Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Types of Forces

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study scientific names and descriptions of forces.  In this motion lesson students organize information into a graphic organizer then teach it to other students. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newton's Third Law of Motion

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders are introduced to Newton's Third Law of Motion.  In this physics lesson plan students examine the concept of thrust as one of the forces acting on aircraft. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animating Motion

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students apply what they recall about objects in motion by animati ng sequences of pictures that model a set of physical conditions. They animate the orbital motions of the Earth, the space shuttle, and the Moon based on calculations of...
Lesson Plan
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Roller Coasters

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Twisting and turning through the sky, roller coasters are popular attractions at amusement parks around the world, but how exactly do they work? Explore the physics behind these thrilling rides with an engineering design activity....
Lesson Plan
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Crash Course in Flight

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High school physicists demonstrate Bernoulli's Principle by blowing on different items and finding that they do not move in the expected direction! They apply Bernoulli's equation to the flight of an airplane. This well-organized lesson...
Lesson Plan
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Freestanding Structures: A Tech Museum Floor Activity

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars attempt to design the tallest structure that they can with the given materials which are wooden dowels and rubber bands. They discuss the physics of their structure and how they would improve it the next time they built a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

F = ma, Inertia, and Action-Reaction

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders apply concepts of Newton's Laws in scientific inquiries. Use this lesson to have your charges test and identify the characteristics of objects that make them easier or harder to push. After a teacher-led demonstration,...
Lesson Plan
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Gravity (Newton's Laws of Motion): A Weighty Subject

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify Newton's Laws of Motion. They students explore Newton's Laws of Motion and apply the second law with a classroom activity. The videos will provide visual examples of the effects of gravity while riding on a roller coaster.
Lesson Plan
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I'm Falling For You!

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders are introduced to the concept of gravity by observing different objects being dropped from a high point. In groups, they complete the same activities Galileo did and record their observations. To end the lesson, they...
Lesson Plan
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Airplanes

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders experiment with gravity and lift by building paper airplanes. In this physics lesson, 4th graders compare the falling rate of a crumpled vs. flat sheet of paper. Then after class discussion and demonstration of Bernoulli's...
Lesson Plan
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Hot Wheels

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students observe the action produced by toy cars. In this geometry instructional activity, students discuss motion and distance as they relate to the movement of a spherical object.They collect data and make conjectures based on their data.
Lesson Plan
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Newton Must have Been a Sports Fan

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine Newton's Laws. In this law of motion lesson, students observe Newton's three laws of physics demonstrated by the teacher. They apply other examples to Newton's first law of inertia.
Lesson Plan
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Look Ma! I'm a Rocket Scientist!

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students use a ball to push and pull to demonstrate the concept of force. In this force lesson plan, students talk about the importance of force in space and use balls to demonstrate this phenomena.
Lesson Plan
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Physics of Roller Coasters

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young scholars study the physics used to design today's roller coasters.  In this engineering lesson students complete several activities including designing their own roller coaster. 
Lesson Plan
NASA

Gravitational Waves

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Young scientists participate in a hands-on experiment to explore Einstein's theory of relativity in a creative manner. They investigate various waves and compare their characteristics as they discuss how each wave is created....
Lesson Plan
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Movement of Objects

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders investigate motion. In this science lesson, 9th graders conduct experiments on objects to analyze motion and speed. They define motion in everyday life.
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Roll On

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders, in groups, develop models to show how forces such as gravity, friction, equal, unequal forces and change in direction work on marbles.
Lesson Plan
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Newton's Laws

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students give examples of each of Newton's three laws as they occur in everyday experiences. They visually represent and differentiate the difference between a direct proportion and an inverse proportion. Students explain how the...
Lesson Plan
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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...
Lesson Plan
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Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree…You Might Become Famous

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore Newton's laws using CEENBoTs. In this physics lesson plan, students collect data and create tables and graphs. They calculate speed, acceleration and forces using mathematical formulas.
Lesson Plan
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Energy and Energy Conversion

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate different energy conversions through hands-on activities. In this energy activity, 3rd graders move through four stations and conduct experiments illustrating energy conversions. Wave energy, chemical energy,...
Lesson Plan
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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
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Forces and Acceleration Unit

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars investigate that an unbalanced force, acting on an object, changes it speed or path of motion or both, and know that if the force always acts toward the same center as the object moves, the objects path may curve into an...
Lesson Plan
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Falling Motion

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students design and conduct an experiment on Galileo's Rule of Falling Bodies. In this physics lesson, students collect and analyze data. They create a presentation and share it with the class.