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,...

Tenth graders estimate the size of an adult cheetah by research and measurement of a picture. They determine the approximate distance and speed of the cheetah from a filmed chase and compare that to their own running speed.

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

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 analyze velocity and how it is determined. They experiment with velocity in order to measure and calculate the magnitude of speed. They use examples in their novel "Skateboard Renegade" to relate velocity to real life situations.

Start your engines! Small groups collect data from websites pertaining to the Indianapolis 500 in order to determine average speed per lap and miles in each lap. The lesson requires prior knowledge of the the formula d=rt.

Students observe the movement of pendulums, they begin to understand the relationship between gravitational forces and the mass of objects, the changes in speed and direction of objects, and the distance between objects. They understand...

Fifth graders give examples of objects that move slow and fast. For 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 investigate how Newton's Third Law affects vehicle design. In this Newton's Third Law lesson, students use a web site to research Newton, his third law, and how to design a vehicle that uses a balloon for power. They sketch and...

Students conduct a webquest on an energy source they chose. In this physics lesson plan, students design an experiment to determine the factors affecting potential and kinetic energy. They calculate speed and create distance vs. time...

Students explore physics by completing measurement problems in class. In this speed of light lesson plan, students discuss the importance of knowing the speed of light and how it affects many aspects of human life on Earth. Students...

Students research the distances between objects in the Milky Way. For this astronomy lesson, students calculate the time it would take for a robot to travel from Milky Way object to another. They create a travel package for customers...

Students examine the changes in the U.S. in the period of industrialization before the Civil War. They analyze census data, list/describe inventions and innovations, explore various websites, conduct a Factory Simulation activity, and...

Students investigate the First U.S. Industrial Revolution. They identify positive and negative effects of early industrialization, read first-hand accounts, role-play and interview individuals, and participate in a debate.

Students review the principle elements of design along with the sequence of colors on the color wheel. In groups, they assign a feeling or mood to each color and share it with the class. To end the lesson, they use the internet to...

Students keep a journal for an intire week recording their observations of the ways aircraft affect society, The students discuss their findings and categorize them into areas such as military, commercial, research, and so on.

Students utilize computer programs to operate a simple robot.  In this technology lesson, students create robots using Lego pieces and simple motors to move them.  Students measure the speed of the robots by running Robolab...

Students locate the Trade Winds, Westerlies and Polar Easterlies on a map, explain the impact of the rotation of the Earth, and plot a route for a round trip voyage from New York to London.

Students tabulate the First Industrial Revolution where a significant number of inventions and innovations appeared transforming American life. Cite examples of change (ex. telegraph) in the lives of Americans during the era of question....

Young scholars observe and record different types of clouds. They use a cloud chart to discuss the three cloud types to see if students can identify the clouds they drew.

Students participate in sports activities that relate to motion, velocity and momentum. They produce a PowerPoint presentation after researching the activities.

Fifth graders examine migration by tracing animal migration routes on a map.  In this animal life lesson, 5th graders observe a map of North America and read about the migration patterns of geese.  Students trace the path most...

Sixth graders compare distances between objects in the solar system. They investigate how light years are measured and when using them to measure how distances compare with one another. They write an essay exploring the possibility of...

Seventh graders follow and record the progress of a musher on the Iditarod race. They access the official Iditarod website, determine the musher's overall speed, the daily average temperature and daily hours of sunlight, and develop a...