Predicting energy changes in collisions gives Grade 4 students a chance to explore how objects move and what can happen when they bump into one another. This Science resource focuses on observing collisions, noticing changes in motion, and using evidence to predict what may happen next.

Explore motion through collisions

When a moving object strikes another object, the objects may change speed or direction. A resting object may begin moving, while the object that makes contact may slow down or follow a different path. Students can investigate these patterns through familiar examples involving rolling balls and moving toy vehicles.

The topic connects observations of motion with energy transfer during collisions. Students consider how the speed of an approaching object can affect the change in motion and why the direction of impact matters. They practise using what they observe as evidence rather than making predictions by guessing.

Reading and science skills

The reading organizer format brings informational science reading together with main idea and supporting details practice. Students identify the central point of a passage, select details that support it, and restate those details in an organizer. The collision examples also provide a context for asking questions, comparing outcomes, and making predictions based on observable patterns.

• Identify how collisions can change an object's speed or direction.
• Describe what may happen when a moving object hits a stationary object.
• Compare the effects of collisions involving different speeds or directions.
• Recognize evidence of energy transfer through changes in motion.
• Use observations to predict possible outcomes of another collision.

Using the resource in class

Use this Grade 4 science reading practice during a unit on collisions and energy conversion. Students can read independently, work with a partner to discuss the supporting details, or complete the organizer as part of a science literacy lesson. It also provides a useful way to connect reading comprehension with classroom investigations using balls or toy vehicles.

By combining informational text with evidence-based thinking, this resource gives students practice explaining what they observe and communicating how collisions can affect motion. It is a focused option for teachers introducing collision patterns and prediction in elementary physical science.

Curriculum reference

The resource details name the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and official code 4-PS3-3. The listing identifies this as the supplied curriculum reference; teachers can review the activities alongside their own lesson sequence.