Lesson Plan
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That Mu You Do

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students discussion frictional force, kinetic friction, and static friction and the role each plays in acceleration and velocity in relationship to a car and the road on which it is traveling. Students complete instructional activity...
Lesson Plan
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MEASURING THE GRAVITATIONAL CONSTANT, G

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students study gravitational force an.  In this gravitational force lesson students observe a demonstration. 
Lesson Plan
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Look Mom, No Wings!

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Learners explain how drag, weight, lift and thrust work together to make something fly. For this physics lesson, students measure their jump height and record data on the table. They reason out why they can't remain airborne for long.
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Newton's Third Law of Motion

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders are introduced to Newton's Third Law of Motion.  In this physics instructional activity students examine the concept of thrust as one of the forces acting on aircraft. 
Lesson Plan
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Science: Avalanche!

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine avalanches after reading excerpts from John Muir's book, "The Yosemite." In small groups, they conduct experiments with flour, sugar, and potato flakes representing different snow consistencies. Then, 8th graders...
Lesson Plan
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Simple Machines I - Inclined Planes, Wedges, and Screws

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the physics behind and uses for inclined planes, screws, and wedges. They determine examples of how these simple machines are used in daily life. Working in three small groups, they move from station to station...
Lesson Plan
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Let the River Run

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners explore the environment by reading a story in class. In this water formation lesson, students define environmental terms such as rivers, streams, gulf, oceans and lakes. Learners read the story A River Ran Wild and discuss the...
Lesson Plan
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HABITAT for the other 90%

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine the connection between the habitat needs of endemic species to the habitat needs of humans.  In this habitat lesson pupils research the habitat requirements of a given family then develop an idea to improve the...
Lesson Plan
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Summer Activities: Super Sand & Water!

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students use funnels and create tunnels. In this early childhood lesson plan, students begin to understand science and math concepts such as flow, force, gravity, and volume and develop skills in areas such as problem solving and...
Lesson Plan
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Out of This World

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders animate their own planets.  In this solar system lesson, 5th graders use smartphones and the software, GoKnow Sketchy, to create images for presentations on their created planets that appear to be animated when played...
Lesson Plan
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Exploring Magnetic Fields

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept that magnets attract and repel items and exert a magnetic field that can vary in strength. They see evidence of the magnetic field of a small magnet. They see that there are forces on earth which cannot be seen.
Lesson Plan
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Water Pressure Experiments

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students perform experiments measuring water pressure. They record their observations after poking holes in plastic bottles filled with water with the lids on and then off. They discover the role gravity plays in the water flow.
Lesson Plan
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The Magic School Bus Out of This World

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students learn along with Ms. Frizzle's class. In this Magic School Bus lesson plan, students explore craters that objects of different sizes and weights (marbles, Ping-Pong balls, and aluminum foil balls) create.
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Teach Engineering

Get Me Off This Planet

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What do Newton's Laws have to do with getting from Earth to Mars?The activities in this resource show how Newton's Laws work with rockets to get them into space. Background information includes facts about orbits and how orbits...
Lesson Plan
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Principles of Flight: Flying Paper Airplanes

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars investigate ways to enhance an object's flying ability.  In this model construction lesson, students construct two paper airplanes, one of which is twice as big as the first.  Young scholars compare and contrast...
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Newton and his Laws

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore Newton's laws, including what they state, and what the intuitive meaning is of the first and third laws.
Lesson Plan
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Tightrope Trials

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students research the concepts of center of mass and how to make different things balance. They make symmetrical cut-outs of different "creatures" and experiment with how they balance on a tightrope of string.
Lesson Plan
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Parachutes

For Teachers K - 8th
Students control the parachutes using arm movements. They follow directions while participating in games. Students explore the effects of wind on several objects. They study the effects of shape, size and weight on a parachute.
Lesson Plan
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Finding Balance

For Teachers 3rd - 10th
Young scholars examine the relationships between force, mass and balance through the lens of clay sculpture. They discuss the definitions and concepts behind Newton's Third Law of motion then individually apply these principles to the...
Lesson Plan
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When Earth Fails: How Earth?s Physical Changes Cause Natural Disasters

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine natural disasters and some safety measures that should be followed.  In this natural disaster lesson students write a narrative, and research safety procedures.
Lesson Plan
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Getting to Know Saturn: Moons, Rings, and Relationships

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students identify the different objects that orbit Saturn. In this space science lesson, students plot the graph of orbital speed and distance. They explain why planets and asteroids remain in orbit around the sun.
Lesson Plan
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Origami Flight: The Physical Setting

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate the forces that move certain objects.  In this physics lesson, 6th graders design and create paper flying objects using origami methods, which they practice flying in different conditions.  Students...
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Density and Mass

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Learners experiment to find which liquids are more dense.  In this density and mass lesson, students predict and then test objects to observe and measure their density. learners observe which items sink and float. Students complete...
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Exploring the Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Your students can learn more about our solar system with these lesson plan ideas.