Which Way Is Down?
A 60-minute Grade 5 lesson on supporting an argument that the gravitational force Earth exerts on objects is directed down.
Which Way Is Down? is a free 60-minute Grade 5 science lesson plan for Common Core standard 5-PS2-1 — argue that Earth's gravity pulls objects downward. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Grade 5
- Length:
- 60 minutes
- Standard:
- 5-PS2-1
Grade 5 · Physical Science
5-PS2-1
Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down.
Objective
Students will be able to support the claim that Earth's gravity acts downwards, and answer an apparent counter-example.
Students are successful when they can
- Gives evidence from more than one kind of object.
- Explains an object that does not fall.
- Answers a counter-example such as a balloon.
What you need
- Objects of very different masses, a globe, a helium balloon
- A plumb line and a bowl of water for finding level
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up
5 min- Drop a heavy and a light object together and ask what both did.
- Ask whether either went sideways.
Teach — every object, every time
15 min- Release six different objects from rest. All fall downwards.
- Throw one upwards: it slows, stops and falls. Gravity acted the whole time.
- Ask about a book on a table: it does not fall because the table pushes up.
- Take the balloon: it rises. Ask whether gravity stopped acting on it.
- Answer it: the surrounding air pushes it up harder; gravity still pulls it down.
- Use the globe: 'down' in Britain and in Australia both point to Earth's centre.
“Did gravity stop, or is something else pushing?”
Investigate — gather the evidence
22 min- Groups release ten different objects and record the direction each falls.
- They find two objects that do not fall and explain what holds each up.
- They test the balloon and write the two forces acting on it.
- They write the argument with evidence, and answer one counter-example.
Independent practice
15 min- Students complete the 'Which Way Is Down?' page.
- Check the counter-example is answered rather than ignored.
Close
3 min- Ask what a single object falling upwards would mean for the argument.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Thinks gravity stops acting on a rising object.
Why: It is going the other way.
Fix: It slows down the whole way up. Something is pulling it back.
Thinks light objects are not pulled.
Why: A feather drifts.
Fix: In a vacuum tube, a feather falls like a stone. Air is the difference.
Thinks 'down' is the same direction everywhere in space.
Why: It feels absolute.
Fix: Look at the globe. Down means towards the centre.
If they are not there yet
- Four objects and a recording sheet.
- The counter-example supplied with a prompt.
If they finish early
- Explain why the Moon does not fall onto Earth.
- Design a test to show air resistance rather than gravity slows a feather.
- Say what evidence would count against the claim.
Exit ticket
A helium balloon rises. Does that contradict the claim that Earth's gravity pulls objects down?
What to look for: No: gravity still pulls it down, and the surrounding air pushes it up harder. Saying gravity does not act means the counter-example needs another run.
Printable practice for 5-PS2-1
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Which Way Is Down?Circle the best answer.
Questions about Which Way Is Down?
How long does the Which Way Is Down? lesson take?
60 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 15 min, investigate 22 min, independent practice 15 min, close 3 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Which Way Is Down? teach?
5-PS2-1 — 5-PS2-1, Physical Science for Grade 5: “Support an argument that the gravitational force exerted by Earth on objects is directed down.” In plain terms, argue that Earth's gravity pulls objects downward.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
Objects of very different masses, a globe, a helium balloon, a plumb line and a bowl of water for finding level and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: thinks gravity stops acting on a rising object; thinks light objects are not pulled and thinks 'down' is the same direction everywhere in space. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “A helium balloon rises. Does that contradict the claim that Earth's gravity pulls objects down?.” No: gravity still pulls it down, and the surrounding air pushes it up harder. Saying gravity does not act means the counter-example needs another run. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Which Way Is Down??
Yes — 1 printable 5-PS2-1 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Which Way Is Down? free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 8 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-08. Aligned to 5-PS2-1 of the Next Generation Science Standards.