Magic of Physics
Spring Motion
Get the class all wound up about spring motion! Science scholars manipulate interactive springs and observe the effects of change using an online activity. Customizable options include the number of springs as well as the spring and...
Teach Engineering
Investigating the Properties of Plastic and its Effects on the Environment
Pore over the properties of plastic. Working through four different stations, pupils investigate some properties of plastic, including chemical decomposition, mechanical breakdown, density, and the ability to infiltrate the food chain....
NASA
From Smoke Signals to Cell Phones: Tracing How Technologies Evolve
Explore the science of space exploration. Pupils consider technological advances in propulsion, communication, power, navigation, and imaging. They select one of these areas and create a timeline of historical progress that contributed...
Science Companion
Simple Machines Design Project
Make your work as a teacher a little easier with a physical science project on simple machines. After introducing young scientists to these devices and identifying their different uses around the school, this project engages...
James Dyson Foundation
Challenge Cards
Can you build it? Yes you can! This interactive game includes four design challenges presented on separate cards. The cards outline the challenges with limited restrictions but with an end goal in mind. The competitions include building...
NOAA
Ocean Zones
How can organisms light up in water? Bioluminescence is light produced in a chemical reaction that can occur in an organism's body. First, learners determine what happens to light/color as you move into the deep ocean. In groups, they...
Next Generation Science Storylines
How Can We Sense so Many Different Sounds from a Distance?
Dive into the mystery of sound waves! Scholars brainstorm questions about how sound travels and why different items make different sounds. They then conduct experiments to answer their questions.
PBS
Regional Patterns of Climate: Pacific Northwest
Climate systems involve sunlight, ocean, atmosphere, ice, land forms, and many other factors. Scholars explore each of these variables related to the Pacific Northwest rain forest. They use an online interactive to investigate the polar...
PBS
Phase Changes | Phases of Matter | UNC-TV Science
Take an energetic ride through the phase changes of a water molecule in a compact activity. Young scientists learn about the phases of matter and discover the role of thermal energy in governing phase changes while watching a short...
Curated OER
The Learning Bottleneck
Students identify and analyze what energy is and how they feel after moving around a lot. They identify other ways that they can acquire heat and if there is some sort of mechanism for storing energy. Finally, students construct their...
Curated OER
Solar
Students study solar energy. In this renewable energy lesson students complete several lab activities using different controls and variables.
Curated OER
Units in Thermochemical Calculations
Learners study how to complete thermochemical equations. In this equation lesson students learn how to manipulate equations to calculate energy changes and reactions.
Curated OER
Biomass As a Fuel
Students investigate the use of biomass as a fuel. They discuss energy and its uses in their homes. They explore the two types of energy, potential and kinetic and examples of both types. They study the process of photosynthesis and...
Curated OER
Gamma Ray Bursts
Young scholars study an article on Gamma Rays. In this investigative lesson students study the energy and wavelengths of gamma rays and the theories behind them.
Curated OER
A Bicycle Trip
In this bicycle worksheet, students learn how the gears of a bicycle transfer energy. This worksheet has 2 short answer questions and 5 problems to solve.
Curated OER
Simulating the Greenhouse Effect in a Terrarium
Students identify what factors effect global warming and how the greenhouse effect occurs. For this environmental lesson students view videos then complete an experiment using a terrarium to observe greenhouse gas.
Teach Engineering
How a Hybrid Works
Work with your class to connect series and parallel circuits to hybrid cars. The instructional activity introduces basic circuit diagrams before having scholars apply the understanding of the difference between parallel and...
Curated OER
What Does the Sun Give Us?
Pupils study the sun and how solar energy works. To learn about renewable energy, they complete a lab activity using a pizza box as a solar heater. Quite clever!
Curated OER
Animals, Soil, Trees
Fourth graders describe the various kinds of soils and how plants and animals are affected by them. They describe the baic needs of plants, scoring at least a 3 or 4 on a 4-point rubic. Students are able to predict and/or infer what...
Curated OER
Understanding: Electricity
Students view a segment of "Electricity's Power," they focus on the professions- lightning researcher, scientist specializing in electricity in space, and a lineman. They choose one profession, students explore and investigate about the...
Curated OER
Kyoto Protocol
In this environment activity, students read an article about setting up the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty. They identify the meaning of human environment and what the Earth's greenhouse effect is. Students also explain the...
Curated OER
Measuring Calories
Students burn peanuts and marshmallows to determine the calories each contains. In this calorimetry lesson, students set up an apparatus with a ring stand and water in an aluminum can. They record the temperature of the water before and...
Curated OER
Electricity
Students identify the different professions that are related to electricity. In this professions lesson students write a story about performing one of these jobs and share it with the class.
Curated OER
Recycle Lifecycle
Students investigate the recycling process. In this recycling lesson, students read the article The Recycling Process After Collection and discuss the advantages of recycling. As an extension activity, students simulate the molding of...