A Push or Pull Coloring Page for 3rd Grade Students

Are you looking for a resource that enables your students to differentiate push and push forces in real-world scenarios? If so, this push or pull worksheet is for you!

Designed by passionate teachers just like you, this worksheet consists of six visual examples of pushes and pulls that students would be familiar with from their everyday lives. To complete the worksheet, the students will follow the steps below:

1. Look at the Picture – Students start by examining a picture illustrating a specific scenario where forces are in action. This image serves as a visual reference for understanding forces.
2. Think About the Force – For each picture, students are prompted to think about which force is being used: Is it a push or a pull? This step encourages critical thinking and observation.
3. Color the Pictures – To reinforce their understanding, students use the provided color code to color the pictures. Push forces are colored blue, while pull forces are colored red. This visual representation helps solidify their comprehension.
4. Draw and Write Your Own Example – In the final step, students have the opportunity to get creative. They can draw and write their own example of a push or a pull, applying what they’ve learned to a new scenario.

The everyday scenarios involving push or pull forces included in these worksheets are:

• Working out with weights
• Putting on shoes
• Skateboarding
• Washing hands
• Play tug or war
• Using a remote control

This push or pull worksheet downloads as an easy-print PDF or an editable Google Slides digital document. It is a simple yet effective resource for helping your students explore forces.

Extend This Push and Pull Coloring Page

This push and pull coloring page makes a great springboard for exploring push and pull forces with your students. If you are keen to further extend the learning activities on the worksheet, check out the suggestions below:

1. Discussion – After completing the worksheet, engage students in a class discussion. Ask them to share their own examples and explain their choices for push or pull. This fosters communication and reinforces their understanding.
2. Real-Life Scavenger Hunt – Encourage students to look for real-life examples of pushes and pulls in their environment. They can take pictures or make sketches and present their findings to the class. Our Force and Motion Scavenger Hunt Worksheets are perfect for this purpose!
3. Experimental Demonstrations – Conduct hands-on experiments to demonstrate pushes and pulls in action. For example, use toy cars to illustrate the concept of pushes, or employ magnets to show the concept of pulls.

Download This Push and Pull Coloring Page

This push or pull worksheet downloads a PDF or an editable Google Slides file. Use the download button to access your preferred file format. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides template on your personal drive before accessing it.)

Provide your students with copies to complete independently, or project onto your interactive screen to work through together as a class.

This resource was created by Lisamarie Del Valle, a teacher in Florida and a Teach Starter collaborator.

Even More Teacher-Created Forces and Motion Resources

If you’re looking to cut down on your science planning by downloading more of Teach Starter’s push and pull resources for elementary students, continue your journey by clicking on the resources below!

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Pushes and Pulls Mini-Book

Explore pushes and pulls with your students with this printable mini-book perfect for 3rd grade 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 elementary students.

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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.