Push and Pull Teaching Resources
Explore push and pull forces with ready-made teacher resources to save you time on your lesson plans! Created by primary teachers for primary teachers like you, every resource in this collection is aligned with Australian science curriculum standards and ready for your classroom and your students.
Help students understand the different effects of pushes and pulls on the motion of an object, explore examples of pushing and pulling forces and more! This collection is stocked with everything you need to bring this segment of the science curriculum to life, including editable resources you can adapt to easily differentiate instruction for your students.
Is this your first year teaching about push and pull forces? Or are you looking for fresh ideas? Read on for a primer from the Teach Starter teacher team!
What Are Push and Pull Forces? A Kid-Friendly Definition
When we're introducing a concept to students, having a definition at hand can make the first lesson easier! Here's how our teacher team describes the meaning of pushing and pulling forces to our students:
Push and pull are two different forces. They represent different ways we can make objects move.
- Push — When an object is pushed, it's moved away from the person or object that is doing the pushing. For example, the cat might push a cup away from them (and off the table!).
- Pull — When an object is pulled, it's moved toward the person or object that is doing the pulling. For example, you might pull a door toward you in order to open it.
Understanding what it means to push and pull helps us understand how things move in the world all around us!
Forces That Push and Pull — Examples for the Classroom
Need more examples of forces that push and pull to help your students better understand this concept?
Here are some real-world examples of forces that push objects that may resonate with your students:
- When you push your friend on the swing, your hands push against the seat to make it move forward and higher.
- You might use your hands to push a heavy box across the floor, providing force with your hands in order to move the box without having to pick it up.
- If you are playing soccer with your mates and you kick the ball, your foot is using force to push the ball away from you.
Here are some real-world examples of forces that pull objects that kids may recognise:
- If you have a wagon behind you, you may pull on the handle to make the wagon move along with you as you walk.
- When you pull on the string of a kite, you are using force to bring the kite closer to you.
- If you use a magnet to attract a metal object, the magnet pulls the object towards it.
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Forces in the Playground Worksheet
Download this forces in the playground worksheet to help your students explore the pushes and pulls that make playground equipment fun!
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Push or Pull? Interactive Activity
Get students to determine whether a force is a push or a pull with this engaging digital game for early years science lessons.
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Force and Motion Task Cards
Use these force and motion task cards as a student review activity in your Year 4 science lessons.
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Forces Assessment
Assess students' understanding of contact and non-contact forces with this forces assessment for Year 4 students.
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Push and Pull Forces Teaching Slides
Teach your students about push and pull forces with this comprehensive and age-appropriate teaching presentation for primary school science lessons.
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Push or Pull? Worksheet
Use this push or pull worksheet when exploring forces and motion in your early years science lessons.
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Direction of Force Worksheets
Teach students about the direction of forces applied to common objects with this two-page worksheet for lower primary students.
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Push or Pull? Colouring Worksheet
Use this push and pull colour-coding worksheet when exploring forces and motion with your early years students.
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Pushes and Pulls Mini-Book
Explore pushes and pulls with your students with this printable mini-book perfect for early years science lessons.
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Push or Pull? Cut and Paste Worksheet
Use these push and pull cut and paste worksheets when exploring forces and motion in your science lessons.
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Push and Pull Sorting Worksheet
Use this push and pull sorting worksheet when exploring forces and motion with your early years students.
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Force and Motion Vocabulary Worksheets
Use these force and motion vocabulary worksheets to teach your students the subject-specific vocabulary related to forces and motion.
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Object Movement Investigation Worksheets
Get students to push or pull on an object with this forces investigation for early years science lessons.
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Push and Pull Sorting Activity
Use these push and pull sorting cards as a hands-on activity during your science lessons on forces.
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Forces and Motion Scavenger Hunt Worksheet
Use these forces and motion scavenger hunt worksheets when exploring push and pull forces in your early years science lessons.
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Force and Motion Bingo
Play a forces and motion game with your students to reinforce key subject-specific vocabulary.
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Push and Pull Venn Diagram
Use this push and pull Venn diagram to help your students answer the question: Push, pull or both?
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Push or Pull? Interactive Sorting Activity
Explore push and pull forces with your students by playing this interactive sorting game for lower primary students.
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Force and Motion Sorting Activity
Show students force and motion examples with this force and motion sorting activity for elementary school science lessons.
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Push and Pull Examples – Matching Game
Have students explore examples of push and pull forces with this matching game to use during your forces and motion science unit.