By rolling marbles down a six-foot length of track, physical scientists determine how much energy is lost to heat. It is recommended that you opt for the foam pipe insulation track because more friction slows the marble, allowing...

While science Jeopardy games are a dime-a-dozen, this one has some pretty unique categories that are still relevant to a middle school physical science curriculum. The topics include: leading nations, famous Americans (who invented...

One of the inventions that has greatly impacted the world is Thomas Edison's light bulb. From his incandescent bulb, to today's LED bulbs, illuminate middle schoolers with the way they convert electricity into light and heat. Handouts...

Teacher's notes, a materials list, detailed procedure, tips, and extension ideas are all included to make teaching this lesson on photovoltaic cells a sunny spot in your day! After some brief background reading, physical science...

Your introductory physical science class will be energized by this PowerPoint. They will be able to define energy, work, and power. They will be able to perform calculations for kinetic and potential energy. They will be able to describe...

Give every type of learner in your physics class an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned throughout the year. From analyzing tables and graphs, to evaluating diagrams and solving problems, there is an outstanding variety of...

After viewing images of energy resources used for generating electricity, the class discusses the process of transformation. In pairs, they work on describing what they see in a diagram of a power plant and in graphing its energy data. 

Terrific toys turn into a demonstration of the transfer of energy. Potential energy becomes kinetic energy as the wind-up toy walks, a popper flies into the air, and a balloon whizzes when the air inside is expelled. The concept of...

Energize your physical scientists with this little video on potential and kinetic energy, transformation of energy, and the generating of electricity. Bill Nye walks viewers through the process of burning coal to create steam, turn a...

If you can find Tinker Toys™, then this may be a fun assignment for your physical science class. Using the construction set and a few other toys, they examine the forces involved when it they are being played with. For each, they...

Budding chemists achieve a basic understanding of the role of heat in chemical reactions. An online worksheet gives learners instructions and questions to answer as they investigate the Chem4Kids website and perform a hands-on lab...

Super detailed, this lesson will educate physical science learners about the flow of electrons. Begin by reviewing potential and kinetic energy with a moving pendulum, and then get them online to observe interactive websites about...

Students create a solar water heater. In this solar energy lesson, students conduct an experiment to determine which colors absorb more radiant heat. Students investigate the relationship of heat loss to insulation. Students then create...

Middle school physicsl science explorers play a game using dominoes that you have photocopied onto cardstock. Through the game, they familiarize themselves with the conservation of energy and the transformatin from one form to another....

If your school has a photovoltaic system and you have access to its temperature data, then this is an outstanding lesson in energy efficiency. Environmentalists consider four days' worth of data and use critical thinking to apply data to...

Consider our energy sources: wood, coal, oil, uranium. Learners compare the pollution to energy produced for each. They practice fractional distillation of an alcohol/water mixture to simulate the process of refining crude oil....

Upper elementary or middle school scientists determine what types of energy are involved in six different pictures. Then they produce examples of three different energy transformations. This worksheet has colorful graphics and is neatly...

How is the Earth's weather created? Middle schoolers will explain how the Sun's energy is transformed into different forms. They will perform mathematical calculations of volume, mass, and temperature. They they will explain the...

Environmentally friendly engineering teams construct a water wheel and experiment with its speed and the resulting amount of weight it can lift. Consider following this activity with two more of the same title by the same publisher when...

First of three lessons, this is a great start to a unit on energy. As you demonstrate, learners discover different types of energy and how it is converted from one form to another. They then focus in on the generation of electricity by...

If you are looking for an in-depth lesson on how radio waves are converted into sound, then this lesson will rock you! After a detailed reading of the steps in the process, young electronics technicians construct a working radio in class...

Elementary school physical scientists explore kinetic mechanical energy by dropping a golf ball on different surfaces. They discuss how human made materials might react to light differently from nature made materials. This lesson plan...

Students conduct a webquest on an energy source they chose. In this physics lesson plan, students design an experiment to determine the factors affecting potential and kinetic energy. They calculate speed and create distance vs. time...

Eighth graders investigate what object melts snow the fastest. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders explain how light energy can transform to heat energy. They design and conduct an experiment to answer a testable question.