Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Up, Up and Away

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders experiment with gravity and air pressure. In this geometry lesson, 10th graders build their own kits and fly it. They investigate the questions: what keeps a kite in the air and what are some important factors when flying a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Marvels of the Molecule

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students experiment with common substances to observe molecular behavior. In this molecular properties lesson, students move through four stations as they try to inflate a balloon inside a bottle, pour water from a jar, and observe how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flight Dreams - Flight Factors

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students investigate the physics of flight by experimenting in class.  In this history of flight instructional activity, students define terms such as gravity, lift, and drag in order to better understand how a plane is able to stay...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Activity: Wow! That Captures It!

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students examine how motion capture technology allows computer based animators to design realistic effects in animation. They study how the center of gravity contributes to animation and how to use the center of gravity to write an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jungle Gym Drop

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate gravity, force and motion. In this motion of objects lesson, students drop various objects from a jungle gym and collect, measure and observe their data. Students describe the forces that affect the motion of their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physics: Bounce - Projectile Motion and Collisions

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students conduct and observe experiments in Newtonian mechanics, kinematics, and projectile motion. They analyze the motion of a ball rolling off a table, falling, and then bouncing. Students answer a series of questions analyzing the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forces of Nature: The Challenges of River Travel

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students examine how river travel affected the Lewis and Clark expedition. They define gravity, slope, and velocity, conduct a river formations experiment, complete an activity sheet, and watch a video about Lewis and Clark.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's the Matter? (Grades 6-7)

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students explain the physical properties of matter. They, in groups, perform a variety of experiments, each demonstrating a different property of matter. A very nice, hands-on lesson!
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mobile Forces

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students design and build original mobiles and consider how the forces of gravity and convection air currents affect the finished piece. They explore how an understanding of balancing forces is important in both art and engineering design.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Foucault's Pendulum

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate how the motion of the Foucault pendulum proves that the Earth is rotating. They research the Internet about pendulums and conduct an experiment online. They view a multimedia presentation about pendulums and read...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Lost Newton's Laws Lesson

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore momentum. In this physics lesson, students perform an experiment in which two balls are released on slanted boards while students observe which ball will go the farthest and the fastest. Students define and explain...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pendulums on the Moon

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students conduct experiments to determine if length, mass, or starting angle has any effect on the rate of a pendulum's swing. They also conduct an experiment online to determine if gravitational force plays a role in the swing. Groups...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Physics of Toys

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore physics by experimenting with classic toys. In this physical science lesson, students utilize gliders, energy balls, bouncing balls, marbles and other toys to explore how they work. Students explore each toy at a work...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

A-Mazing Plants

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Have your young scientists questioned why plants grow a particular way? Through this learning opportunity, scientists gain firsthand knowledge about how plants develop and various factors that affect rates of growth as they bring plants...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forces and Motion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students build parachutes for chicken eggs. For this physics lesson, students describe the forces acting on a falling object. They predict which of the three parachute models they made has the best chance of keeping the egg intact after...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weight A Minute

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students watch a video and engage in hands-on activities which introduce scientific information made real through re-cognition and understanding the phenomena of gravitational force and how it impacts life on our planet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gravity

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore gravitational force. Through experimentation, students observe the acceleration of objects when they fall. They examine air resistance, and how the human body is attracted to the earth. Students discover the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Multimedia to Learn Textbook Science

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students work in cooperative groups to produce multimedia presentations to explain how the movement of a yo-yo. Students research information about force and motion and relate it to the movement of the yo-yo.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Shuttle Science

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the nomenclature, operation and purpose of America's Space Transportation system. They demonstrate how water can be broken down into its component gases of hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis. They construct and use the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water and Ice

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students participate in various air experiments to understand that air is all around us. In this states of matter lesson, students focus on the role of air in the water cycle. Students understand that air is densest near the ground....
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Alka-Seltzer Rockets

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Blast off! An engaging hands-on activity has pupils create rockets powered by Alka-Seltzer. They learn about the physics behind these rockets throughout the process.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation with Simple Machines

For Teachers 1st
First graders engage in a lesson that is about Newton's Laws Of Gravitation while conducting research in order to perform an information search. They sing a song about the Law of Gravitation and play a game of Ring Around The Rosie. Then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water and Ice

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate how water goes from a solid to a liquid then back again.  In this experimental lesson plan students conduct their own experiment and see how water changes form.