Curated OER
Characteristics of Energy
Fourth graders view a video and create a KWL to identify energy sources. In this energy sources activity, 4th graders explore the meaning of energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, thermal energy, radiant energy, and electrical energy....
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The Moon Made Me Do It!
Students research about how lunar cycles affect living organisms. In this biology lesson plan, students prepare an oral presentation of their research results and analyses. They explore the forces that affect tides.
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Simple Machines
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...
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Secrets of Lost Empires II -- Roman Bath
Students build an arch with no mortar following the design of the Romans. They use cookies to represent the blocks used and work to distribute the weight on the stones.
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Go Car, Go!
Young scholars design and build their own car. In this physics lesson plan, students collect data to determine the speed of the car. They plot the data on the graph analyze the relationship between variables.
Curated OER
IPC Physics Vocabulary Review
In this physics review worksheet, students review vocabulary words associated with speed, acceleration, Newton's Laws and simple machines, work and energy, magnetism, electricity, and harmonic motion and light. This worksheet has 92...
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Applied Science - Physics Pre-Lab
Learners describe the science of physics. For this Physics lesson, students observe examples of physics within their classroom. Learners create a definition for physics.
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Rat Round Up
Young scholars build a device that captures and carries a pet rat safely back to its cage with out "harming" the rat or themselves. They build and experiment with wind-up or battery operated rat cat toys after predicting the outcome of...
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Pooper Scooper
Science Students build a pooper scooper tool that helps them clean up after a dog without getting their hands dirty or their noses too close. They research the diseases that can be transported through animal waste and work in teams to...
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Harnessing Solar Energy
Young scholars discover the properties of light (radiant) energy from the sun by experimenting with solar collectors, cookers, and calculators. After a lecture/demo, students create their own solar collectors and test their efficiency.
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Scooting Along!
Young scholars investigate how Newton's Third Law affects vehicle design. In this Newton's Third Law lesson plan, students use a web site to research Newton, his third law, and how to design a vehicle that uses a balloon for power. They...
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Suited for Space
A fantastic lesson on survival in outer space should excite your learners! Pupils explore the challenges that living, working, and surviving in space elicit. They focus on the spacesuit itself; how it protects astronauts, and enables...
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Angling for Distance
Explore the concept of projectile distance through determining the angle that will provide the maximum distance of a launched projectile. Young scholars launch baseballs on a football field and video tape the path of the ball.
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Impulse/Momentum Lab
Students investigate the relationship between force and momentum using motion detectors and sensors. In this physics lesson, students graph experimental results. They calculate impulse using the area under the graph.
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Making Objects Move
Students will make many discoveries about how and why objects move. They will explore and manipulate the motion of objects and the forces required to control that motion (pushing, pulling, throwing, dropping, rolling, and so on). This...
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Energy Conversion
Sixth graders study energy conversions. They watch a demonstration of a working engine and make a chart explaining the energy conversions taking place. They build a simple electric motor and research other types of electric generators.
Berkeley Engineering and Mentors
Marshmallow Catapaults
After a brief lecture on levers, torque, projectiles, and the five-step engineering design cycle, young physical science learners or engineers build catapults out of craft sticks. This is an open-ended exploration of what works and what...
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Graphing Your Motion-Day 1
Ninth graders explore the concepts of motion, velocity and acceleration through graphing their own movement using LoggerPro. They become more familiar with the computer technology. Students explore graphing in real time and graph on...
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Vectors
Students describe motion by the use of adding vectors. They identify the difference between the x and y components of vector quantities. Students are given the Paper Bridge Building handout and the instructions as to where to perform...
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Pendulum Patterns
Learners identify the variables involved in the motion of a pendulum. In groups, they research how each different variable is related to the energy the pendulum produces. They share their results with the class and compare them with...
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Moving Along
Young scholars are introduced to the concept of motion. In groups, they practice calculating the rate, time, and distance of various objects on a variety of surfaces. To end the instructional activity, they apply the same principles to...
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Weighing In
Third graders use a Slinky, rubber bands, paper, coins and cups to experiment with weight and its relationship to gravity. They discuss their results and develop a consensus on conclusion statements derived from their experiments.
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Investigation 4 - Collision Zone
Third graders study how forces of push and pull can change speed or direction.
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Friction: Friend or Foe?
Using a hands-on approach, learners explore the effect of friction on objects. Learners use toy cars, shoes, wood, metal, and more to experiment with the causes and effects of friction. Afterwards, they conduct experiments in which they...