Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Mini Mouse Lab

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Use a simulation to operate an elevator and see its motion. Examine the graphs that describe the motion you produce.
Lesson Plan
The Wonder of Science

The Wonder of Science: Ms Ps2 1: Collision Design Solution

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Help your young scholars explore how the motion of objects changes during a collision. This website includes work samples, phenomena, assessment templates, and videos that focus on collision design solution.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Strange Attractor

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the chaotic motion of a pendulum that is swinging above several magnets that are fixed in place and see what patterns you can find.
Activity
PBS

Wgbh: Peep and the Big Wide World: Explore and Play: Sliding Peep

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students make their own ramps and test them out by sending various objects down them.
Activity
PBS

Wgbh: Peep and the Big Wide World: Explore and Play: Snowy Hills

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students make two snowy hills, one steep and one gentle, to discover their effects on rolling objects.
Activity
PBS

Wgbh: Peep and the Big Wide World: Explore and Play: Toy Sleds

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students experiment with different materials and objects to make a sled that will slide down the ramps.
Interactive
Physics Aviary

Physics Aviary: Force Direction Relative to Motion

For Students 9th - 10th
This lab/learning activity is designed to introduce students to the idea of how direction of force relative to motion determines the future motion of the object subjected to the force. Students can also explore the factors that determine...
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Motion and Forces in Two Dimensions: Relative Velocity

For Students 9th - 10th
Through illustrated examples and interactive practice problems, students explore problems that involve relative velocity- where the actual motion of an object is different than its motion relative to a stationary observer.
eBook
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Circular and Satellite Motion: Amusement Park Physics

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive module, students explore the centripetal acceleration experienced by riders within the circular-shaped sections of a roller coaster track.
Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: A Change of Direction

For Teachers K - 1st
Students will make predictions and conduct an experiment using marbles to figure out what types of things can cause a moving object to change direction. Included is a video of the lesson in action, pictures, discussion questions, and a...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Projectile Magic

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students watch video clips from October Sky and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to learn about projectile motion. They explore the relationships between displacement, velocity and acceleration and calculate simple projectile...
Unit Plan
City College of New York

City Technology: Fantastic Elastic

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore engineering technology with this unit. Students will study how to design and execute two types of homemade vehicles using elastic.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Curious George Stem: Ramp N Roll Lesson Plan

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Explore how different objects move down ramps in this Curious George instructional activity. Students will make predictions about how objects will roll down different heights of ramps.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Experiencing Newton's Laws of Motion

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This lesson will approach the study of Newton's 3 Laws of Motion using McGraw-Hill Science textbook Unit F. The students will be given an overview of the laws and vocabulary words to study. After introducing and explaining the concept of...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Sliding Textbooks

For Teachers 5th - 7th
In this culminating activity of the unit which highlights how forces play a role in engineering design and material choices, students explore and apply their knowledge of forces, friction, acceleration, and gravity in a two-part experiment.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Newton's 3rd Law: Coin Flick

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this elementary physics investigation, students explore Newton's 3rd Law of Motion: To every action there is an equal & opposite reaction. Pairs of students will line up 5 pennies, (touching each other), between 2 rulers. The row...
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Up, Up and Away! Airplanes

For Teachers 4th - 6th
The airplanes unit begins with a lesson on how airplanes create lift, which involves a discussion of air pressure and how wings use Bernoulli's Principle to change air pressure. Following the lessons on lift, students explore the other...
Lesson Plan
TryEngineering

Try Engineering: Engineering Air Traffic

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students work in teams to explore how radar and computer technology is used to provide the necessary data to air traffic controllers. Students become "engineers" as they work to find ways to enhance the current air traffic control system.
Lesson Plan
TryEngineering

Try Engineering: Working With Watermills

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Teams of students design, build, test, and evaluate a working watermill made from everyday materials. Lesson explores how watermills generate energy from water, while students gain an understanding of the structural engineering design...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Exploring Acceleration Through Vectors

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
The goal of this activity is to get learners to think about what is happening when velocity and acceleration vectors point in different directions. The pictures, sentences, and cars used allow the students to picture each situation in...
Activity
Michigan Reach Out

Nasa: Soda Pop Can Hero Engine

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students explore all three parts of Newton's Laws of Motion by observing a spinning pop can.
Interactive
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Dish It Out, Simple Machine Game

For Students 1st - 5th
Explore the physics of motion and simple machines with this interactive game. Try a pre-made challenge or set up ramps in your own challenge to get the mysterious Dim Sum ball into the take-out container.
Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Which Way?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students' use a motion detector to examine how different types of motion affect the shape of the distance versus time plot. They explore how changes in direction and other factors affect the shape of the plot.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: The Ruff Ruffman Show: Ups and Downs

For Students K - 1st
Explore sports science and build a ramp that will roll a ball right to the target.