker, then tilt the block to a different angle and test again, comparing three different setups to see how the direction of the ball changes.

Prepare & details

Analyze how we can change the direction of a moving ball without stopping it.

Facilitation Tip: During Collaborative Investigation: Redirect the Ball, position yourself to see students’ faces as they release the ball so you can catch surprised or curious reactions right away.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Simulation Game

⏱ 15 min·Whole Class

Simulation Game: Human Collision

Students stand in a line about three feet apart. The first student rolls a playground ball to the second, who redirects it gently without stopping it to a third. The class observes and discusses whether the ball stopped or changed direction based on how it was touched.

Prepare & details

Predict what happens when a moving object hits a stationary wall.

Facilitation Tip: In Simulation: Human Collision, have students take turns being the ‘colliding object’ so everyone experiences the push and pull of forces.

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 15 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: The Stopped Ball

Hold up a ball and a foam block and ask what will happen to the ball after it hits the block. Students share predictions in pairs, then watch the demo and discuss whether the ball stopped or changed direction based on the block's weight and position.

Prepare & details

Explain how the shape of an object changes how it rolls or slides.

Facilitation Tip: For Think-Pair-Share: The Stopped Ball, circulate and listen for students to use terms like ‘bounced’ or ‘stopped’ to describe what they saw, not just ‘it went there.’

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Start with clear demonstrations that show collisions from different angles so students see that direction changes follow rules. Avoid over-explaining; let students test ideas first, then guide them to refine their observations. Research shows that young learners build stronger mental models when they act out forces themselves, especially in collaborative settings.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students predicting where an object will go after a collision and explaining why in simple terms. They should notice patterns such as bouncing, slowing, or stopping, and use vocabulary like ‘direction’ and ‘force’ naturally in their descriptions.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Collaborative Investigation: Redirect the Ball, watch for students who expect every collision to stop the ball completely.

What to Teach Instead

Have students use a super bouncy ball against a hard surface so it clearly bounces back, then ask them to compare soft collisions with hard surfaces to refine their idea of stopping versus rebounding.

Common Misconception

During Collaborative Investigation: Redirect the Ball, watch for students who think shape does not affect how an object moves.

What to Teach Instead

Give students a wooden cube and a rubber ball of similar size, and have them roll each down the same ramp to see how the cube slides while the ball rolls, making the impact of shape unmistakable.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After Collaborative Investigation: Redirect the Ball, give students a small ball and a ramp. Ask them to draw the ball’s path before and after it hits a block, and write one sentence describing the change in direction.

Discussion Prompt

During Simulation: Human Collision, gather students in a circle and ask, ‘What happened when you ran into your partner? Did you stop, bounce, or go another way? Why do you think that happened?’ Listen for language about pushes, pulls, or surfaces.

Quick Check

After Think-Pair-Share: The Stopped Ball, set up an obstacle course with a wall and a toy car. Observe if students can predict and explain why the car changes direction when it hits the wall, using terms like ‘force’ or ‘path.’

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge early finishers to predict how a heavier or lighter ball will behave after hitting the same wall.
• Scaffolding for struggling students: Provide a simple ramp setup with only one ball and one wall so they focus on one variable at a time.
• Deeper exploration: Ask students to design a small maze for a ball using blocks and tape, predicting where the ball will go after each turn.

Key Vocabulary

collision	When two objects hit each other, like a ball hitting a wall or another ball.
force	A push or a pull that can make something move, stop, or change direction.
surface	The outside part of something, like the floor, a wall, or a ramp, that a moving object touches.
direction	The way something is moving or pointing, like forward, backward, left, or right.