Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gravity

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students perform inquiry in response to the question "Do objects fall at the same rate?", teacher candidates discuss a model experiment for secondary students to discover the answer, including recording and analyzing data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pendulum Motion

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students explore questions which cannot be handled with simple pendulums, and examine both the usefulness and the limitations of approximations in science. A Java applet created from a Stella model is included.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

The Motions of the Oceans

For Teachers 6th
Students examine the topics of ocean waves, currents, and tides. They locate and label ocean currents on a world map, conduct experiments, analyze key vocabulary, view demonstrations and record the data, and complete handouts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observing Motion

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore movement and motion. In this motion lesson, 1st graders how objects can move as well as how the Earth is in constant motion and the force of gravity. Students complete a coloring sheet.
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...
PPT
Curated OER

Motion and Force

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
This physics PowerPoint defines the concepts of motion and force. The slideshow consists of an explanation on how motion and force work and give students the chance to demonstrate motion and force through an experiment. The directions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mr. and Miss Big Feet

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders experiment with gravitational force. In this physical science lesson, 3rd graders send matchbox cars off a ramp while changing the amount of weight attached to the car. Students record their data and discuss the results.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physics and Me

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders compare and contrast mass and weight. In this physics lesson, 6th graders calculate speed given distance and time information. They construct a rocket and relate this to Newton's 3rd Law of motion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gravitational Acceleration

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the interdependence of mass and gravitational acceleration using computer simulation. In this physics lesson, students derive the formula for acceleration due to gravity. They calculate air resistance on falling...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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.  
Worksheet
Curated OER

Simple Machines Test

For Students 4th - 8th
In this simple machines vocabulary worksheet, students match the vocabulary term found in the first column with the correct definition found in the second column. There are 23 words and definitions to match.
PPT
Urbana School District

Gravitation

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Introduction your class to famous astronomers with a presentation that also covers Newton's Laws of Gravitation, Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion, both uniform and nonuniform gravitational fields, and how to calculate the gravitational...
Lesson Plan
Cornell University

The Physics of Bridges

For Students 9th - 12th
Stability is key when building a bridge. Scholars explore the forces acting upon bridges through an analysis of Newton's Laws and Hooke's Law. The activity asks individuals to apply their learning by building a bridge of their own.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnet Circus

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars explore the properties of magnets by designing a device that can move as far as possible using only magnets to move it, and design a machine that will stay in motion for the greatest period of time.
Interactive
Physics Classroom

Torque-ing About Rotation

For Students 9th - 12th
Let's talk torque! Science scholars evaluate experimental setups during an interactive from the Rotation and Balance series. Individuals calculate the torque of differently arranged weights to determine the effect they have on a balanced...
PPT
Curated OER

Properties of Matter

For Teachers 7th - 9th
This PowerPoint is a gem! Seventy-eight slides present an entire introduction to matter in bullet-point fashion. Viewers learn about everything from mass and inertia to phase changes and gas laws! The only glitch is that the links to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Force Counterforce

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students hypothesize what forces affect the motion of a falling body. In this physical science instructional activity, students create diagrams and illustrations to support their hypothesis. They perform the experiment and record...
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

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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scrambled Eggs Anyone?

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students listen to Nursery Rhymes highlighting GRAVITY, pull ropes during a Rope Pull Activity and even drop eggs from a height during a Gravity Contest. This is a fantastic lesson which highly motivates Students!
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fast Cars and Roll-Over

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students creat a ramp using cardboard and tape. They follow directions to perform an experiment to determine the degree of tilt needed to cause an empty milk carton to tip over. Students discuss their results in terms of center of gravity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tubularastic Roller Coaster

For Teachers 3rd
Students observe the effect of gravity on objects. They use tubing and other materials to simulate a roller caster. Afterward, they create a journal to write their observations and summaries.
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

Race the Track! The Time Challenge (lesson 2)

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students design a track that keeps a ball in motion for 5 seconds or longer. In this designing lesson plan, students explore force, gravity, and cause and effect when it comes to science and building before building their own track.