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Activity
Curated OER

The Physics of Sports: An 8th Grade Physical Science Project

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Explore the relationship between sports and physics in a cross-curricular lesson. Middle and high schoolers prepare a multimedia presentation based on a chosen sport. They answer five physics vocabulary questions about how the laws of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Snapshot of Science

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore physical and chemical changes. In this physical science lesson plan, 6th graders study vocabulary, discuss the changes they see in the world and look up information on chemical and physical changes. Students create...
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Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Mysterious M&M's

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
The first in a six-lesson mini unit, all using M&Ms® candies, this physical science activity gets kids to observe a single piece and discover what happens when it is placed in a plate of water. The activity can be used to introduce...
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Activity
Institute of Physics

Activities for STEM Clubs

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Need some support or ideas of how to entertain middle schoolers or what clubs to bring into your school?  Let this excellent 40-page resource guide with links and step-by-step directions on STEM activities guide your decision.
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Lesson Plan
Foundation for Water & Energy Education

How is Flowing Water an Energy Source? Activity B

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Explore the world's water without leaving the classroom! In this second of three uncomplicated but wonderful activities, physical science learners feel the pressure of water. They discover that the deeper the water, the stronger the...
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eBook
Utah Education Network (UEN)

Utah Open Textbook: 6th Grade Science

For Students 6th Standards
There are many interactions among living things and their surroundings. By completing a reading, scholars learn about the Earth, the moon, and the sun and how they relate to the solar system. They also investigate the basics of physical...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Physical Challenge Activity Cards and Parent Letter

For Students 6th - 7th
In this study of physical challenges and inventions worksheet, students take a letter home to their families explaining that they will be studying the affects of physical challenges and inventions that aid people who live with them. They...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Physical Science Activities: Letters in a Mirror

For Students 5th - 8th
Investigate mirror images with alphabet letters! In order to experiment with mirror images, distortion, and reflection, class members use small mirrors and place them over and near the alphabet letters on the worksheet. Individuals or...
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Activity
Exploratorium

Descartes' Diver

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pique interest in water pressure, demonstrate buoyancy, and explore water displacement concepts with a homemade Cartesian diver. You may want to change the name of the toy, however, as is is not documented the Rene Descartes actually...
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Activity
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IOP Institute of Physics

Physics in Concert

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What do physicists and musicians have in common? A lot more than you might think. After first viewing a slide show presentation and completing a series of skills practice worksheets on the physics of light, sound, and electricity, young...
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Activity
Newspaper Association of America

Cereal Bowl Science and Other Investigations with the Newspaper

For Teachers K - 12th Standards
What do cereal, fog, and space shuttles have to do with newspapers? A collection of science investigations encourage critical thinking using connections to the various parts of the newspaper. Activities range from building origami seed...
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Unit Plan
Virginia Middle School Engineering Education Initiative

Save the Penguins: An Introduction to Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Heat things up in your physical science class with this interactive lesson series on thermodynamics. Through a series of class demonstrations and experiments, young scientists learn how heat is transferred through conduction, convention,...
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Lesson Plan
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National Science Teacher Association

Middle School Sampler: Science

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Focus on inquiry-based learning in your science class with a series of activities designed for middle schoolers. A helpful packet samples four different texts, which include activities about predator-prey relationships, Earth's axis and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Activity: Leaning Tower of Pasta

For Teachers 6th - 8th
A well-laid-out lesson plan, this can be used in an engineering, STEM, or physical science course. Laboratory groups design a structure using pasta and marshmallows, measure its height and weight, and then discover the load that it can...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Science Puzzlers, Twisters & Teasers: The World of Physical Science

For Students 5th - 8th
Challenge your class with these physical science puzzlers, twisters, and teasers. Each individual responds to a series of riddle-style questions that are related to scientific terminology. While this has little educational value, it...
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Lesson Plan
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Baylor College

Activity and Exercise

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Leave it to the classic jump rope to get your class excited about physical activity! Your class will begin by discussing the benefits of jumping rope as a form of exercise and learning a few different types of jumps. Then in groups of...
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Interactive
Concord Consortium

Atom and Ion Builder

For Students 6th - 12th
Explore and control the building blocks of atoms! Physical science superstars add and remove subatomic particles to create atoms and ions with an easy-to-use interactive. An alternate activity includes an assignment that focuses on the...
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Instructional Video1:10
PBS

Properties of Matter: Matter's Physical Properties | UNC-TV Science

For Students 3rd - 12th
Does gold really boil? Learn what temperature gold boils at and more using an animated activity about the properties of matter. Scientists learn about the properties of matter including examples of physical properties, the effect changes...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physical Education: Mission Possible

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students participate in a physical education activity, Mission Possible, where they attempt to steal a jug of jewels. They must successfully overcome five challenge areas to complete the activity. Students develop cooperative...
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Unit Plan
Broward County Public Schools

Force and Motion

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Get the ball rolling with this upper-elementary science unit on forces and motion. Offering over three weeks of physical science lessons, this resource is a great way to engage the class in learning about simple machines, friction, the...
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Activity
K-State Research and Extensions

Water

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
How are maps like fish? They both have scales. The chapter includes six different activities at three different levels. Scholars complete activities using natural resources, learn how to read a map, see how to make a compass rosette,...
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Activity
Exploratorium

Marshmallow Puff Tube

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Let physical science stars experience Newton's first law of motion by blowing marshmallows out of cardboard tubes! Using different lengths of tubing, they find that more force is needed to overcome increasing friction, and they have a...
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Physics of Flight

For Students 3rd - 8th
Up, up, and away! Take your classes on a physics adventure. Learners explore the concepts important for flight. They experiment with the Bernoulli Principle while learning the forces that act on airplanes in flight.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bering Sea Buffet - A Foodweb Activity

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Life in the Bering Sea, food webs, and the ocean ecosystem are introduced with a map activity. The lesson starts as kids explore maps and images of the Bering Sea, then it kicks into high gear as they start to discuss the types of...