Curated OER
Forces and Balloons
Students investigate the forces of compression, tension and torque on common birthday balloons.
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Measuring Wind Speed
Fourth graders measure wind speed over a week's time uisng a ping pong and a protractor and graph the results. They convert the number of degrees to miles per hour using a scale. They discuss patterns and relationships.
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Static Cling
Fifth graders examine the principles of static electricity and positive and negative charges. They observe and then perform experiments with static electricity. They record examples in their journals.
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How Many? How Far? How Thick?
Fifth graders examine the role of magnetism and electricity. In groups, they are given different types of magnets and discover how the magnetic force differs for each one. They measure the amount of distance a paper clip moves toward...
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Four Forces of Flight
Students explore the four forces of flight. They investigate the four forces of flight: lift, drag, thrust and weight (gravity). They experiment with flight-testing various objects commonly found around the house and constructing paper...
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Simple Machines
Students demonstrate an understanding of how simple machines work. They show how various forces affect movement and advantages of them. They also design a compund machine. Students decide which level of questions they want to do and...
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Block and Tackle
Students simulate block and tackles to lift heavy objects. They lift cargo by hand with the whip and the two-fold purchase to simujlate what crew members do aboard ships. They measure the effort and distance pulled for a gun tackle, luff...
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Using A Video Camera In the Physics Classroom
Students use video cameras as a way to analyze and understand motion. In this motion lesson students complete an activity that helps them better understand motion and calculate time.
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Simple Machine Test
Students complete several worksheets about machines. In this machine lesson students complete several handouts that describe the different machines and how pulleys work.
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DESIGN AND BUILD A MAGNETOMETER
Students brainstorm and design an instrument to detect magnetic field direction. The design approximates the design included in this activity. They build a functioning magnetometer, a device for detecting the relative direction of the...
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Origami Flight: The Physical Setting
Sixth graders investigate the forces that move certain objects. In this physics lesson, 6th graders design and create paper flying objects using origami methods, which they practice flying in different conditions. Students...
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Newton's Laws: Making Simple Rockets
Students can use rocketry to understand Newton's Three Laws of Motion.
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Potential and Kinetic Energy Lessons
You can explore potential and kinetic energy with these lesson plans and make the playground an outside laboratory.
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Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree…You Might Become Famous
Students explore Newton's laws using CEENBoTs. In this physics lesson, students collect data and create tables and graphs. They calculate speed, acceleration and forces using mathematical formulas.
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California's Golden History: 1848-1880
Using a variety of online resources, learners study life and society in California during the gold rush. They use a map to identify area where gold was located, explore pre-selected websites, describe mining practices, and create an...
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Petro Products
In this petroleum products learning exercise, students are given the components of crude oil and they graph the various products found in a 50 gallon barrel. Students complete an activity to determine if they have collected cards that...
Teach Engineering
Six Minutes of Terror
Help your class understand the design challenges when trying to land a remote spacecraft on a planet. Class members examine the provided information to understand how each component of a spacecraft is designed in order to safely land a...
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White Star Line and the Titanic
Was the Titanic advertised as an unsinkable ship, or was it just what the public believed? In this analysis activity, historians examine both primary and secondary sources to determine the answer to this question and the reliability of...
Teach Engineering
Tippy Tap Plus Piping
Getting water to a tap requires an understanding the fundamentals of fluid flow. Groups design, build, and test a piping system to get water from the source — a five gallon bucket — to a tippy tap. The objective is to be able to...
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Simple Machines-Creative Group Writing
In this creative writing instructional activity, students work with a group, using words in a word bank to write a brief story about simple machines. Worksheet contains a link to additional activities.
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Stick-Slip Movement
Ninth graders operate a model to observe the type of motion that occurs at a fault during an earthquake. They explore the effects of several variables. Students measure movement, calculate averages and plot and graph information.
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Getting into Shape
Students identify 3-D geometric shapes through different pieces of artwork. They examine and identify segments and angles. Students act out shapes and create a piece of artwork. Additional cross curriculum activities are listed.
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Rover Landing Design Challenge
Students examine the concepts of forces and motion. They work together to design protective devices for their egg rovers as they are dropped from a specific height. They record their observations and discuss.
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Building Bridges
Learners identify the different types of bridges. Using the internet, they research information on how they are built by completing a scavenger hunt. Locating a specific area, they determine which type of bridge would be appropriate and...