Printable Family + Classroom Resource

Isaac Newton: 4-Week Curriculum

For families, classrooms, and co-ops — Ages 4-8

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Length

4 weeks (5 days per week suggested)

Ages

Ages 4-8

Supplies

Common household items only

Goal

Spark curiosity through story + simple science play

Cover illustration

Isaac Newton standing outdoors with an apple tree and a rainbow, introducing the four-week curriculum.

Theme line: “Be curious. Ask why. Try and test.”

How to Use This Curriculum

Each week includes a short story lesson, hands-on activities, a printable coloring or activity page idea, discussion prompts, a fun fact, and recommended videos for deeper exploration.

Day 1: Story / lesson

Day 2-4: Activities / experiments

Day 5: Coloring page + review + show and tell

Grown-Up Safety Note

  • Adult help is recommended for cutting, using glass items, and any activity with water near electronics.
  • Use eye-safe methods: never stare at the sun or shine bright lights into eyes.
1

Week 1: Young Isaac — Curiosity & Childhood

Vocabulary: Curiosity

Story & Lesson

Isaac Newton was once a kid just like you—full of questions. He lived in England a long time ago. Isaac liked to watch how things worked. He noticed tiny details: the way a spinning top wobbles, how raindrops splash, and how shadows move across the ground.

Sometimes Isaac felt different from other kids. But instead of giving up, he used his curiosity like a superpower. He made little models and tried simple inventions. He learned that asking “Why?” and “What if?” can lead to amazing discoveries.

This week, you’re going to practice being a curiosity hero. You’ll look closely, build something simple, and learn that careful noticing can turn questions into ideas.

Week 1 illustration for Young Isaac — Curiosity & Childhood.

Fun Fact

Isaac liked to build things as a kid—he made small models and enjoyed figuring out how objects moved.

Vocabulary Word

Curiosity

Wanting to know more and asking questions about the world.

Hands-On Activities

Tap to expand each activity

Materials

  • Paper or a notebook
  • Crayons or pencils
  • Optional: magnifying glass

Steps

  1. 1Take a slow walk inside your home or outside.
  2. 2Stop at 5 different spots.
  3. 3At each spot, draw one thing you notice.
  4. 4For each drawing, ask one question about what you see.
  5. 5Share your favorite question out loud.

Little Learner

Draw only; a grown-up writes the question.

Big Learner

Write one sentence: “I noticed ___ and I wonder ___.”

Materials

  • 1 sheet of paper
  • Scissors
  • Tape (optional)
  • Crayons or markers

Steps

  1. 1Cut a strip about the size of your hand.
  2. 2Cut a slit halfway down from the top to make two flaps.
  3. 3Fold one flap forward and one flap backward.
  4. 4Fold the bottom into a small tab and tape it if needed.
  5. 5Drop it from shoulder height and watch how it spins down.
  6. 6Try one change, like longer flaps or a little tape at the bottom.

What to Notice

Notice whether it spins faster or falls slower with more weight.

Materials

  • Chalk or paper and pencil
  • A small toy or your hand
  • A sunny window or flashlight

Steps

  1. 1Place the toy near a sunny spot or shine a flashlight on it.
  2. 2Trace the shadow shape.
  3. 3Wait 10–30 minutes and trace again, or move the flashlight and trace again.
  4. 4Compare the two shadows.

Big Learner

Label the traces “1” and “2.” Which is longer? Which changed direction?

Coloring / Activity Page

Week 1 coloring and activity page for Young Isaac — Curiosity & Childhood.

Curiosity Hero: Isaac as a Kid

Kids can color the page and fill in the speech bubbles themselves, or dictate answers to a grown-up.

Young Isaac with a notebook, a leaf, a spinning top, and a small gear, plus speech bubbles for “I notice…”, “I wonder…”, and “I will try…”.

