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Art in Engineering - Moving Art

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students study how forces are applied in the creation of art. They design mobiles and pop-up books while identifying which forces of nature act upon them. They look at air currents, gravity, and hand movement.
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Simple Machines

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders observe six simple machines. Through student demonstration they define work and force and calculate the work done. They identify the utility of each of the six simple machines and how each one "exchanges" force for...
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Electricity and Lightning

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students define important vocabulary words related to electricity and charges. In this physics instructional activity, students examine force created by electricity and lightning. They differentiate between the two forces and how they...
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Float Your Boat

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students investigate buoyancy, displacement and density.  In this flotation lesson plan students study the Archimedes' Principle, analyze data and draw conclusions. 
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Describing the Motion of a Battery Powered Cars

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars explore distance a toy car travels by changing the amount of batteries used to power the toy car.  In this force and motion lesson, students calculate the average speed of a car while investigating the power from...
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Balsa Wood Airplane Flight and Speed Correlation

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders calculate the average speed of their balsa wood airplane. In this physics lesson, 9th graders build their own airplane and make necessary modifications to to make it fly straight. They interpret distance and time graph...
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Magnetism

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students investigate magnets. In this magnetism lesson, students begin exploring magnets. Students study attraction and repulsion and discover the poles of a magnet.
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What is Work?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate the concept of force and work. In this physics lesson, 3rd graders visit four stations which include pushing the wall with your hand, holding books for ten seconds, pushing a chair, and lifting a light object....
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Alessandro Volta: The Invention of the Voltaic Pile (The First Electric Battery)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct a series of experiments on electricity. In this physics lesson, students study the work of Alessandro Volta particularly his experiment on the the Voltaic Pail. They build their own Voltaic Pile to recreate his experiment.
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Ionocraft Lifter

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the different types of lifters through a series of activities. In this physics lesson, students explain the mechanics involved in the lifter designs. They compare aluminum versus zinc lifters.
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"Go-Car" Lab

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students construct a car based on directions given. In this physics lesson, students calculate average speed using distance and time information. They collect data and create a graph of distance vs. time.
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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 plan, students collect and analyze data. They create a presentation and share it with the class.
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Lab for Truss Design and Testing

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students design and build their own truss. In this physics lesson, students calculate the forces and maximum load. They complete a full scale diagram of their design.
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CD Slide

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the different types of friction. For this physics lesson, students explain how weight affects friction. They calculate normal force and coefficient of friction using a mathematical formula.
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The Pork With Torque

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners determine the torque of CEENBoTs wheel hub. In this physics lesson, students reinforce their learning by exploring interactive websites on torque. They give real life applications of torque.
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Simple Machines I - Inclined Planes, Wedges, and Screws

For Teachers 4th
The principles and uses of inclined planes, screws, and wedges are the focus of a science lesson. In it, youngsters come up with every day examples of simple machines, and build an example of one in class. That project is then used to...
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Motion in the Ocean

For Teachers 9th - 12th
How does the formation of currents and waves in the ocean happen? High schoolers will learn about the primary causes for ocean currents and waves by calculating a wave's amplitude and nautical mile speed. Then they will complete a...
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Gravity Launch

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students examine how gravity affects launching rockets into space. In this physical science lesson, students review the concept of gravity and use an interactive online site, "Gravity Launch," to simulate a rocket launch.
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Race the Track! Design Challenge

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students use the design process to investigate physical science.  For this force and motion lesson, design a track to achieve a specified outcome. Students complete additional experiments with speed and distance.  Students...
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Properties of Water with a Splash of Color

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the properties of water. In this cross curriculum art and physical science activity, students experiment with a variety of materials to demonstrate the cohesive forces and adhesion of water. Students create a water color...
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Electricity's Attraction

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the different features of a roller coaster using an interactive website. In this physical science lesson, students explain the role of science to make this thrill ride possible. They develop a creative...
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Rocket Science

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students conduct an experiment. In this physical science lesson, students learn about Isaac Newton's theory that for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction. Students show this theory by looking at how a rocket is propelled...
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Forces and Energy Study Guide

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders use prior knowledge to create a tri-fold study guide using Microsoft Publisher (if available). They include real world examples that show balanced and unbalanced forces, kinetic and potential energy, and vocabulary. The...
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Applied Science - Physics Pos Lab (Air Pressure)

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students examine physics. In this air movement lesson plan, students conduct an experiment that shows how air moves based on the pressure it's under. They watch the teacher complete the procedure and then try it on their own in a small...