Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Lesson: Navigating at the Speed of Satellites

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study the basic concepts of the Global Positioning System and how it increases the accuracy of navigation. They examine trilateration and how the speed of light is used to calculate distances.
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Light Waves: Grades 9-12

For Students 9th - 12th
Explore the behavior of light waves with a lab activity. Scholars build new vocabulary through experimentation and observation. Using different mediums, they model reflection, refraction, transmission, diffusion, and scattering of light.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Communication Delay

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Construct a maze in your classroom and have a blindfolded scientist act as a space rover, maneuvering unfamiliar terrain while another scientist plays commander. Classmates record the number of occurrences of the commander having to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Linear Motion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are able to build an understanding of linear motion. They are able to define and calculate the speed and acceleration of various objects. Students are able to differentiate betweeen instantaneous speed and average speed. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Matrices at the Speed of Light!

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Perform operations using matrices in this algebra lesson plan. Middle schoolers add, subtract, and multiply matrices. Additionally, they solve systems of equations using matrices.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Speed of Sound

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the phenomenon of sounds traveling slower than light. They discover why they see things before they hear them and how to estimate the speed of sound as homework.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How to verify the relationship between the wavelength and frequency of light

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers collaborate in heterogeneous groups with each student having a different role. They comprehend the relationship between the frequency and wavelength of light. They record their observations in a table that is included on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scale Model of Our Nearest Stars

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders calculate a light day, light hour, and light minute from the standard of a light year. After establishing the distances, a one meter scale is created to demonstrate the distance between the sun and the planets of our solar...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The UPS Experiment

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students calculate the speed using metric measurements. In this geometry lesson, students calculate speed, distance and velocity using metric measurements. They gain inquiry and problem solving skills in this assignment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In a Galaxy Far, Far, Far Away

For Teachers 6th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A CEENic Galaxy Quest!

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students research the distances between objects in the Milky Way. In this astronomy instructional activity, students calculate the time it would take for a robot to travel from Milky Way object to another. They create a travel package...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Playground Games

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students compete in playground games in order to review velocity and wave behavior in real life situations. They demonstrate understanding by calculating velocity in their "Playground Games" packet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

STRAINING FOR SOUND

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders use a laser along with computer microphone probeware and the appropriate software, 6th graders determine the speed of rotating objects.An audio amplifier is connected to a solar cell to change the laser light signal into a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Atomic Emission Spectra and the Bohr Model of the Atom

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers investigate the wavelengths of spectra lines for common atoms. In this atomic emission spectra lesson plan, students use a transformer and diffraction grating to observe the emission spectra of various atoms. They find the...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Nano What?

For Students 9th - 12th
The size of a nanoparticle is difficult for pupils to grasp. A hands-on experiment is designed to give your classes perspective. Learners analyze different sports drinks for the content of electrolytes as an introduction to nanoscale....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Super Gelatin

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils investigate the refraction properties of gelatin to calculate its index of refraction. They discover that as the light travels through the gelatin, its speed and wavelength also change. Students find th indes of refraction of an...
Lesson Plan
Santa Monica College

Flame Tests of Metal Cations

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Scientists used flame tests to identify elements long before the invention of emission spectroscopy. Young chemists observe a flame test of five metal cations in the fourth instructional activity of an 11-part series. Individuals then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking Out Is Looking Back...

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the size of our Universe by understanding how long it takes to travel around from object to object in it - even if you travel at the speed of light! In making our exploration, we will examine ways of measuring distance,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Super Gelatin

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners measure angles of refraction as the light travels through gelatin.  In this experimental lesson students complete a refraction lab and plot their data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Physics of the Planets: How 16th and 17th Century Physicist Helped Us Understand Our Solar System

For Teachers 8th
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Journey Through Space

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students arrange various pictures of the Earth to identify its journey through space. In this Earth's rotation lesson plan, students use models of the Earth and demonstrate its journey through space. Students complete the worksheet about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring Acceleration

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers create an accelerometer and take measurements of acceleration in a moving car. They study the car speeding up in a straight line, slowing in a straight line and curving at constant speed. They prepare a lab report showing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Fall of the Ruler

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers determine their reaction time using a ruler. In this Physics lesson, students calculate the class' means and variances. They plot the graph and analyze if there are outliers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seasonal CEENBoT

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners simulate the Earth's revolution around the sun using CEENBoT. In this earth science lesson students calculate the Earth's distance in AU and it's speed of revolution. They explain how the Earth's movement cause seasonal variation.