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Spuds in Space

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore the effects of velocity on an object when it collides with another object. They design and outfit a potato astronaut in a spacesuit to withstand the hazards of high velocity impacts from space debris and meteoroids.
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Leaving on A Jet Plane

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students create an airplane by listening to directions. They also to measure the pieces for the airplane and compare and contrast their test flights.
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Electricity and Magnets

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders find examples of magnets in or around their homes and make a list. They discover that some motors use magnets and make a simple motor using magnets, a battery and copper wire. They add to their magnet list.
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Bottle Rocket Launcher

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students construct a bottle rocket launcher for use with the Bottle Rocket and Project X-35 activities. They construct a bottle launcher from "off-the-shelf" hardware and wood using simple tools.
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Surface Friction and Wear Characteristics of Common Materials

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the factors affecting friction. In this physics lesson, students construct their own rocket car and race them. They graph the average speeds and discuss how lubricants affect friction between rubbing surfaces.
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Build Your Own Hovercraft

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners construct a hovercraft following specific procedures. In this technology lesson plan, students explain the physics principles behind hovercraft. They compare and contrast this machine with the aircraft.
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Swings

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars investigate variables which may seem to affect the movement of a pendulum, or "swing."They interpret their observations and apply the scientific principles to develop explanations and solve a new problem.
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Antacid Tablet Race

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Learners compare the reaction rates of effervescent antacid tablets under different conditions. They investigate methods of increasing the power of rocket fuels by manipulating surface area and temperature.
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Energy for You

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the energy sources used in student's communities. They explore where the energy comes from, how it is transported, and the uses to which it is put. They review the meanings of vocabulary renewable and newable resources.
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3RC (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Compost)

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners examine the effects of packaging decisions and the engineering advancements in packaging materials and waste management. They observe biodegradation in a model landfill.
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Principles of Flight: Gyrocopter and the Scientific Method

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the concept of the scientific method. In this investigative lesson plan, students investigate which direction the blades will spin on a gyrocopter. Student will practice using the scientific method to complete the...
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Magnets

For Teachers K - 8th
Students explore how the earth is a magnet and that magnets have two "poles".  In this magnetic lesson students complete an activity by designing their own compass. 
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Characteristics of Energy

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders view a video and create a KWL to identify energy sources. In this energy sources lesson, 4th graders explore the meaning of energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, thermal energy, radiant energy, and electrical energy....
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Hurricanes 2: Tracking Hurricanes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the role of technology in identifying and tracking hurricanes.
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Aerodynamics And Me

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders design, construct, refine, and test cars that they build on the computer screen. They find the density of several objects using the techniques used to find volume. They measure various common objects to become more...
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Earthquake Patterns

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students identify and interpret the cyclical nature of the Parkfield, California earthquakes. They then investigate and graph earthquake occurrences on the Mojave segment of the San Andreas fault and then on the Hayward fault in order to...
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Gravity Launch

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Pupils use an online interactive to launch a rocket from earth. They have control over the angle and thrust of the rocket to discover the relationship between the two.
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Water and Ice

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students will work in small groups, observing an ice cube and recording a description, the feel of the ice, and how it looks when put in another container. Students observe changes in the ice over 15 minute intervals, then freeze the...
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Chemistry in the Kitchen

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students, in groups, combine given materials from an everyday kitchen until a chemical reaction occurs and record the reaction time.
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Principles of Flight: Bernoulli's Lift

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students discover how air pressure effects flight.  In this physics activity, students create two types of airplane wings so they can observe the way air pressure creates lift.  Students utilize a printout to create the...
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Simple Machines

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students investigate simple machines. In this simple machines lesson plan, students construct two simple machines and describe what they do. Students show that simple changes help machines do work with less effort. Students use a paper...
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The Phenomenon of Sound: Waves

For Teachers K - 5th
Students explore sound waves. In this sound waves lesson, students brainstorm different sounds and how sounds move or travel. Students then create a KWL chart and work through six different lab activities to examine how sound waves...
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Properties of Matter (Biomaterial Through Nanotechnology)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate friction between different surfaces. In this physics lesson, students research biomaterials that can reduce friction. They calculate efficiency using a mathematical formula.
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Geography Made Fun with Technology

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students incorporate knowledge box into their classroom activities. In this technology integration lesson, students fill out a graphic organizer using Glossopedia to analyze a new subject.