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10 Force and Motion Books for Kindergarten

10 Force and Motion Books for Kindergarten

Force-and-motion-books-kindergarten

This list of force and motion books for Kindergarten is a great way to encourage STEM concepts in your classroom. By integrating STEM and literacy, this is another avenue to bring these concepts to life for young learners.

When planning out units for the primary students in my K-5 STEM classroom, I use a three part structure: Mini Project, STEM Stations and STEM & Stories. This model integrates standards and exposes students to a variety of experiences that relate to the content.

In fact, I go in depth with this model in my K-2 STEM Virtual Planning Workshop, which you can join HERE.

 

Some items are linked to my Amazon Affiliate account. When you purchase through my link, there is no added cost to you, but I receive a small commission in return.

Force and Motion Books for Kindergarten: Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee

Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee

Description from Amazon.com “This exhilarating amusement park visit begins with a line of prospective riders, eagerly awaiting their turn . . . with at least one person who has never done this before. Zooming, swerving, dipping, and diving, this delightful story featuring a breathtaking ride and a hilarious range of reactions, will help readers lose their roller coaster anxiety. Marla Frazee’s witty narrative and slyly building of tension delivers an experience unlike any other and will have readers begging to take another ride.”

 

Force and Motion Books for Kindergarten: What Do Wheels Do All Day? by April Jones Prince

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What Do Wheels Do All Day? by April Jones Prince

Description from Amazon.com “Yeah, what do wheels do all day? Well . . . they push . . . race . . . stroll . . . fly . . . whiz . . . and spin . . . all day long! Simple, direct text, combined with brilliant cut-paper relief illustrations, captures kids’ fascination with “things that go” and opens their minds to the wide variety of wheels and what they do.”

Force and Motion Books for Kindergarten: How Do You Lift a Lion? by Robert E. Wells

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How Do You Lift a Lion?” by Robert E. Wells

From Amazon.com “How do you lift a lion? With a machine that's big and powerful with clanking metal parts? There are machines like that. But others have only a few moving parts. In fact, some machines are so simple that they don't seem like machines at all―like the wheel, the lever, and the pulley. These machines can make work easy―even if you're trying to lift a lion!”

Force and Motion Books for Kindergarten: Ricky, the Rock That Couldn't Roll by Mr. Jay

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Ricky, the Rock That Couldn't Roll by Mr. Jay

From Amazon.com “From zippy little pebbles to big strong boulders, the rock friends get together to play and roll around their favorite hill, only to find that one of their friends, Ricky, can't roll with them. Unlike all of the other rocks, who are all round, Ricky can't roll because he's flat on one side. Determined not to leave their friend behind, the rocks set out to help Ricky roll – one way or another.”

Force and Motion Books for Kindergarten: The Racecar Alphabet by Brian Floca

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The Racecar Alphabet by Brian Floca

With beautiful illustrations, this story goes through the entire alphabet with different racecar elements shown throughout. This can spark a great discussion about engineering and components and contribute to car movement.

Force and Motion Books for Kindergarten: If I Built a Car by Chris Van Dusen

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“If I Built a Car” by Chris Van Dusen

From Amazon.com “Jack has designed the ultimate fantasy car. Inspired by zeppelins and trains, Cadillacs and old planes, with brilliant colors and lots of shiny chrome, this far-out vision is ready to cruise! there's a fireplace, a pool, and even a snack bar! After a tour of the ritzy interior, Robert the robot starts up the motor . . . and Jack and his dad set off on the wildest test drive ever!”

Force and Motion Books for Kindergarten: Oscar and the Cricket: A Book About Moving and Rolling by Geoff Waring

Oscar and the Cricket: A Book About Moving and Rolling by Geoff Waring

From Amazon.com “One day Oscar sees a ball in the grass. “Try pushing it!” says Cricket. Oscar learns that the ball rolls slowly in grass and faster on a path, until it bounces off a tree and changes direction. Some things need a push to move, and others use their muscles to move themselves — and to move plenty of other things, too.”

