Rochester Institute of Technology
Skateboard Performance Testing
Perform an activity on performance testing with a lesson focused on the purpose of wheel bearings on skateboards. Learners conduct performance testing on a skateboard to collect and interpret data.
American Museum of Natural History
Create a Compass
Historically, humans have used many methods of finding due north. Using a hands-on activity, learners create their own compasses. They then test their compasses in their neighborhood or to assist with stargazing.
Curated OER
How Wind Works
Second graders investigate the process that creates wind. In this wind lesson plan, 2nd graders create a wind diagram. Students write an essay to accompany their diagram.
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Typical Numeric Questions for Physics I - Magnetism
Most of these questions are actually not numeric in nature as the title indicates, but they are pertinent to a high school physics curriculum covering magnetic fields. Young scientists must be adept at handling the right hand rule in...
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Puttin' It All Together
Students explain the concepts of kinetic and potential energy and how it can change forms. In this energy, motion, and frictional forces lesson students participate in a hands on activity that includes calculating energy.
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Temperature Changes Everything
Students determine the effect of temperature on the motion of particles. They study the difference between particles in a gas, liquid, and a solid and see how the characteristics of solids, liquids, and gases can be explained by particle...
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Dark Matter In The Universe
Middle schoolers investigate the concept of dark matter and how it occurs in the universe. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Students use the information by reading at least two articles about dark matter. They also...
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Phases of Matter
Students are introduced to the basic states of matter: solids, liquids and gases. Through experimentation, students determine that liquids and solids have definite volume, that gases do not have definite volume, and that solids have a...
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Falling
Fourth graders explore the earth's gravitational force. They discuss objects in motion and the concepts of pulls and pushes. Students investigate the idea that falling and gravity can be useful in connection with various sports...
Nature
Structural Hazards
The scientific explanation of seismic waves is detailed in the introduction. A fictional scenario is also provided for your class to discuss. Pictures and handouts that are meant to be included, however, they are not accessible....
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Friction In Our Lives
Fourth graders explore friction. They examine the effects of friction in the movement of objects. Students discover how friction helps and hinders us in our daily lives. They answer questions and participate in activities to demonstrate...
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Rock-A-Bye Pendulum
Third graders use the scientific process to explore the effects of force on an object in motion. They demonstrate that the greater the force applied to an object, the greater the change in speed or direction of the object. They...
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Exploring Ecosystems
Learners examine the relationships between plants, animals, and the environment in ecosystems. They sort animal cards, collect natural materials from the schoolyard, and record an ecosystem web in the form of a poster.
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Investigation 2 - Zoom Balls
Third graders create Zoom Balls to explain how sometimes both forces of push and pull need to be used at the same time.
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Newton's First Law
In this laws of motion worksheet, students review vocabulary words and concepts associated with Newton's first law of motion. This worksheet has 15 true or false questions.
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Electrostatics
Middle schoolers examine ways positive and negative charges are attracted and repelled by watching teacher demonstrations, and complete activity sheet related to classroom demonstration activities to prove proficiency of knowledge of...
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The Raw of Newton’s 3rd Law
Students identify the action and reaction forces acting on the CEENBoT. In this physics lesson plan, students describe everyday applications of Newton's 3rd Law. They create a cluster word web about this law.
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How Do Things Move?
In this motion worksheet, 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.
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Look Ma! I'm a Rocket Scientist!
Students use a ball to push and pull to demonstrate the concept of force. In this force lesson plan, students talk about the importance of force in space and use balls to demonstrate this phenomena.
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Simple Machines
Third graders are introduced to the six types of simple machines and discover how they make tasks easier. In groups, they rotate between stations to experiment with the different types of simple machines. To end the lesson plan, they...
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Secondary Robot
Learners 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.
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Picket Fence Free Fall
Students measure acceleration using a Picket Fence and a Photogate. In this physics activity, students drop an object and measure the acceleration of the object free falling. They log their data using the TI.
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Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree…You Might Become Famous
Students explore Newton's laws using CEENBoTs. For this physics lesson, students collect data and create tables and graphs. They calculate speed, acceleration and forces using mathematical formulas.
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Gravity In The Universe
Students assess and explore gravity in the Universe via several short video lessons. They analyze why this science matters and the history of Sir Isaac Newton's law of gravity. A variety of questions are asked within this lesson for each...