Discussion Questions

  1. 1What is something you noticed today that you never noticed before?
  2. 2When you feel stuck, what can you try next?
  3. 3Do you think asking questions can be brave? Why?
  4. 4What do you think makes someone a hero of learning?

Recommended Videos

Short, kid-friendly videos that reinforce the week’s theme.

VIDEO
~15 min

Bedtime History

Isaac Newton for Kids

A gentle, story-style retelling of Newton’s life that covers his childhood curiosity, key discoveries, and legacy.

Watch on YouTube
VIDEO
~8 min

Learning Made Fun

Who Was Sir Isaac Newton? (Facts for Kids)

A quick, engaging biography that introduces the person behind the science in bite-sized facts.

Watch on YouTube
VIDEO
~10 min

Learn Bright

Newton’s Laws of Motion — Learn about Sir Isaac Newton for Kids

A kid-friendly overview of Newton’s three laws with real-world examples and a strong big-picture recap.

Watch on YouTube
2

Week 2: Light & Colors — The Prism Experiments

Vocabulary: Prism

Story & Lesson

One day, Isaac Newton looked at sunlight and wondered: “What is light made of?” Many people thought light was plain and simple. But Isaac suspected there was more hiding inside it.

He tried experiments with glass prisms—special shapes that bend light. When sunlight passed through the prism, it spread into a beautiful rainbow of colors. Isaac realized that white light is like a team of many colors traveling together.

This week, you’ll explore colors and light in safe, kid-friendly ways. You’ll hunt for rainbows, mix colors, and learn that careful experimenting can reveal hidden surprises.

Week 2 illustration for Light & Colors — The Prism Experiments.

Fun Fact

Isaac Newton showed that white light can be separated into many colors—like a rainbow.

Vocabulary Word

Prism

A clear shape, often glass, that can bend light and spread it into colors.

Hands-On Activities

Tap to expand each activity

Materials

  • Clear glass of water or a clear jar
  • White paper
  • A sunny window

Steps

  1. 1Fill the glass or jar with water.
  2. 2Place it on a sunny windowsill.
  3. 3Put white paper where the light shines.
  4. 4Move the paper and glass slowly until you see a faint rainbow or bright patch of light.
  5. 5Trace the colors you see or draw what you notice.

What to Notice

Sometimes the rainbow is tiny—look carefully.

Materials

  • Old CD or DVD
  • Flashlight
  • White paper or a white wall

Steps

  1. 1Dim the room a little.
  2. 2Shine the flashlight onto the shiny side of the CD.
  3. 3Tilt the CD slowly.
  4. 4Look for rainbow colors on the wall or paper.

What to Notice

Do not shine the flashlight into anyone’s eyes.

Materials

  • Coffee filters or paper towels
  • Washable markers
  • A small plate or cup of water

Steps

  1. 1Color a big dot near the center of a coffee filter.
  2. 2Dip just the very bottom edge of the filter into a tiny bit of water.
  3. 3Watch as the water climbs and pulls color along.
  4. 4Try different colors and compare what happens.

Big Learner

Compare which color travels fastest and which spreads widest.

Coloring / Activity Page

Week 2 coloring and activity page for Light & Colors — The Prism Experiments.

Newton’s Rainbow Lab

Color the rainbow stripes and challenge kids to find real-world objects that match each rainbow color.

A simple prism with white light going in and a rainbow coming out, plus a “Find the Colors” checklist.

Discussion Questions

  1. 1Where have you seen a rainbow in real life?
  2. 2Why do you think Isaac tried the same experiment more than once?
  3. 3What happens when you change one small thing in an experiment?
  4. 4If you could ask light a question, what would it be?

Recommended Videos

Short, kid-friendly videos that reinforce the week’s theme.

VIDEO
~4 min

Dr. Binocs Show (Peekaboo Kidz)

What Is a Prism?

A fun animated explainer showing how prisms bend light into a rainbow.

