Push and Pull

NCERT anchor: NCERT Looking Around Class 1 — Theme: How Things Move (push and pull in daily life)

• Push moves things away from you; pull brings things toward you.
• Both need a force — you, a friend, or the wind through a string.
• Spot push and pull on swings, doors, school bags, and cricket stumps.

1. Push

Level 1 (Verbal): Shove a toy car away from your hand — it moves forward.

Level 2 (Symbolic): Push = force away from the pusher.

Visual: Arrow pointing away from you on a diagram.

2. Pull

Verbal: Pull the school bag strap toward you to lift or drag it.

Symbolic: Pull = force toward the puller.

Visual: Arrow pointing toward your body.

3. Both can start or stop motion

Push a swing → it moves. Pull it back → ready to go again. Same object, opposite directions.

Opening the classroom door

Step 1 — Pull the handle **toward** you → door opens inward.
Step 2 — Push the door **away** → door closes.
Step 3 — Same door, two actions: pull (open) and push (close).
Step 4 — Say which direction the door moves each time.
Answer: pull opens; push closes.

• Is dragging a school bag a push or pull?
• What do you do to a swing to send it forward?
• Draw arrows showing push on a toy car.
• Stretch: You pull a wicket (stump) out of the ground, then push it back in. Name both actions.

Revision tip: Each time you move something, say aloud: 'Am I pushing away or pulling toward?'

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Push and Pull.