Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newton's 2nd Law

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore Newton's second law of motion, testing and identifying the characteristics of objects that makes them easier or harder to push. They identify what types of objects are the hardest to move, then test a variety of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reflection of Light

For Teachers K - 8th
Young scholars experiment with reflections of two plane mirrors placed at a 90 degree angle to see what will be reflected.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Heavy Ice: Day Five

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners explore physics by conducting a class experiment. In this density lesson plan, students examine a list of items and discuss whether they will sink or float and then determine their density. Learners examine the objects over five...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

F = ma, Inertia, and Action-Reaction

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders apply concepts of Newton's Laws in scientific inquiries. Use this lesson to have your charges test and identify the characteristics of objects that make them easier or harder to push. After a teacher-led demonstration,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders watch a demonstration and complete an experiment to determine how an objects' density allows it to float or sink. They work in small groups to assimilate the characteristics of items that float as opposed to simply...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Could the Hindenburg Float?

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders experiment with floating and sinking objects and heavy and light liquids, using correct terms, like density, to explain what happens.  In this Hindenburg lesson, 10th graders watch a demonstration called the invisible...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy At Play

For Teachers 4th - 8th
If you can find Tinker Toys™, then this may be a fun assignment for your physical science class. Using the construction set and a few other toys, they examine the forces involved when it they are being played with. For each, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TRB 3:4 - Investigation 2 - Jump

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders jump with and without weights to reveal data that gravity has more of a pulling force with heavy objects that are on the ground than light objects on the ground. They also identify how their legs felt when they jumped with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density - An Introduction

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students experiment with objects of different densities. In this density lesson, students examine same-sized objects with different weights, then look at a teacher explanation of density. Students make wave bottles and a density jar to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newton's 2nd Law

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discuss Newton's Second Law of Motion, and the acceleration of fast and slow moving objects. They experiment with items with different masses to determine the effect mass has on acceleration using a toy car. They complete...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Learners find the mass, volume, and density of various objects. In this density measurement lesson plan, students observe how same-sized objects can have different masses, then use water displacement to find the density of each object...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan Seven: Sensorama

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students identify five senses, and use their senses of touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste to distinguish different objects, sounds, smells and tastes, and write their answers in the booklet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crash Test Smarties

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students share hypotheses about the variables needed to produce a collision between two moving objects. They simulate the impact of a moving object on an object that creates a spray of debris, and simulate a NASA Deep Impact study.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It Matters

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners use descriptive vocabulary to discuss the attributes of matter. Then, they sort objects or pictures by the type of matter they are comprised of. Finally, students match objects of matter with similar attributes and create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

LEAF (Learning Exercises and Activities in the Forest

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe populations and determine the functions (e.g., decomposers, producers, consumers) they serve in an ecosystem. They investigate the energy flow ecosystems. Students investigate factors (.g., Resources, light, water) that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density Lab Activities

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Pupils participate in several density lab activities in order to clarify the misconceptions that solids sink and liquids float. Students work with triple beam balances to find mass of objects to calculate density.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring Weight

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students use tables showing the ratios between ounces and pounds, grams and kilograms, and pounds and kilograms. They estimate whether an object should be weighed in ounces or pounds and whether an object should be weighed in grams or...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnetic Discovery Bottle

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine how to conduct simple investigations and use simple equipment to gather data.  In this magnet lesson plan students decide what types of objects are attracted to magnets. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

F = Ma, Inertia, And Action-reaction

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate Newton's Second and Third Laws of Motion. They determine what makes objects harder or easier to push. While investigating they determine how applying force in order balance out gravity allows things to stay...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Just a Little Bit

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read the book, "Just a Little Bit" and work in groups weighing the same object with a scale. They then get a different unit of measurement, like paper clips, cotton balls, washers, or pennies and then figure out and record...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Which Falls Faster?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders study force and what it does.  In this motion lesson students complete a demonstration on force and gravity and share their ideas. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

F = a, Inertia, and Friction

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use a matchbox car to push across a hard surface and observe what happens. They then push the car across a soft or rough surface and discover what happens. The two ideas are discusses as Newton's First and Second Laws of...
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Defining Density

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Three simple activities kick off a unit investigation of density. Your physical scientists make observations on the volume and mass of wood, water, and rocks, and make comparisons. Though this is written for grades three through eight,...
Lesson Plan
NASA

Photons in the Radiative Zone: Which Way Is Out? An A-Maz-ing Model

For Students 9th - 12th
Can you move like a photon? Young scholars use a maze to reproduce the straight line motion of a photon. The second in a six-part series of lessons on the sun has learners measure angle of incidence and refraction to determine the path...