Force and Motion Books for Kindergarten: Motion: Push and Pull, Fast and Slow by Darlene Ruth Stille

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Motion: Push and Pull, Fast and Slow by Darlene Ruth Stille

Colorful illustrations and simple text that explains different force and motion concepts. Uses everyday examples of this vocabulary in action so young learners can make connections with the science that is all around them.

Force and Motion Books for Kindergarten: And Everyone Shouted, “Pull!”: A First Look at Forces and Motion by Claire Llewellyn

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And Everyone Shouted, “Pull!”: A First Look at Forces and Motion by Claire Llewellyn

From Amazon.com “Learn about forces and motion as you join the farm animals on their trip to the market. The wheels on their cart help when they push, pull, and stop on their journey. Great way to get kids interested in science in the classroom or at home!”

Force and Motion Books for Kindergarten: The Day Gravity Goes Loco by Ryan P Maloney

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The Day Gravity Goes Loco by Ryan P Maloney  

From Amazon.com: This story “paints a picture of a weightless world where everything usually anchored down by gravity, has gone crazy. From standing straight up hairstyles, to construction crews taking vacations because of upside down cranes, “Gravity Loco” is an infectious story that will make kids laugh while introducing them to language learning and science concepts.”

 

Need help with your Kindergarten STEM planning?

In this 2-hour, previously recorded workshop, you will walk away with a standards-based unit plan for a primary grade level that will include:

    • Mini Project (40 minutes)
    • STEM Stations (40 minutes)
    • STEM & Stories Lesson (40 minutes)

Create a system for planning K-2 STEM lessons that are robust, standards-based, and engaging.

To help you be successful, lesson planning templates will be provided during the workshop.

  • Standards Ideas
  • Planning Templates for STEM Stations, Mini Project & STEM & Stories
  • Materials Ideas List
  • STEM Station Slides
  • STEM Book List
  • Professional Development Completion Certificate

Related Blog Posts & Podcast Episodes:

More About the author, Naomi Meredith

Naomi Meredith is a former classroom teacher turned current K-5 STEM teacher and coach. Her role not only includes teaching over 500 students in her school, but also leading professional development and co-teaching with teachers to help them integrate STEM & Technology.

With over a decade of experience along with a M.Ed. in STEM Leadership and STEM certificate, she helps teachers navigate the best practices, strategies and tools out there.

She truly believes that any teacher out there can learn how to use STEM & Technology in their classrooms effectively. She can’t wait to connect with you and be your guide!

How to Do a Virtual Read Aloud Tips and Tricks

How to do a Virtual Read Aloud Tips & Tricks

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Have you wondered how to do a virtual read aloud? How can kids see the pages? What tools do you need? How hard is it really? Here are some tips and tricks when hosting a read aloud online. While these work well for remote teaching, a lot of these hacks can be used during in-person teaching as well.

This video originally aired LIVE on my Facebook Page; Naomi Meredith: The STEMTech Co. 

Come and join in on the fun on Facebook, or watch the recording of this episode.

How to Do a Virtual Read Aloud  | Watch the recording down below:

How to Do a Virtual Read Aloud  | #1 Picture & Google Drive Mash Up

This hack works well for when you only have a hard copy of the book. Now this tip isn't meant to infringe on copyright and have you share with the whole world what you created; classroom use only. This method is extremely helpful to help the kids see the pages on a video call while the teacher doesn't have the hold the book awkwardly to the camera. No document camera is needed!

If you know me, you know I am a HUGE fan of using Google Tools in the classroom as well as my person life. First, download the Google Drive app onto your phone. (Login of course!) Next, lay the book on a flat, clear surface with plenty of lighting. After that, using the Camera on your phone, take pictures of the pages in order. Edit and flip any pages now while in the Photos app.

Go into the Google Drive app. Hit the plus sign (+) and create a new folder while naming it the title of the book. Keep that new folder open and hit the plus sign again. Next, click ‘Upload', then ‘Photos and Videos' choose all of the photos of the book. They'll upload in the order of when the photos were taken.

