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Capturing Wind Energy

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students investigate technology and make a correlation between technology and the weather. In this science lesson plan, students experiment with the weather and climate using technology to help them understand forces and motion. They...
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Race the Track! Design Challenge

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students use the design process to investigate physical science.  For this force and motion lesson, design a track to achieve a specified outcome. Students complete additional experiments with speed and distance.  Students...
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Newton's Laws and Seat Belts

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study Newton's Laws of Motion. They review an assessment task and rubric and discuss Newton's Laws of Motion. They discuss how to test the relationships of mass and acceleration in personal situations. They write a one-page...
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Rock-A-Bye Pendulum

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders use the scientific process to explore the effects of force on an object in motion. They demonstrate that the greater the force applied to an object, the greater the change in speed or direction of the object. They...
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Investigation 1 - Push and Pull

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study the forces of push and pull on motion
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The Science of Hurricanes

For Teachers 3rd - Higher Ed
Students are introduced to the science of hurricanes in an effort to highlight how forces change the speed and direction of motion.
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Investigation 2 - Zoom Balls

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders create Zoom Balls to explain how sometimes both forces of push and pull need to be used at the same time.
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Simple Machines

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders are introduced to the six types of simple machines and discover how they make tasks easier. In groups, they rotate between stations to experiment with the different types of simple machines. To end the activity, they make...
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Forces and Energy Study Guide

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders use prior knowledge to create a tri-fold study guide using Microsoft Publisher (if available). They include real world examples that show balanced and unbalanced forces, kinetic and potential energy, and vocabulary. The...
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Exploring the MapleCopter

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Study explore the motion of maple seeds and design experiments to explain their spinning flight patterns. They make observations, explain ideas of motion, use models, analyze previous reports and experiments, identify relevant factors...
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Movement of Objects

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders investigate motion. In this science lesson, 9th graders conduct experiments on objects to analyze motion and speed. They define motion in everyday life.
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The Gravity Of It All-Newton's Laws

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students experiment with the concept of Newton's second law of motion. After building a ramp, they determine whether a large marble or a small marble will move farther, based on Newton's law. Students record their data on the provided....
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The Drag of Drag

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are told that any object moving through a fluid (air, water, molasses, etc) experience a drag force which oppose the motion. They are given the summarized version of drag which is proportional to the square of the velocity....
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Where the Rubber Meets the Road

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine two different types of tires and the effects of different factors on the amount of force needed to overcome sliding friction such as when the vehicle tries to stop.
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Hot Wheels

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students observe the action produced by toy cars. In this geometry instructional activity, students discuss motion and distance as they relate to the movement of a spherical object.They collect data and make conjectures based on their data.
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Hooke's Law

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students explore the relationship between the force applied to a spring and its stretch. They design and conduct an experiment to determine the stretch of spring with 15N of force without having an actual 15N mass.
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Simple Machines on the Move

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore simple machines. In this simple machine lesson students experiment with motion and force. Students have hands on activities and resources are provided.
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Changing Ramp Heights

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students conduct an experiment to determine how the change in ramp height affects the distances a ball is able to move a stationary cup. Data is collected from several trials and recorded and analyzed.
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Balloonautics

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners are introduced to basic aerodynamics through a discussion of thrust and drag and a hands-on activity. They examine the forces of thrust, drag, air pressure, aerodynamic shapes and Newton's Third Law Of Motion.
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Demonstrating the Kinds of Energy

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars experiment with inner tubes, weights, flasks, and pistons to demonstrate the gas laws. In this molecular motion lesson, students demonstrate pressure as a force per area. They conduct an experiment to show the relationship...
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Balloon Rocket

For Teachers K - 4th
Students observe a balloon rocket and how it relates to Newton's Third Law of Motion. In this balloon rocket lesson plan, students make a balloon rocket out of balloons, clothespins, straw, fishing line, and duct tape.
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Weightlessness

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars compare and contrast the terms "weight" and "mass". In this physics lesson, students observe an experiment in which objects are placed on a balance scale and weighed under different circumstances. Partners drop items and...
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Friction

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore the force of friction between materials. In this physics lesson, students participate in an experiment using various materials such as wood, waxed paper, and aluminum foil and explore which item produced the most friction.
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Natural Disasters: Nature's Fury

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the human experience. For this business ethics lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the American natural disasters of the 19th and 20th centuries and the implications they presented.