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Toys in Space

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Pupilsexplore how gravity affects the operation of toys and simple machines. They watch a video and experiment with simple machines.
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Weightlessness Demonstration

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the concept that free-fall eliminates the local effects of gravity. They discuss what an Earth-orbiting spacecraft experience is like as well as the terminology of weightlessness. Their lab experiment commences.
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Weightlessness

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students predict the behavior of coffee in a cup while it is dropped during a demonstration. They relate their observations to the weightless conditions that astronauts experience in space and discuss the concept of free-fall.
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Challenger's Lost Lessons - The Lost Simple Machines Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students investigate the characteristics of simple machines. In this simple machine lesson, students investigate work as a product of applying constant force. They answer questions about what happens on Earth and what may have happened...
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Pendulum Motion Experiments

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students experiment with simple pendulums to determine the validity of an equation for all angles. Students discover the usefulnes and limitations of approximations in science. Using spreadhseets and a java applet, students observe the...
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Tropism

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct various experiments on tropism. In this biology lesson, students explain how gravity affects the growth of plant roots. They identify the different types of tropisms.
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Capillary Action and Adhesion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students perform classroom experiments to observe adhesion. They perform a second experiment using sand, salt, water, and a heat lamp to observe the principle of capillary action. They also experiment with adhesion in plants.
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Getting to Know Saturn: Moons, Rings, and Relationships

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students identify the different objects that orbit Saturn. For 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.
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How do engineless planes stay aloft?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore how a plane can stay aloft. In this engineless airplane flying lesson, 5th graders experiment to find how the design of a plane and Bernoulli's principle keep planes in the air. Student's create a plane and answer...
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The Importance of Tropisms

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate plant tropisms using the scientific method. In this life science instructional activity, students learn about tropisms and test the response of corn seedlings to gravity. Response questions, extensions,...
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Paper Towers

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students have the opportunity to use model-building as a way to help comprehend the forces and phenomena at work in the world around them. They describe gravity as a universal force that pulls everything toward the center of the earth....
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MASS

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students distinguish between weight and mass. They examine how in oscillations of a mass against an elastic spring--in the absence of gravity, or in horizontal motion--the length of the oscillation period is proportional to the square...
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Flight Dreams - The Pressure on Parachutes

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students investigate air pressure by researching parachutes.  In this physics lesson plan, students participate in three separate experiments utilizing air pressure and paper products to test theories on parachutes.  Students...
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The Physics of Skateboarding

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are able to analyze gravity as an universal force. They are able to determine how the force of friction retards motion. Students are able to apply Newton's Laws of Motion ot the way the world works.
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Solar System and Planets

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students identify the main components of the solar system. In this earth science lesson, students order the planets according to their distances from the Sun. They differentiate planets from dwarf planets.
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Projectile Motion Demonstration

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students dicusss Newton's First Law of Motion. They calculate a projectile moving horizontally and vertically at different intervals. They particpate in an experiment in which the projectile is at an angle. They record and discuss the...
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Race the Track! Shoot the Loop

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students experiment with a steel ball and matchbox car to find the effects of force and motion. In this force and motion lesson plan, students assemble a track, conduct experiments and record on a shoot the loop worksheet. Students...
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Tank Trials - Measuring Germination

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students observe and measure seed germination. In this life science instructional activity, students use 'tanks' to observe a set of seeds as they germinate and begin growing, make predictions, and record their data. Lesson includes...
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Going the Distance

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Young scholars experiment in small groups to answer the question, "Is there a relationship between ramps and speed?" They apply a formula to calculate the speed of the cars used in the experiment, complete the associate lab report, and...
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Galileo: His Times & Beliefs

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners study Galileo and his scientific discoveries. They complete a series of experiments/model constructions, using 17th century equipment and procedures, to "recreate," demonstrate and explore the various discoveries of Galileo.
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How do they make glass into different shapes?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate the process of glass blowing.In this simulation of glass blowing experiments students experiment how glass is formed and why not all glass is the same.
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Matter, Matter

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners define vocabulary related to the parts of the atom.  In this matter instructional activity, students navigate the web to find the structure and the forces that affect atoms.  Learners complete an experiment with...
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Race the Track! Design Challenge

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students focus on a force and motion problem, explore it, reflect on it and apply it while completing experiments.  In this motion lesson, students experiment with force and motion by creating a track for testing cars.  
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BOWEN'S REACTION SERIES

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students research Bowen's Reaction Series and recreate the process in an experiment which details the crystallization sequence of minerals that can be observed in nature.