Lesson Plan
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Discovering Planet X

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Pupils investigate the movements of the planet Pluto. Students participate in a hands-on activity to record data similar to the movements of the planet Pluto. Pupils compare their data to that found on a website.
Lesson Plan
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Layering the Soil

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study and classify soil. For this soil science lesson, students classify soil by texture and size and study soil horizons. Students label the soil types with their specific soil horizon and learn about permafrost. Students...
Interactive
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Student Exploration: Energy Conversions

For Students 5th - 7th
In this earthquake exploration worksheet, students complete 3 prior knowledge questions, then use "Energy Conversions Gizmo" to conduct several activities, completing short answer questions when finished.
Lesson Plan
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Kinetic Theory

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe how molecules of the different phases of matter move according to the Kinetic Theory. For this chemistry lesson, students observe and participate in teacher demos. They give real world applications of the kinetic theory.
Lesson Plan
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The Pork With Torque

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Pupils determine the torque of CEENBoTs wheel hub. In this physics lesson, students reinforce their learning by exploring interactive websites on torque. They give real life applications of torque.
Lesson Plan
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Principles of Flight: Bernoulli's Lift

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students discover how air pressure effects flight.  In this physics lesson, students create two types of airplane wings so they can observe the way air pressure creates lift.  Students utilize a printout to create the airplane...
Lesson Plan
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Wheel & Axle Tractor

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students design and build a tractor using LEGO materials. They write and draw their designs.
Lesson Plan
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The Science of Swinging

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students learn how a pendulum works in the concept of an amusement park ride. In this pendulum instructional activity, students are introduced to Newton's first law of motion and how it works in an amusement park ride. Continuous motion...
Lesson Plan
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Electrical Energy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct an experiment to find out how well different wires radiate heat when voltage is applied across the wire. They use the results of their experiments to consider how the gauge of the wire and the type of wire affect the...
Lesson Plan
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Mini-labs on Newton's Laws

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are divided into 6 groups with each group rotating to a different lab. The labs can be run over the course of a few days; or spread out for a longer period of time.
Lesson Plan
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Discovering Friction

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers watch a demonstration that introduces them to the idea that friction is a force that impedes motion when two surfaces are in contact. They work in groups to experiment with frictional force using a coffee cup on which...
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...
Lesson Plan
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Opposites Attract

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils demonstrate the attraction of small pieces of paper to a charged plastic rod and conduct experiment with other objects to determine whether they can hold a charge. They then use online applets to apply their experiments to...
Lesson Plan
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Who's the Frog Jumping Champion?

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students use a simple machine (a lever) to launch a plastic frog. students determine who is able to make their frog "jump" the farthest and graph the results.
Lesson Plan
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Principles of Flight

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the principles of flight. In this flight lesson, students construct a model plane and investigate the forces acting on the flier. They will measure the thrust and calculate the stored energy.
Lesson Plan
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Does Shape Affect Drag?

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students study drag and how it affects a parachute in the sky.  In this parachutes lesson students build models and compare their drag. 
Lesson Plan
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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...
Lesson Plan
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Earth System Science

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the Earth and its ability to support life. They discuss the geosphere and the water cycle and complete the Water Wonders activity. After completing the activity, they respond in their journals and reflect upon the...
Lesson Plan
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Good Vibrations: Building a Wave Model

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students 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...
Lesson Plan
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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 lesson students complete a lab activity and describe changes of state.
Lesson Plan
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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 instructional activity, 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...
Lesson Plan
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Heat Up the Floating Plates

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders research the connection between the convection currents within the mantle of the earth and the moving of Earth's plates. A connection to lessons at previous grade levels on the rock cycle and important background...
Lesson Plan
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Volcano!-Thar She Blows!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils describe how volcanoes are formed. They name the types of boundaries where volcanoes occur. They utilize models to illustrate the occurence of volcanoes and earthquakes along plate boundaries. They compare and constrast the...
Lesson Plan
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The Addiction With Friction

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students compare and contrast where friction occurs in robots and bicycles. In this science lesson, students label the diagram of bicycle and robots. They investigate how friction affects their different parts.