Curated OER
3-2-1 Blast Off!
Fifth graders work cooperatively in groups to assemble and launch a rocket.
Curated OER
Avalanche
Young scholars investigate the concept of avalanches and how they effect people who use the slopes. They conduct research using multiple resources that includes the internet in order to create a final oral presentation.
Curated OER
Taking Risks: Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Students discuss a video about drug and alcohol abuse and their connection to risk-taking. They answer questions on a risk factor sheet about the use of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol. They discuss long and short term goals and how not...
Curated OER
What Floats Your Boat?
Students discover the Archimedes principle through a buoyancy experiment. They measure the water displacement of a lump a clay which is denser than water then reshape the clay into a bowl which floats but displaces more water.
Curated OER
Virial Theorem Lesson
Ninth graders describe how equilibrium can occur as the balance of two effects. They model the stability of elliptical galaxies based on how fast stars within the galaxy are moving.
Curated OER
Parachutes And Parafoils
Young scholars study deceleration devices like parachutes and parafoils.
Curated OER
Skyscraper Capers
Students discuss skyscrapers and listen as the teacher introduces the project. They use the Internet to perform research on one skyscraper. Students use information they gather to create a brochure of their building . They create an...
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Rules of Forces and Motion
With this hands-on lesson, help students understand force, gravity, friction, and speed. Students will also learn how each of these concepts affects the another.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Newton's Second: Having a Ball With Motion
Students will create a gravity ball launcher to demonstrate their understanding of mass, force, momentum, and motion. The students will use critical thinking, measurement, and observation and analysis of data to make changes and improve...
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Physical Science: Gravity Gets You Down
In this lesson, students make predictions about falling objects of different sizes and masses to learn about gravity and air resistance. Includes audio vocabulary list and extension activities.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Start: How Do Computers Simulate the Motion of Virtual Particles?
In this lesson we'll explore how we use fairly simple physics to draw particles which move according to the forces we feel in the real world (such as wind & gravity).
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating the Constancy of Gravity: Free Fall Using a Water Bottle
In this physics interactive lecture demonstration, students will predict what will happen if a plastic bottle, filled with water and having a hole near the bottom, is dropped. Will the bottle fall at the same rate as the water inside the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Force and Motion: Gravity and Wind Resistance
Students investigate the effects of force on objects in motion particularly as it relates to gravity and wind resistance by performing a classroom egg-drop activity.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: What Makes Things Move?
In this activity, young scholars will learn about push and pull forces that make things move. They will also practice using position words to describe location. To learn about forces, they will move objects, observe the movement of...
Utah Education Network
Uen: The Larger It Is the Harder It Falls
Understand the concept of force and the effect it has on the motion of objects.
Utah STEM Foundation
Utah Stem Action Center: Angry Birds Are Mad About Physics
Learn about catapults and Newton's laws of motion.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Egg Drop
In this physics lab, students build a container to safely deliver two eggs from the top of the school. Students calculate average velocity, acceleration, momentum, and the amount of force as it hits the ground. If their egg breaks, they...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Falling Objects
Students will determine if objects fall at the same speed by testing a variety of objects as they let them fall from above. They will learn that gravity is the force that is pulling on the object. Included in this lesson is a video about...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Marble Stop
In this two-part instructional activity, young scholars will discover that no matter what the shape of the track, the marble will rise to the same vertical height. They will begin to understand the concepts of gravity, motion, and force.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: The Ruff Ruffman Show: Teacher's Guide: Structures
Learn about structures alongside Ruff Ruffman.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Paper Mache Solar System
This site from the Illinois Institute of Technology provides a set of directions for the creation of a solar system model out of paper mache. Includes orbital distances and planet diameters for the nine planets. Great idea for a student...
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Physical Science
The Discovery Channel provides numerous lesson plans dealing with the physical sciences. Content is organized by grade level, but all lesson plans include suggestions for adaptations for older or younger audiences.