Watch on YouTube
VIDEO
~3 min

The Good and the Beautiful

Rainbow Prism Experiment

A follow-along video that demonstrates how to create rainbows with sunlight and a prism.

Watch on YouTube
VIDEO
~4 min

SciShow Kids

Why Is the Sky Blue?

A smart extension activity that connects sunlight, color, and the blue sky kids see every day.

Watch on YouTube
3

Week 3: Gravity — The Apple & Beyond

Vocabulary: Gravity

Story & Lesson

Isaac Newton spent a lot of time thinking about motion: why things move, and why they stop. He watched objects fall and wondered, “What is pulling them down?”

A popular story says Isaac noticed an apple fall from a tree. The apple didn’t fly sideways or float upward—it dropped straight down. Isaac began to imagine an invisible pull that reaches from Earth to the apple, and even from Earth to the Moon.

This week, you’ll explore the great pull we call gravity. You’ll drop objects, test what falls faster, and discover that gravity is always working—even when you can’t see it.

Week 3 illustration for Gravity — The Apple & Beyond.

Fun Fact

Gravity is the force that helps keep us on the ground—and it also helps keep the Moon moving around Earth.

Vocabulary Word

Gravity

The invisible pull that brings things down toward Earth.

Hands-On Activities

Tap to expand each activity

Materials

  • 2 small objects you can safely drop
  • A safe place to drop, like over a carpet or bed

Steps

  1. 1Hold one object in each hand at the same height.
  2. 2Count “1…2…3…DROP!”
  3. 3Watch and listen to see whether they land at the same time.
  4. 4Try different pairs of objects.

What to Notice

Air can slow light, fluffy things.

Materials

  • 1 coin
  • 1 feather or a small piece of tissue

Steps

  1. 1Drop the coin and feather at the same time.
  2. 2Observe which lands first.
  3. 3Now place the feather on top of the coin.
  4. 4Drop them together and compare what changes.

What to Notice

The coin can help block the air from pushing on the feather.

Materials

  • A book as a ramp
  • A marble or small ball
  • Painter’s tape (optional)
  • Pillows as a safe stop

Steps

  1. 1Prop one end of the book up to make a ramp.
  2. 2Place a pillow at the bottom as a catcher.
  3. 3Roll the marble down.
  4. 4Change one thing, like the steepness, the ball, or the surface.
  5. 5Talk about when it rolls farther and what makes it stop.

Coloring / Activity Page

Week 3 coloring and activity page for Gravity — The Apple & Beyond.

Gravity at Work!

Kids can color the scene, circle things gravity pulls, and draw two objects they dropped during the week.

A tree with apples, one falling, and child Isaac thinking nearby, plus a mini-chart for drop-test observations.

Discussion Questions

  1. 1What do you think gravity is doing right now?
  2. 2Why do some things fall slower than others?
  3. 3How is a fair test different from a silly test?
  4. 4If gravity suddenly disappeared, what would happen?

Recommended Videos

Short, kid-friendly videos that reinforce the week’s theme.

VIDEO
~5 min

History’s Heroes

Do Big Toys Fall Faster? (Newton’s Gravity Test for Kids!)

A follow-along gravity test from the History’s Heroes team that pairs perfectly with the Drop Test activity.

Watch on YouTube
VIDEO
~4 min

Crash Course Kids

Defining Gravity: Crash Course Kids #4.1

An energetic explanation of what gravity really means and how it pulls toward Earth.

Watch on YouTube
VIDEO
~6 min

Learning Mole

Newton’s First Law of Motion

A clear visual explanation of inertia that supports the marble ramp activity and motion ideas.

Watch on YouTube
4

Week 4: Isaac’s Legacy — How He Changed the World

Vocabulary: Legacy

Story & Lesson

As Isaac grew up, he kept following his questions. He studied math and science and became a teacher and a thinker. He wrote ideas that helped people understand motion, forces, and orbits in a new way.

