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
Curated OER

Simple Machines: Levers

For Teachers K - 8th
Students discover the fundamentals and daily applications of simple machines. They investigate basic engineering theory through their hands-on demonstrations of levers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines: Rotating Wheels

For Teachers K - 8th
Students use a rotating wheel to move an object.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aircraft vs. Spacecraft

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers investigate differences between aircraft and spacecraft, and the differences in propulsion systems. They build pinwheel airplanes and balloon rockets. An interactive activity quizzes students on thrust.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Friction

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore friction as a force that slows moving objects, explain conclusions in terms of the roughness or smoothness of surfaces, relate results to predictions, and begin to know how to plan a fair test.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

NEWTON'S 3RD LAW

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine the formal definition of Newton's 3rd law: "forces always originate in pairs, equal in magnitude and opposite in direction." --The informal, qualitative version: "Each action has an equal and opposite reaction."
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Egg Drop

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students design and create a container that allows a raw egg to drop from the second floor of a building without breaking. They develop and compute an invoice for project expenses using spreadsheet software. Students role-play a proposal...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forces on an Airplane and Resulting Motion

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students read from a NASA Web-based textbook, then students demonstrate an understanding of the text by answering questions about the forces on an airplane and their resulting motions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Waves

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students predict and test how the effects of velocity and force of an object or air on water affect the waves created. They diagram a water park ride using their knowledge of these effects to create their desired outcomes.
PPT
Curated OER

Newton's Laws

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Beginning with definitions of mass and foce, this excellent set of slides summarizes Newton's Laws of motion and universal bravitaions. Components of each law are explained along with examples and questions to inspire discussion. This is...
PPT
Curated OER

Gravity - What is It?

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
There is scant information on these slides: definitions of gravity and force, and the fact that objects fall at the same speed. Two slides give learners an activity to try to demonstrate aspects of gravity. Although the activities are...
PPT
Curated OER

Motion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Starting off with a definition of motion and some examples, this slide show goes on to describe different categories of movement. Terminology connected to this general physics topic is explained on subsequent slides. It is a good summary...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pop Rocket - Trash to Treasure

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
First off, Newton's laws of motion aren't often taught at 2nd grade, so this lesson may be more appropriate for upper elementary learners. It begins with a discussion and demonstration of the laws of motion, and then has individuals...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Pressure

For Students 6th - 8th
In this physics worksheet, students use the clues at the bottom of the sheet to complete the crossword related to pressure. There are 15 clues to solve in the puzzle.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Forces In Liquids

For Students 9th - 12th
In this science worksheet, students apply themselves to the acquisition of new vocabulary while solving the crossword puzzle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Power in the Tubes

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate the relationship between force, distance and time.  In this physical science activity students compute the work done, graph and find the relationship between work and power. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ar.... What Gives?

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners investigate the properties of air through inflated objects. In this physical science lesson, students examine gas as a state of matter. Student push on inflated objects and note the space the gas has taken up inside. Learners...
PPT
Curated OER

Work

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Use these slides to review the concepts involved with work. If the students have had practical experience and a basic understanding of physics, then these pages will help outline the basics and reinforce newer applications. There is one...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newton's Three Laws of Motion Lesson Plan

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore Newton's three laws of motion using a variety of activities. In this physics lesson, students calculate the average speed of a vehicle they constructed using distance and time information. They identify and draw the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magdeburg Hemispheres

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students investigate whether air exerts a force. In this physics lesson, students calculate air pressure using force and area information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Balloon Jets

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students investigate how fuel amount affects the distance traveled by balloons. In this physics lesson, students collect data and create a pictograph. They interpret data and formulate a conclusion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Alka-Seltzer Rockets: How to Build Your Own Rocket

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create a rocket using Alka-seltzer of baking soda and vinegar. In this physics lesson, students identify the factors affecting the length of time the rocket is propelled. They relate this activity to actual rocket launched in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soda Straw Rocket Activity

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students construct a rocket using soda straw. In this physics lesson, students determine the nose cone length that produces the best rocket. They explain the importance of using a control in an experiment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnus Effect

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the Magnus effect and its history.  In this forces lesson students investigate the lift of a rotating cylinder.