Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Activity: Super Spinners!

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students make spinners to investigate rotational inertia, rotational speed, angular momentum, and velocity. They make two sets of spinners that have different mass distributions and shapes. They complete a worksheet while experimenting...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Heat Escape

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students observe a demonstration on the role of thermal conductivity in heat transfer.  In this thermal conductivity lesson, students design and conduct an experiment to compare the thermal conductivity of four substances....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Robot Gears

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars build simple gear trains and record data to discover how to compute gear ratios. They investigate the definition of torque and how torque can be increased or decreased in a gear train.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnets

For Teachers K - 8th
Learners explore how the earth is a magnet and that magnets have two "poles".  In this magnetic lesson plan students complete an activity by designing their own compass. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines: Levers

For Teachers K - 7th
Students discover the fundamentals and daily applications of simple machines. They practice basic engineering theory through their hands-on demonstrations of levers.
Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Build Your Own Robot Arm

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners explore design, construction, and teamwork as they design and develop robot arm at least 18 inches in length using common materials.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Truss Strength

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are introduced to the design of Old Faithful Lodge at Yellowstone Park including its use of trusses. They work in groups and use straws and modeling clay to design and test a variety of building supports.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Introduction to Sensors

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students research the International System (SI) of units of measurements. They make measurements using the metric system. They study key concepts used in building and use of sensors, how sensors work and their role in measuring...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flambe Elements

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders discuss atoms and electrons as well as atoic structure. They view atomic structure via the computer. Students watch a demonstration in which the teacher demonstrates glass tubing turning yellow in a Bunsen Burner flame....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students investigate simple machines. In this simple machines lesson, students construct two simple machines and describe what they do. Students show that simple changes help machines do work with less effort. Students use a paper clip...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Search

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students research topics related to space and the planets using the Internet. They explore various websites, construct scale models of the solar system, and create a travel brochure using HyperStudio computer software.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ring Around the Rosie

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students examine the concept of angular momentum and its correlation to mass, velocity, and radius. They listen to a teacher-led lecture, conduct an experiment with rotational inertia, angular momentum, and rotation speed by making...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Parachutes: What a Drag

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders make 2 different kinds of parachutes and record and graph the time for each one for the different drag forces. For this parachute lesson plan, 6th graders compare the results to the rest of the class of each parachute and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newton's Laws

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students identify Sir Isaac Newton and his contribution to physics. They write Newton's three Laws of classical mechanics. and apply Newton's Laws to the world around them. They isolate a situation and apply Newton's Laws.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scientific Inquiry: Periodic Motion

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students construct their own pendulum. In this physics lesson, students design an experiment to find the factors affecting its period. They formulate a conclusion based on experimental data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocketry in Motion

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate why a balloon flies in one direction as air escapes in the opposite direction, which helps them understand the nature of rockets and fireworks. Individually and in teams, students conduct research to create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction To Orbital Mechanics

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students use NASA drawings to build a model satellite for a specific mission. They design a set of drawings for their satellite showing its subsystems as well.
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

It's Too Loud!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
STEM scholars investigate sound attenuation by conducting an experiment in which they compare the farthest distance that they can hear a sound with and without ear protection.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aristotelian and Newtonian Motion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners use a quotation from Einstein as a reference to categorize their descriptions as either Newtonian or Aristotelian. They discuss the idealized nature of the Newtonian approach. Students describe the events they observe when an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Paper Packaging Design

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students create packages with a maximum capacity. In this geometry activity ,students estimate using whole numbers, decimals and fractions. They calculate length, weight and mass of packaging.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build Your Own Car

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students determine the factors that affect car speed. In this physics lesson, students design a car that can travel fast and far. They record test run data and use them to construct graphs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eratosthenes And Radius of the Earth

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars calculate the radius of the earth. They use the method and data suggested by Eratosthenes. They investigate the interrelationships among mass, distance, force, and time through experimental processes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newton's Third Law and Aircraft Propulsion

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students research propulsion, graph data, and interpret the results.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant Motion: The Untold Secrets

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars identify and categorize knowledge needed to design an experiment. They observe, recognize and describe the motion viewed. They document any changes caused by various solutions.