Isaac’s work helped later inventors and scientists build better machines, understand planets, and design new tools. Even today, people use Newton’s ideas when they build bridges, design rides, and send rockets into space.

This week, you’ll celebrate Isaac’s legacy by building, testing, and sharing what you learned. You’ll see that learning is not just for school—it’s for life. When you stay curious and keep trying, you can help change the world too.

Week 4 illustration for Isaac’s Legacy — How He Changed the World.

Fun Fact

Newton’s ideas about motion helped people explain how planets and moons move in space.

Vocabulary Word

Legacy

Something good you leave behind that helps others later.

Hands-On Activities

Tap to expand each activity

Materials

  • 1 balloon
  • 1 drinking straw
  • String
  • Tape
  • 2 chairs or doorknobs

Steps

  1. 1Thread the string through the straw and tie the string tight between two points.
  2. 2Tape the balloon to the straw with the opening facing backward.
  3. 3Blow up the balloon and pinch it closed without tying it.
  4. 4Count down and let go.
  5. 5Try a new version with a bigger balloon, different angle, or shorter string.

Materials

  • A coat hanger or sturdy stick
  • String or yarn
  • 2 small cups
  • Tape
  • Small objects to compare

Steps

  1. 1Attach one cup to each side of the hanger with string and tape.
  2. 2Hold the hanger in the middle or hang it from a doorknob.
  3. 3Put objects in each cup and compare.
  4. 4Add or remove items until the scale balances.

Big Learner

Record: “It took ___ coins to balance ___.”

Materials

  • Paper
  • Crayons or markers
  • Optional: scissors and glue

Steps

  1. 1Fold a paper into 4 boxes.
  2. 2Draw 1) curious kid, 2) rainbow light experiment, 3) gravity thinking, and 4) legacy used today.
  3. 3Tell the story to a grown-up or friend using your drawings.

Coloring / Activity Page

Week 4 coloring and activity page for Isaac’s Legacy — How He Changed the World.

Newton’s Ideas Help Us!

This printable connects Newton’s early ideas to today’s world through matching and coloring.

A “then and now” scene: Isaac with paper, prism, and apple tree on one side, and a rocket, swing, bridge, and moon on the other.

Discussion Questions

  1. 1Which activity was your favorite in these 4 weeks and why?
  2. 2What is one question you still have about light or gravity?
  3. 3How did you practice being brave or patient while learning?
  4. 4How can your curiosity help other people?

Recommended Videos

Short, kid-friendly videos that reinforce the week’s theme.

VIDEO
~5 min

FreeSchool

Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion for Kids

A clear, animated recap of all three laws with everyday examples—a perfect wrap-up video.

Watch on YouTube
VIDEO
~20 min

NASA

NASA at Home: Rockets in Motion — Newton’s Third Law

A hands-on rocket-themed extension that pairs especially well with the balloon rocket activity.

Watch on YouTube
VIDEO
~8 min

STEM at Home

STEM at Home: Newton’s Laws of Motion

An approachable set of home experiments that extends the curriculum into more family science time.

Watch on YouTube

Bonus Game

Newton Says

Like Simon Says, but with science words and movement.

  • “Newton says… show me a rainbow!”
  • “Newton says… drop your hands!”
  • “Newton says… be a curiosity hero!”

Printable Certificate

Certificate of Completion: Isaac Newton 4-Week Learning Adventure

Printable Isaac Newton certificate background with decorative border and science-themed accents.
  • This certificate is proudly awarded to: __________
  • For completing the Isaac Newton 4-Week Curriculum and practicing curiosity, careful noticing, and brave learning.
  • Date: __________
  • Grown-up / Teacher Signature: __________

A ribbon badge that says “Curiosity Hero!” with an apple, rainbow, and star around it.

Keep the curiosity going

Explore more free History's Heroes resources or grab the Isaac Newton book to pair with the full four-week learning adventure.

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