Lesson Plan
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Twister: The Tornado Story

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine dangerous weather by researching tornadoes.  In this extreme weather activity, students identify the states included in Tornado Alley.  Students create a virtual tornado using 2 plastic bottles.
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Electric Field Mapping in 3D

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students create a 3D vector field map of an electric field. In this physics lesson, students measure the voltage inside an aquarium with water. They present their findings and map to class..
Lesson Plan
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Gravity In The Universe

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners assess and explore gravity in the Universe via several short video lessons. They analyze why this science matters and the history of Sir Isaac Newton's law of gravity. A variety of questions are asked within this lesson for each...
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Changes of State

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine molecules and the changes in energy of a system.  In this energy systems instructional activity students complete a lab activity and describe changes of state.
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Does Shape Affect Drag?

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students study drag and how it affects a parachute in the sky.  For this parachutes lesson students build models and compare their drag. 
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Phases of the Moon: Cooperative Learning

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders examine the phases of the moon. In this moon phase lesson, 3rd graders listen to a read aloud of The Moon Seems to Change by Franklyn M. Branley and discuss the phases of the moon. They complete a moon phase calendar and...
Lesson Plan
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Jet Engine Magazine

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore physics by creating a magazine cover in class. In this flight lesson, students identify the motion and force that must be generated in order for a jet engine to lift off the ground. Students create a cover for a...
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Focus on Friction

For Teachers 3rd
The students learn about friction and forces through direct instruction and an investigation. They use measurement skills, observation skills, predicting, and drawing conclusions based on data collected during the investigation. Students...
Lesson Plan
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Discovery Science Library: The Basics Physical Science

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine  friction and gravity. affect four sports. In this scientific discovery lesson plan, students examine how friction and gravity affect sports. They discuss, write, and illustrate the effect of different forces on...
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Kites: Patang - The Indian Fighter Kite

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate the history of fighter kites and build their own.  In this aeronautics lesson, students discover how other countries utilize fighter kites and where they originated.  Students create their own fighter kites...
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Characteristics of Energy

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore Earth science by completing energy worksheets in class. In this energy forms lesson, students identify and define a list of energy vocabulary terms and a K-W-L chart. Students view a matter video clip in class and...
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Atmospheric Cells

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students recognize that the sun is the source of energy driving atmosphere cells. They relate the motion of the atmospheric cells to mantle convection cells. Students recognize that the function of atmospheric cells is to move heat from...
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Pangaea Puzzle

For Teachers 5th - 11th
Students explore plate tectonics and the formations of the Earth's surface and why maps are distorted.  In this Earth's surface lesson students complete a lab and answer questions. 
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Sled Kite

For Teachers K - 8th
Students make and fly a sled kite out of plastic garbage bags, dowel rods, and more. In this kite lesson plan, students plan the kite to have symmetry and make adjustments as they test it.
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Electroscope

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners examine what an electroscope is and who invented it.  For this electrical lesson students build their own Emergency Radiation detector Electroscope.
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Astronomy

For Teachers 3rd
Students complete a unit of lessons on our solar system, its stars, and astronomers. They record information in a space journal, design constellations, define key vocabulary, observe the phases of the moon, and create a group planet...
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Good Vibrations: Building a Wave Model

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pupils assess and apply recurring patterns in natural systems. They evaluate the wave properties of frequency, wavelength, and speed as applied to sound. Students develop a relationship to quantify aspects of wave motion. They predict...
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Newton's Laws

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine and discuss Newton's Laws and discover his contribution to physics. In groups, they participate in an experiment in which they much apply the Laws to the world around them. They describe contact and conservative forces...
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Electromagnetic Wave Spectrum

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine electromagnetic wave spectrum. In this science lesson, 5th graders discuss the aspects of the electromagnetic wave spectrum and complete a worksheet identifying the parts of the spectrum.
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Oil and Natural Gas Formation

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students complete a narrative paper and a drawing depicting how the formation of oil and natural gas taken from the Earth's crust were once plants and animals millions of years ago. In this oil and natural gas lesson plan, students read,...
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Let's Take a Rock Apart

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students take a crushed rock and sort the remains of the rock minerals into different categories based on the different properties. In this sorting lesson plan, students learn what makes up a rock and how to sort something into categories.
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Balsa Wood Airplane Flight and Speed Correlation

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders calculate the average speed of their balsa wood airplane. In this physics lesson, 9th graders build their own airplane and make necessary modifications to to make it fly straight. They interpret distance and time graph...
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Potential and Kinetic Energy

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore potential and kinetic energy. For this science lesson, 6th graders assume the role of a roller coaster engineer and design a roller coaster. Students use their knowledge of kinetic and potential energy to design a...
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Modeling the Process of Mining Silicon Through a Single Displacement/Redox Reaction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study silicon and where it comes from.  In this solar mining lesson students complete an Internet search of mining and a lab activity.