Curated OER
Communication - Vibration, Electronic Signals, and Electromagnetic Radiation
Students investigate how we use technology to communicate.
Curated OER
Observations & Chemical Reactions
Students conduct a series of experiments in which they explore chemical reactions. They detect chemical changes by observing how physical properties change when two different chemicals are combined. They list and describe the reactants...
Curated OER
Magnetic Discovery Bottle
Students examine how to conduct simple investigations and use simple equipment to gather data. In this magnet lesson students decide what types of objects are attracted to magnets.
Curated OER
Bing! Bang! Boom!
Sixth graders investigate heat energy, conduction, convection, and radiation.
Curated OER
Energy Transformation
Young scholars identify different kinds of energy such as heat energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, and magnetic energy. They investigate the concept of conservation of energy.
Curated OER
The Hall of Physicist
Students study the history and scientific contributions of Albert Einstein. In this Albert Einstein lesson plan, students learn his history, research his scientific contributions, create a timeline of him and his work, and create a...
Curated OER
Reading Food Labels
Students investigate the concept of phonemic awareness in order to help increase reading comprehension. The reading of food labels creates the context for the practice session. They pay particular attention to certain sounds that must be...
Curated OER
Scouting for Circuits
Fifth graders investigate electricity and how it used in a circuit to be useful energy. They also use this investigation in order to understand how energy can change forms and still be considered useful if put into the right form.
Curated OER
Automated Vehicle Programming Design
Students design a program to make an automated vehicle perform a specific task. In this robotics lesson, students play the role of scientists competing to win a factory's contract. They present their algorithm to class.
DiscoverE
My Friend Robot
Can you do better than a robot? Teams write instructions for a hypothetical robot to build a structure. They test their instructions by acting them out to see if they produce the desired structure.
Curated OER
Circle of Pong
Students, in groups, use given materials to devise a way to deposit a ping-pong ball into a paper cup that is located in the middle of a 6-foot diameter circle, while standing outside the circle.
Curated OER
Fire Brigade
Young scholars examine how a community works together to protect them from fire. They work together to design a functional tool that could be helpful in fighting fires. They share their tool with the class.
Curated OER
Tree House Escape!
Students participate in a role play in which they use simple machines to do the work of retrieving their sibling from a tree which lost its ladder. They investigate how work is accomplished when an object moves in the direction of the...
Curated OER
Worksheet for Analysis of a Motion Picture
For this primary source analysis worksheet, students respond to 14 short answer questions that require them to analyze the motion picture of their choice.
Curated OER
Conserving Energy Resources
Seventh graders research on energy conversion. After they have researched several types of energy resources, teams of two to four create posters which depict how these resources can be conserved.
University of Florida
Florida Museum of Natural History: Physical Science
This guide focuses on four physical science topics that fascinate children and scientists alike. They are motion, magnets, sound, and light. With your guidance and support, these topics provide children with many opportunities to explore...
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Waves, Sound and Light: Longitudinal Pulse
The animation portrays a medium as a series of particles connected by springs. In this type of longitudinal wave the particles of the medium vibrate in a direction parallel to the direction of energy transport.
Nobel Media AB
The Nobel Prize: The Nobel Prize in Physics 1923: Robert Andrews Millikan
This Nobel website on the life and scientific work of Robert A. Millikan includes a biography, images, and internet resources for further reading and research. Also included are the 1923 "Presentation Speech" which praised Millikan's...
BBC
Bbc: Bitesize: Gcse: Physics: Reflection and Refraction
All waves will reflect and refract in the right circumstances. The reflection and refraction of light explain how people see images, color and even optical illusions. This tutorial discusses each concept and presents an experiment to try...
Physics Central
American Physical Society: Physics Central: Discover Homepage
Link to nine major physics topics and dig deeper into the content. Find out about the work of scientists in each field and see example physical science experiments.
Other
Architectural Acoustics and Lighting: Room Acoustics
This site from Architectural Acoustics and Lighting provides a discussion of various factors affecting the acoustics of a given room. Room dimensions, the wavelength of the sound wave, the physical characteristics of the walls, the...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Live Exploration
Take a special trip to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with GPB Education! This interactive virtual exploration offers students a behind-the-scenes experience as they learn about the science of sound and the preparation it takes to put on...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science for Middle School
This digital textbook covers core physical science concepts and includes interactive features, real world examples, and videos.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Waves: Waves and Wavelike Motion
Here is an introduction to the concept of waves and wavelike motion people experience anywhere and everywhere.