Ninth graders calculate the average speed of their balsa wood airplane. In this physics lesson, 9th graders build their own airplane and make necessary modifications to to make it fly straight. They interpret distance and time graph...

Sixth graders compare and contrast mass and weight. In this physics lesson, 6th graders calculate speed given distance and time information. They construct a rocket and relate this to Newton's 3rd Law of motion.

Stuents explore wheels and axles and how they maka machine move. After a teacher demonstration, students construct a wheel and axle. Students explore the circumference of the wheel. They compare the wheel sizes, speed, distance, and load...

Students examine how a rate is calculated from two points. Using battery operated cars, pairs of students measure time and distance. Afterward, they use this data to calculate the rate. Students then plot four ordered pairs and discover...

Take your class on the ride of their lives! Physical science scholars get an in-depth look at potential and kinetic energies in an amusement park-themed unit. Students research, design, and promote their own amusement parks,...

Get things moving with this extensive collection of physical science resources. Covering the fundamentals of measurement, graphing, lab safety, and experimental design as well as the specific scientific concepts...

Students interpret a variety of motion graphs. In this physics lesson, students calculate the speed and acceleration of objects using numerical data from graphs. They apply what they have learned to solve real world problems.

Learners are introduced to the concepts of speed, velocity, acceleration and inertia. In groups, they use the internet to research rollercoasters found in the United States and calculate their acceleration rates. They use the...

Young scholars create and build cars to race in class. In this physics lesson, students calculate the speed using distance and time information. They evaluate their design and make adjustments when needed.

Learners move with control in general space. They move with three different spatial distances and tempi. Students demonstrate understanding of the distance and speed of particles in matter: solid-close and slow; liquid-medium distance...

You have to crack a few eggs to make a good engineer! Working in small groups, young scholars design, build, and test devices that protect an egg from breaking when dropped from a ladder.

High schoolers investigate the factors affecting projectile trajectory. In this physics lesson, students calculate the range, time and speed of projectiles using mathematical equations.

Eighth graders draw the paths of the planets in the solar system. In this astronomy lesson, 8th graders calculate speed of objects using distance and time information. They research about the work of scientists in the 16th and 17th century.

Young scholars identify the different objects that orbit Saturn. In this space science activity, students plot the graph of orbital speed and distance. They explain why planets and asteroids remain in orbit around the sun.

Students explore hurricanes and tornadoes by conducting an experiment. In this weather pattern lesson, students define many extreme weather vocabulary terms and discuss the relationship with static electricity. Students utilize plastic...

Students calculate a toy car's velocity and acceleration. For this force and motion lesson, students build ramps and attach a dropper to a toy car, which is released down the ramp. Students calculate and graph velocity and acceleration...

Students determine how speed is measured. In this physics activity, students design an experiment to find out if the robot's drive wheel size affects its speed. They collect data and discuss results.

Three days of race car design and driving through the classroom while guessing probability could be a third graders dream. Learn to record car speed, distances traveled, and statistics by using calculation ranges using the mean, median,...

Students determine their own walking and running velocity. In this physics lesson, students calculate velocity using distance and time information. They compare human and animal speeds.

Students explore Newton's three laws of motion using a variety of activities. In this physics lesson plan, students calculate the average speed of a vehicle they constructed using distance and time information. They identify and draw the...

Students design and build a working catapult or trebuchet to explore the concepts of force, motion, and distance.

Fifth graders investigate how forces affect the motion of an object. In this physics lesson, 5th graders calculate an object's speed using a mathematical formula. They discuss how force and mass affects the speed.

Fifth graders give examples of objects that move slow and fast. In this physics lesson, 5th graders rank animals according to how quickly they move. They create a bar graph of organisms versus rates of speed.

Students use everyday materials (milk cartons, water bottles, pencils, straws, candy) to build a small-scale transportation device that incorporates the wheel and axle and the lever. They race their carts/trucks, measure distance, time...