Once they are uploaded into Google Drive, you can actually delete the photos off your phone to save space. It won't delete the pictures from the Drive.

Finally, when you're ready to read, open up the book folder on your computer during class and share your screen. All you need to do is click through each of the pages as you read the story live.

Click here for a FREE printable version of the steps listed above.

 

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How to Do a Virtual Read Aloud  | #2 eBooks

Before taking pictures using the method above, see if there is an eBook version already accessible. Again, share your computer screen with the class once the desired book is chosen. Below are great resources to use that I've used consistently with my classrooms.

  • Epic! Books (getepic.com): This is a free for teachers eBook library to use in classrooms. Not only are eBooks abundant, but audio books, read-to-me, chapter books and video clips that aren't connected to YouTube. Regardless of read alouds or not, this is a MUST USE resource in your classroom.
  • Your Public Library: Most public libraries have some sort of version of digital books that are available to check out. By using your library card, see what is already available for free! Don't live near a public library? Many public libraries located within a school district will give a card to teachers who teach in that area.
  • Amazon Kindle Books: A Kindle device is not needed for this method. In fact, the Kindle app can be downloaded into a computer device for free. Often, publishers will have flash deals where books are offered for free that you can download to your account. Also, Amazon gift cards can come in handy when wanted to buy the digital copy of the book. One word of advice; purchase/download Kindle books to your personal account. That way if you were to ever leave districts, you still have access to all of those books!

How to Do a Virtual Read Aloud  | #3 Audio Extras

Bring a read aloud to life and help with visualization with audio extras! Build background knowledge about the topic about to be read by finding a video clip that helps explain a difficult word or concept.

Also, check out the app Novel Effect. Again, another great resource for teachers! While reading the book out loud, Novel Effect will listen in real time by adding in sound effects that relate to the page. Some books even have music that will play along, like Pete the Cat.

Check out their growing collection of supported books here. 

 

How to Do a Virtual Read Aloud  | #4 Collaborative Read Aloud

This tip is a great way to get students involved with the read aloud experience. I would suggest using Seesaw with this method since it has the best tools to fit the job. Flipgrid could also be a great alternative as well.

Create a Seesaw Activity where each page is a different page of the book. Next, assign a student to a specific page to record themselves reading. You could even have each child read the whole book, then select one page from each child's submission for the final read aloud. Finally, during whole group time, share the collaborative read aloud.

Need help with creating a Seesaw Activity? Download these free visual steps here! 

Click here for one free month of Seesaw Plus to be added to your account using my Ambassador link! 

How to Do a Virtual Read Aloud  | #5 Pre-Record

This method works well of course with remote teaching, but also for homework assignments, substitute plans and even book groups. Pre-recording readings of a book don't have to be fancy. For this method, I'll typically use Screencastify. This is a Google Chrome Extension that is used on the computer when Google Chrome is open. It can record your screen only, screen & face, or just face.

Once the recording is complete, it saves automatically to your connected Google Drive. There is even the option to upload to YouTube right away. (I recommend making the YouTube link ‘Private' or ‘Unlisted' unless you have permission from the author/publishing company.) This extra time saving step allows the user to grab the share link right away and plop it into the desired assignment.

Screencastify is a freemium tool; the free features are great and can get the job done. But for unlimited use, the paid version is inexpensive & worth it. (I always renew my subscription).

Consider pre-recording picture books and chapter book chapters. This is incredibly special for your students when you have a substitute and the students can still hear the “correct voice” reading all the chapters.

This method can also be used for independent reading of book clubs. When the audio version isn't available, send students the link to your video to help them read through their assigned work and understand the fluency and key vocabulary.

Get started with Screencastify here! 

Products mentioned in this post:

Other blog posts you might enjoy:

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What questions do you have about these activities? Have any other ideas to share? Feel free to direct message me on Instagram, @naomimeredith_ and I would love to chat with you!