Lesson Plan
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Aeronautics: Bernoulli's Principle

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore physics by participating in a science activity in class. In this flight properties lesson, students identify Bernoulli's principle of flight and his theory of statics and motion. Students conduct a demonstration by...
Lesson Plan
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Water Pressure Blaster

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders complete an experiment to introduce them to the concept of water pressure. In this water pressure lesson plan, 3rd graders create pressure in a water bottle and observe the force of water that is created.
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Playing With Science

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scientists investigate the scientific concepts and principles that help make common toys such as hula hoops, yo-yos, slinkies, and silly putty work. As a class, they read "Backyard Rocket Science, Served Wet" to get a look behind...
Lesson Plan
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Newton's Second Law

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Three memorable activities build on each other to give physics masters a firm grasp of Newton's Second Law. Pupils play with a lab cart on a flat surface and on an incline to confirm that force is equal to mass times acceleration. In the...
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STEM for Teachers

Tsunami!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
How does the depth of an ocean affect the speed of a tsunami's waves? Use Jell-o, graham crackers, and marshmallows to model the effects of an underwater earthquake and its resulting tsunami. The lesson plan includes hands-on activities,...
Lesson Plan
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Rover Landing Design Challenge

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Young scholars examine the concepts of forces and motion. They work together to design protective devices for their egg rovers as they are dropped from a specific height. They record their observations and discuss.
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Helium Balloon Race

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students determine the force of a helium balloon that allows it to rise a specific distance.  In this helium lesson students calculate the amount of paper needed to construct a weight and determine the density of a piece of...
Lesson Plan
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Cruising Aircraft and Balanced Forces

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students, after reading an explanation from a NASA Web-based textbook, demonstrate an understanding of the text by applying it to questions involving cruising aircraft and balanced forces.
Lesson Plan
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The Physics of Skateboarding

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are able to analyze gravity as an universal force. They are able to determine how the force of friction retards motion. Students are able to apply Newton's Laws of Motion ot the way the world works.
Lesson Plan
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Speedy Trials

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate how forces affect the motion of an object. In this physics lesson, 5th graders calculate an object's speed using a mathematical formula. They discuss how force and mass affects the speed.
Lesson Plan
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Let's Get Moving

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students participate in sports activities that relate to motion, velocity and momentum. They produce a PowerPoint presentation after researching the activities.
Lesson Plan
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Newton Gets Me Moving

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discuss Newton's laws of motion. The conduct motion experiments by building "Newton Rocket Cars" from assorted materials. They propel the cars with rubber bands and wooden blocks and record the distance traveled on data sheets.
Lesson Plan
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Rocket Science 101

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the aspects of Newton's First and Third Laws of Motion as they conduct controlled rocketry experiments and analyze the Mars Mission in terms of the principles of rocketry.
Lesson Plan
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Hovercraft

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students assess human impact on water quality. They determine how the force of friction retards motion. Pupils describe and measure quantities that characterize moving objects and their interactions within a system: Time, Distance,...
Lesson Plan
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Newton's First Law Crash!!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine Newton's first law of motion and demonstrate how it applies to cars.  In this motion lesson plan students complete an experiment and worksheet on speed and inertia.
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An Uplifting Experience

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders conduct flight experiments.  In this uplifting experience lesson plan, 5th graders build an airfoil and place in a variety of conditions to observe the results of lift and force in flight, as well as angle of attack....
Lesson Plan
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Crash! Bang!

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students study the physical force of linear momentum by investigating collisions. They analyze the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions. They calculate linear momentum.
Lesson Plan
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Forces of Nature: The Challenges of River Travel

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students examine how river travel affected the Lewis and Clark expedition. They define gravity, slope, and velocity, conduct a river formations experiment, complete an activity sheet, and watch a video about Lewis and Clark.
Lesson Plan
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Sounds Like Science-Kazoo

For Teachers 4th - 11th
Students demonstrate how energy is used to make a sound. In this sound instructional activity, students construct a kazoo from a comb and identify how a sound is made by using force.
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Keep In Touch: Communications and Satellites

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore communications by reading assigned space science text. In this satellite instructional activity, 4th graders identify the concept of orbiting and examine gravitational pull by viewing diagrams. Students are...
Lesson Plan
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Pop Rocket - Trash to Treasure

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
First off, Newton's laws of motion aren't often taught at 2nd grade, so this lesson plan may be more appropriate for upper elementary learners. It begins with a discussion and demonstration of the laws of motion, and then has individuals...
Lesson Plan
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Bounce (Projectile Motion And Collisions)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils analyze the motion of an object as it moves through a complex path that includes rolling, falling, and bouncing. They answer questions related to what forces are acting at any given time.
Lesson Plan
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Rollin' On

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate the effects of gravity on the motion of a marble on an inclined plane and a declined plane. They work in small cooperative groups to predict and explain outcomes.
Lesson Plan
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Animating Motion

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students apply what they recall about objects in motion by animati ng sequences of pictures that model a set of physical conditions. They animate the orbital motions of the Earth, the space shuttle, and the Moon based on calculations of...