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Simple Electrical Circuits
Students construct a simple electrical circuit. In this electrical circuit lesson, students use a cell battery, bulb, and wire to construct a simple circuit. Students read about switches, circuits, and electricity in Electro Wiz...
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Learn about Torque
Students calculate torque and determine its uses. In this lesson on torque, students watch a video and teacher demonstrations and work with a small group on a lab activity. Students provide example of how torque is used in daily life,...
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Discovery Science Library: The Basics Physical Science
Middle schoolers examine friction and gravity. affect four sports. In this scientific discovery lesson plan, students examine how friction and gravity affect sports. They discuss, write, and illustrate the effect of different forces on...
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Describing the Motion of a Battery Powered Cars
Middle schoolers explore distance a toy car travels by changing the amount of batteries used to power the toy car. In this force and motion lesson, students calculate the average speed of a car while investigating the power from various...
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Punting and Projectile Motion
Students explore the concept of projectile motion. In this physics lesson, students watch the video "Science of NFL Football – Projectile Motion and Parabolas." Students participate in computer simulations on the range of projectiles...
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Wingin' It
Learners investigate the physics of flight by creating an airfoil. In this physics lesson, students create an airplane wing from copy paper, cardboard, bamboo skewers and other classroom items. Learners compete with their wings using a...
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How Do Probes Get To Space
Learners investigate how force works to propel rockets into outer space. In this physics lesson, students use a drinking straw, fishing line, a balloon, and tape to explore how force works in outer space. Learners repeat the experiment...
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Kites: Patang - The Indian Fighter Kite
Students investigate the history of fighter kites and build their own. In this aeronautics lesson, students discover how other countries utilize fighter kites and where they originated. Students create their own fighter kites in class...
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Optical Illusions
Students view, identify, and construct four optical illusions. In this optical illusions instructional activity, students are introduced to four types of optical illusions. They construct their own illusions.
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Science Blackout Vocabulary
In this science blackout vocabulary learning exercise, students read the definition of 15 physics terms, then write the correct word.
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Marshland Ecosystem
Students classify animals based on their physical characteristics and eating habits. In this animal identification lesson plan, students investigate the life forms shown on a Parisian ceramic basin, and discover ecosystem the artist was...
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Celebrating 100 Years of Flight
Students practice reading comprehension, note taking and writing skills. In this literacy and writing lesson, students read about the invention of airplanes, women pilots and the space race before writing their own news article on "100...
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Surface Tension
Students view demonstrations that illustrate the surface tension of water. In this properties of water lesson, students observe demonstrations that show how water exhibits surface tension. They explain how the demonstration shows surface...
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Stable and Unstable Structures
Students consider ways to create stable bridges. In this bridge design lesson, students view pictures of bridges that have collapsed. They use the information to work in small groups creating a blueprint for a bridge of their own. Their...
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Air...What Gives?
Students investigate the properties of air by capturing it, squeezing it, and feeling its weight. For this forces lesson, students capture bags of air and examine its properties. The weight and pressure of air is emphasized.
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Wheelies
Students design wheels for a coaster car to travel varying terrain. In this motion and friction lesson, students discuss friction and motion and test wooden wheels on a track. Students then brainstorm how to increase friction and bring...
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Student Exploration: Circuit Builder
In this circuit builder learning exercise, students use the Circuit Builder Gizmo to answer 15 questions and complete charts about different kinds of circuits. Students will need to have access to the online Gizmo to complete the...
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Sea Ice and Satellites
Students study satellites and satellite images using Google Earth. In this satellite lesson, students discuss satellites and how they work. Students watch a demonstration of how satellites work and learn what they are used for. Students...
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Demonstrating the Kinds of Energy
Students experiment with inner tubes, weights, flasks, and pistons to demonstrate the gas laws. In this molecular motion instructional activity, students demonstrate pressure as a force per area. They conduct an experiment to show the...
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Spherical Mirrors
Students view images in a spherical mirror and interpret the path of light. For this physics lesson, students view a large spherical mirror demonstrated by the instructor. They use shiny serving spoons to investigate the path of light on...
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Gears and Proportions
Students explore gears. In this simple machines and ratio instructional activity, students view a video clip in which front and rear bicycle gears are explained. From a set of gear combinations and gear ratios, students identify high...
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Feature Analysis
Students research and analyze energy. In this energy lesson plan, students research types of energy and complete a feature analysis chart using chalk or markers. Students write generalizations about each type of energy based on their chart.
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Want to Drag?!
Students use the Metric system and engineering software to design a scale model car. In this scale model car making lesson plan, students design a scale model car using computer software, the Metric system, and properties of...
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Lesson: Sand and Water
Students review background information about water tension and adhesive forces on sand. For this sand science lesson, students visit a beach and have a sand building competition near water and away from it. Students discuss water tension...