Curated OER
How Long Would It Take To Travel To the Stars?
Young scholars consider the amount of time that it would take to get to the star, Sirius using various modes of transportation, some practical and some whimsical. The practicality of physically going to another star system is explored in...
Curated OER
Density of Glass Fragments
Students explore how the density of an object is determined and determine what a "physical property" is. They demonstrate how science can be applied to police work.
Curated OER
Photography and Composition
Students examine the techniques and principles of photographic composition using various scientific tools such as a camera, a digital computer scanner, and a computer.
Curated OER
Interpreting Aerial Photographs
Students interpret aerial photographs. They view aerial photographs or satellite-produced images to locate and identify physical and human features. They study satellite images and label their images for bodies of water, clouds,...
Curated OER
What’s That, I Can’t Hear You?
Students investigate forms of energy as well as light and sound. In this science lesson, students participate in hands-on activities that require them to evaluate how sound affects astronauts in flight. A video of this lesson being...
Curated OER
Colored Shadows
Students examine how humans perceive color. In this refracted light lesson plan, students explore the different ways color is seen by the human eye. Students will use colored lights and colored paper and solid objects to make additive...
Curated OER
Why is the Sky Blue?
Students explore diffusion or scattering of light. For this physics lesson, students explain why the sky is blue and sunsets/sunrises are red.
Curated OER
How Far...How Powerful
Students explore the concept of gamma ray bursts. They examine basic physics concepts about light, measure the shifts of spectral lines, and utilize Hubble's Law to deduce the velocity of an astronomical object.
Curated OER
The Fall of the Ruler
Students determine their reaction time using a ruler. In this Physics lesson, students calculate the class' means and variances. They plot the graph and analyze if there are outliers.
Curated OER
Colored Shadows
Students explore how different colors are seen through the cone cells in our eyes. In this light lesson students complete a lab activity with light and record their observations.
Curated OER
What Color is Chlorophyll?
Young scholars observe the interactions of chlorophyll and light. They develop and form their own testable hypotheses. Students predict the color of chlorophyll in various types of plants.
Curated OER
Conductors, Insulators, and Semiconductors
Middle schoolers will investigate the differences in conductivity of materials, design a variety of complete circuits, and observe the differences between the manner in which light is produced in an incandescent light bulb and an LED.
Curated OER
Spherical Mirrors
Students view images in a spherical mirror and interpret the path of light. In this physics lesson plan, students view a large spherical mirror demonstrated by the instructor. They use shiny serving spoons to investigate the path of...
Curated OER
Archimedes' Principle
Students examine the relationship between density and buoyancy. In this physics lesson students use Archimedes' Principle to complete calculations on buoyancy and a lab activity.
Curated OER
Probes, Exploration and Application
Students examine the benefits of the space program to our life on earth. In this space exploration lesson students participate in a lab, answer questions and study radar mapping.
Curated OER
Power Blackout Assessment
Students discuss the importance of power grids in power generation. In this physics activity, students explain the impact of power failure. They investigate the power blackout in 2003 and discuss their findings.
Curated OER
Snell's Law (And Then Some)
Students conduct an experiment to test Snell's Law using a block of lucite and a ray box. They measure the light rays as they impinge upon the block. Students are also asked to draw the situation of the lab or create a model of the...
Curated OER
Pre-K Appetizer
Students understand there are healthy and not healthy food choices. In this food pyramid activity, students learn to make healthy choices by playing a traffic light game. Students recognize raw foods from the farm may not be ready for...
Curated OER
Particle Man and the Photon
Students simulate photon transmission, scattering and absorption. In this physics lesson, students explain why some objects appear bright while others appear dark. They define photon and radiation in their own words.
Curated OER
Create Your Own Kaleidoscopes
Seventh graders create a kaleidoscopes after researching Sir David Brewster and his ideas on light. They recognize the properties of optics from making and using the kaleidoscopes.
Curated OER
Let the Sunshine in
Students collect and analyze data to study wavelengths of visible light. They cover Styrofoam cups with three different colors of sun filtering products and shine a lamp directly on the cups. They determine the most effective filtering...
Curated OER
Solar Kit Lesson #1 Solar Cell Inquiry
Students use a selection of solar panels, lamps, motors, and an AA battery to get as many motors or lights to operate as they can in an allotted time period. For each successful arrangement, they draw a diagram of their setup, label the...
Curated OER
What is Work?
Third graders investigate the concept of force and work. In this physics instructional activity, 3rd graders visit four stations which include pushing the wall with your hand, holding books for ten seconds, pushing a chair, and lifting a...
Curated OER
Paths of Electrical Currents
Fourth graders examine the paths that electrical currents travel. They create a current of electricity using flashlights, bulbs, batteries, wires and tape. They determine how to create a closed circuit that will light the bulb. They...