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

Rocket Science 101

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the aspects of Newton's First and Third Laws of Motion as they conduct controlled rocketry experiments and analyze the Mars Mission in terms of the principles of rocketry.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solids, Liquids, and Gases

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Not many lessons on states of matter can hold a candle to this one! Junior chemists gauge the density of paraffin in both liquid and solid phases. They fill 60 mL syringes with different materials to experiment with compressibility and...
Lesson Plan
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Jupiter’s Relative Size

For Teachers 4th - 6th
How do you properly illustrate the extreme size difference between two planets—Earth and Jupiter? With the help of jellybeans, of course! Create a scale model of Jupiter's mass compared to Earth using a fishbowl, 1,400 beans, and a...
Lesson Plan
Earth Day Network

Forms of Energy

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Give me a home where electric buffalo roam and I'll show you an ohm on the range. Introduction your classes to potential and kinetic energy, electricity, and renewable resources with a resource that combines observation, direct...
Lesson Plan
Education Outside

Papermaking

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Imagine recycling food scraps and using them to make paper. The directions are all here in a seven-page packet that details several paper-making strategies.
Lesson Plan
University of Colorado

The Jovian Basketball Hoop

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Can you listen to Jupiter on a simple radio? Turns out the answer is yes! The resource instructs scholars to build a simple radio to pick up the radio waves created when the charged particles from the sun hit Jupiter's magnetic...
Lesson Plan
PHET

Soda Bottle Magnetometer

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Introduce learners to set of complete instructions that describe how to build a magnetometer that works just like the ones professional photographers use to predict auroras. The diagrams are wonderfully descriptive, and the written...
Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

Alloy Advantage

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Mix it up by using an intriguing resource that teaches young metallurgists that alloys are a metal mixture. They learn about the advantages of using alloys over pure metals and investigate titanium alloys as an example to finish the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Map Puzzles

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students make puzzles from world maps, dramatizing how much of the globe is covered by ocean.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

A Wrinkle in Time: The Board Game

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Tackle some big questions about A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle with a board game project. As learners brainstorm for and complete their board games, they consider what helps and hinders Meg on her journey and why she succeeds in...
Lesson Plan
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Chicago Botanic Garden

Faces of Climate Change

For Students 10th - 12th Standards
How does climate change affect you? First in a three-part series, the activity focuses on how individuals living around the world are affected by climate change. Individuals take on the role of a given character and share their...
Lesson Plan
Teach Engineering

Alloy the Way to Mars

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Future engineers test different alloys to determine the specific strength of each one. Based on the results, they make a recommendation to NASA on which alloy to use on engines for spacecraft.
Lesson Plan
NOAA

Invent a Robot!

For Teachers 5th - 6th Standards
Wait til your class gets their hands on this! Aspiring engineers design a working robotic arm in the fifth and final installment in a series of ocean exploration lessons. Pupils learn about the use of underwater robots in ocean...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Digital Animal Presentations

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore animals and digital presentations. They chose an animal and identify the physical traits of the animal. Students classify the animal using the physical traits. They create a presentation about their chosen animal.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stopping Deforestation in the Amazon: A Publicity Campaign

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars investigate the environment by designing a group project.  In this ecology lesson, students identify the man made threats to the Amazon while reading environmentally conscience vocabulary terms.  Young scholars...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Will the Leaning Tower Fall?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research the Tower of Pisa and write a report about its history. They examine the physics of why it leans and whether it might fall. Students plan a trip to Italy to view the Tower. They develop an itinerary and budget for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's a Penguin's Life!

For Teachers K - 1st
Learners will be studying the penguin community to observe the physical characteristics of the penguin and the relation it has to its community through a distance learning project with the Detroit Zoo.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

River Research

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students use the internet to research the streams and rivers found in Illinois. Using the information, they identify and describe the rivers and streams along with the physical characteristics of a river ecosystem. They share what they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using Photovoltaic Cells and Systems

For Teachers 9th - 12th
This interesting document suggests nine different activities for shedding light on photovoltaic cells. A bit of background information is furnished for you, as well as many, many resource links. Listed for each activity are a learning...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Survivor!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students play a game in physical education class to examine how a deer survives. Using nature as a guide, they discover how it is constantly changing due to weather, food, water, pollution and predators. They discuss the characteristics...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life on the Moon

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students study the physical properties of the Moon.  In this life on the moon lesson students describe the ways life on the Moon would be different than on Earth. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Good Food Explorers

For Teachers Pre-K
Students use different food items in order to practice the mathematical concept of shape recognition. At the same time the teacher explains how crops are a source of physical health. They use all five senses to describe each food item...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Favorite Animal

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research an animal of choice and create a project.  In this animal science lesson, students choose an animal living in the International Peace Park to research.  Students write a paper and create a project to present...