Lesson Plan
Curated OER

FRAMES OF REFERENCE: THE BASICS

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the concept of frames of reference in physics: that two frames of reference, each moving with respect to the other with a constant velocity v, observe the same accelerations and therefore Newton's laws are the same...
Worksheet
Curated OER

How Do Things Move?

For Students 8th - 12th
In this motion learning exercise, students will use a word bank to fill in the definition of Newton's three laws of motion. Then students will complete 4 short answer questions giving examples of Newton's three laws of motion.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Newton's First Law

For Students 9th - 12th
In this laws of motion worksheet, high schoolers review vocabulary words and concepts associated with Newton's first law of motion. This worksheet has 15 true or false questions.
Lesson Plan
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America's Pastime

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students relate Newton's Laws of Motion to the game of baseball. They compare and contrast the materials used in baseballs that could affect their performance. They also determine how friction can be increased or decreased in a ballpark.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Frisbee

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the history behind the frisbee and how Bernoulli's principle and Newton's law plays a role.  In this flight instructional activity students complete an experiment on how the rim of a frisbee effects flight. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In your Science! - Merging Art and Science

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders reflect on what they have learned throughout the unit.  In this Science lesson plan, 9th graders demonstrate how working together can produce an informative useful project.   
Worksheet
Curated OER

Sliding Mass Problems

For Students 9th - 12th
Physics masters solve five sliding mass problems. For each, there are a few different values to be determined: normal force, force of friction, acceleration, velocity, coefficient of friction, or net force. Pupils must draw a force...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking For Newton

For Teachers 8th
The lesson has sufficient background information for the teacher to implement the lesson. Students are asked to summarize the three laws of motion. They also conduct classroom activities to role play the Laws of Newton.
Lesson Plan
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Newton's Earthquake

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students discuss Newton's 2nd and 3rd laws using the example of a football linebacker and a small child pushing against each other on an ice rink. Students are able to visualize the results of the push and link it to the laws. Discussion...
Lesson Plan
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Newton's Third Law

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students use inquiry and observation to explore Newton's third law of motion: for every action there is a reaction. In this physics lesson, students rotate through six stations set up with materials and picture directions illustrating an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concept of a simple machine and uses the law of motion to justify why they operate. Students explore the laws by constructing some simple machines to illustrate the concepts.
Lesson Plan
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What is all the Fuss about?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students brainstorm a list of science discoveries and inventions that they think are important. They work in small groups, students examine 1-3 science discoeries more closely. Each group needs a recorder, and they answer three...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Payload Rocket

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students continue their examination of how to make a human presence in space. Using Newton's Laws of Motion, they discover the difference a rocket's payload affects the launch of a rocket. They develop a balloon rocket and test its...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Forces and Inertia

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the basic underlying concepts of Newton's first law of motion. They discuss forces and brainstorm different examples of force and what they act on. Students examine force by observing springs and gravity. They discuss...
Lesson Plan
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Secondary Robot

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the forces acting on a stationary/constant velocity robot. For this physics lesson, students draw a free body diagrams of the forces. They explain the difference between zero acceleration and zero net force.
Lesson Plan
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Raptor Force

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners observe a video about pilots, their desired traits, and explore the similarities between a bird and an airplane. Using paper, wood or foam, they design create an aircraft to be flown in a competition to see which plane will fly...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

The Rate of Motion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
How much time does it take to jump over three balloons? Pupils calculate the speed of tasks that require different motions. They determine motions for tasks such as walking, skipping, hopping, and jumping before creating a...
PPT
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Forces

For Teachers 9th
This series of four slides helps define the terminology that is essential to the study of Newtons Second Law.  Notetaking and review will be easier if supported by these factsheets.
Lesson Plan
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A Moving Experience - Forces and Inertia

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students consider the first part of Newton's First Law of Motion, the Law of Inertia of objects at rest, which states that every object remains at rest unless acted on by a force. They perform hands-on experiments which demonstrate this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newton's Third Law and Aircraft Propulsion

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students research propulsion, graph data, and interpret the results.
Worksheet
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Circuit Diagrams: Switching Circuits

For Students 4th - 6th
Use a lab sheet on circuit diagrams in your electricity unit. Fifth graders draw two series circuits with diagrams, based on two examples. A science experiment prompts learners to use 3x5 cards to illustrate the way a series circuit works.
Lesson Plan
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Newton's Third Law

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students describe an everyday situation which demonstrates Newton's Third Law. They state Newton's Third Law;"Every action has an equal and opposite re-action, or every force has an equal and opposite force" in their own words. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Balloon Rocket

For Teachers K - 4th
Learners observe a balloon rocket and how it relates to Newton's Third Law of Motion. In this balloon rocket lesson plan, students make a balloon rocket out of balloons, clothespins, straw, fishing line, and duct tape.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocket Activity

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore Newton's Second Law of Motion. In this rocket activity lesson, students experiment with Newton's Second Law of Motion as they use a slingshot device to force a car to move.