Forces for kids
Forces for kids learning at Primary School. Homework help with Forces and Motions. Learn pushing and pulling the forces that create motion for Key Stage 2.
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A parent’s guide to learning about forces in Primary School
Forces are a key part of the Primary Science curriculum and help children understand how things move, stop, change shape and interact with the world around them. Learning about forces builds curiosity, problem-solving skills and early scientific thinking.
This guide explains what children are expected to learn about forces at each stage of Primary School, from Year 1 through to Year 6.
Year 1 & 2 (Key Stage 1): Exploring forces through play
In Years 1 and 2, children are introduced to forces in a simple and practical way. The focus is on everyday experiences and hands-on exploration rather than scientific language.
Children learn that:
- A force is a push or a pull
- Forces can make objects start moving, stop moving or change direction
- Forces can change the shape of objects by squashing, stretching, twisting or bending
- Objects move differently depending on how hard or gently they are pushed or pulled
At this stage, learning often happens through:
- Playing with toys, balls and playground equipment
- Exploring materials like playdough, sponges and elastic
- Talking about what they can see and feel
The goal is for children to notice what forces do, describe changes, and begin to use simple scientific words.
Go to our Forces Year 1 & 2 page.
Year 3 & 4 (Lower Key Stage 2): Understanding how forces work
In Years 3 and 4, children begin to look more closely at how forces affect movement and are introduced to magnetism.
Children learn to:
- Compare how objects move on different surfaces (introducing friction)
- Understand that some forces need contact, while others act at a distance
- Explore magnetic forces and how magnets attract or repel
- Identify magnetic materials such as iron and steel
- Describe magnets as having two poles (North and South)
- Predict whether magnets will attract or repel, depending on which poles face each other
Children also start to:
- Make simple predictions
- Carry out basic investigations
- Group and compare materials
- Explain what they observe using scientific vocabulary
This stage helps children move from simple observations to early scientific reasoning.
Go to our Forces Year 3 & 4 page.
Year 5 & 6 (Upper Key Stage 2): Explaining forces scientifically
In Years 5 and 6, children develop a deeper and more scientific understanding of forces. They begin to explain why things happen, not just what happens.
Children learn about:
- Gravity and how it pulls objects toward the Earth
- Why unsupported objects fall
- Resistive forces such as:
- Friction
- Air resistance
- Water resistance
- How these forces slow objects down and affect movement
- How the shape of objects affects air and water resistance (streamlining)
- Mechanisms such as:
- Levers
- Pulleys
- Gears
- How these mechanisms allow a smaller force to have a greater effect
Children are expected to:
- Plan and carry out fair tests
- Explain results using scientific language
- Use diagrams and models
- Apply their knowledge to real-life examples
By the end of Year 6, children should have a secure understanding of forces and be ready to build on this knowledge in secondary school.
How parents can help at home
You don’t need specialist equipment to support learning about forces. Everyday activities like:
- Pushing toys on different surfaces
- Playing with magnets
- Talking about why things fall
- Noticing how bikes, slides or swings work
all help children connect science learning to real life.
Encouraging curiosity, asking questions and letting children try things out safely makes a big difference.
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