Lesson Plan
Earth Day Network

Staying Green While Being Clean

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Clean up the environment with a lesson that focuses on replacing hazardous cleaning supplies with green, environmentally-friendly products. Using a dirty patch of surface as a control area, kids clean other parts of various surfaces...
Lesson Plan
University of Wyoming

Free Fall…From SPACE!/Nanotechnology in the Classroom

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Provide the details about Felix Baumgartner's sky jump from the far reaches of our atmosphere, 39,045 meters up! Then get your physics free fallers to evaluate the factors that played a role in his acceleration, the time to reach maximum...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Angular Momentum (Automaticity)

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders experience practicing with a wide variety of vocabulary terms that relate to the Vista/Module "Angular Momentum:" momentum, inertia, force; motion, direction, centripetal force; angular momentum, gyroscope, resist. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Science of Swinging

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students learn how a pendulum works in the concept of an amusement park ride. In this pendulum lesson, students are introduced to Newton's first law of motion and how it works in an amusement park ride. Continuous motion and inertia are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Transformation with Simple Machines

For Teachers 1st
First graders identify both potential and kinetic energy in a game they play in the classroom. They listen as the teacher explains the difference between potential and kinetic energy when observing a simple machine. Using simple...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Amusement Park Physics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students get up close and personal with principles of motion. In this physics lesson plan, students collect and analyze acceleration data on amusement park rides. Students use CBLs to collect data in this lesson plan.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Force and Motion

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars explore the concepts of force and motion by creating a video.  In this physics lesson, students are assigned one particular aspect of force and motion to investigate and work in groups to create a video that will be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Celestial Sphere and Circumpolar Motion

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students investigate the celestial sphere and circumpolar motion. For this science lesson, students view an applet, The Celestial Sphere and Circumpolar Motion. Students discuss the Earth's rotation and stellar movement.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chemical and Physical Changes

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate different gas behaviors. In this chemistry lesson, 8th graders describe how changing volume and temperature affect gas particles motion. They collect data and make a generalization about these variables'...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physics: Water-Bottle Rockets

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Learners research how physics laws create motion and propel rockets. They examine how to build water-bottle rockets.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Intro to 2D Motion

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students study straight line motion and motion due to gravity.  In this motion lesson students analyze several experiments. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physics Around the School: Simple Machines In and Out of the Classroom

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore different machines and the components that encompass the science of physics.  In this physics lesson students explore how things move.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pushy Kids in Physics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the concepts of balanced forces, unbalanced forces, and resulting net forces. They participate in a force and motion demonstration by pushing students in various directions, and calculating and identifying the resulting...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy for Free: Perpetual Motion Machines

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students observe the "drinking bird" perpetual motion machine and critically examine the designs of other so-called perpetual motion machines. They use this experience to create their own definition of conservation of energy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Medieval Catapults

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students design and build a working catapult or trebuchet to explore the concepts of force, motion, and distance.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Solar System

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate Newton's law of Motion.  In this chemical reaction lesson, 3rd graders participate in an experiment with rockets to study Newton's law. Students observe the effects of a chemical reaction made by combining...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Get Moving

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students participate in sports activities that relate to motion, velocity and momentum. They produce a PowerPoint presentation after researching the activities.
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

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

SMASH Skill Development: Badminton

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students perform the SMASH technique and overhand motion. In this SMASH lesson, students practice hitting targets using racquets and the overhand motion. Students also complete a target smash drill using hula hoops. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Model Rockets

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students build a model rocket. In this model rocket lesson plan, students explore a rocket launch cycle. Students investigate the laws of physics for each part of the launch. Students build model rockets and launch at school.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build Your Own Hovercraft

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners construct a hovercraft following specific procedures. In this technology lesson plan, students explain the physics principles behind hovercraft. They compare and contrast this machine with the aircraft.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Applied Science -Physics (2B) Pre Lab

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders look at different types of energy. In this energy lesson, 2nd graders define energy and the difference between kinetic and potential energy. They see examples with falling books and a slinky.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physics Rewind

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders differentiate speed and velocity. In this physics lesson, 8th graders explain Newton's laws of motion. They calculate speed using a mathematical formula.