Sophia Learning
Sophia: Energy: Lesson 4
This lesson will present the different states of energy and how they affect living things. It is 4 of 7 in the series titled "Energy."
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Jason: Potential and Kinetic Energy a River Study
Disappearing Wetlands: Simulate sediment reintroduction channels using a ramp at two slopes. They will then find the kinetic energy of the ball at different times as it rolls down the ramp.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Downhill Race
An activity that explores how two cylinders that are identical in shape and mass may travel down a hill differently due to how their mass is distributed. Learn how the distribution of mass in an object can affect its translational...
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: The Ultimate Roller Coaster Contest
Middle schoolers design and build a three hill "tennis ball" roller coaster made of cardboard. During the design and building process, students explore the concepts of potential and kinetic energy and how they change as the roller...
Oklahoma Mesonet
Oklahoma Climatological Survey: Heat Transfer
A discussion from the Oklahoma Climatological Survey of the thermal factors effecting the movement of air masses in the atmosphere. Numerous topics such as methods of heat transfer, latent heat, phase changes (including sublimation and...
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: How Can a Small Spark Start a Huge Explosion?
In this module Activity 4 investigates How are bonds formed and broken? This activity explores the relationship between energy and the formation and breaking bonds, using the ideas of energy transfer and conversion.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Design a Roller Coaster
An interactive lesson where students design and build their own virtual roller coaster. Choose the height of the hills. the shape of the hills. and loop to find out if you successfully used physics concepts to pass the safety and fun...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Amusement Park Physics: Roller Coaster
This interesting and interactive exhibit demonstrates how Newton's Laws of Motion impact the design and safety of roller coasters.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Motion Commotion
Students learn why and how motion occurs and what governs changes in motion, as described by Newton's three laws of motion. They gain hands-on experience with the concepts of forces, changes in motion, and action and reaction. In an...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: The Great Egg Drop!
Which came first: the chicken or the egg? One might ask the same question about potential and kinetic energy. Make observations while you watch the video below. Think about what scientific conclusion you could make from your...
OpenStax
Open Stax: Chemical Reactions
This site provides an overview of the role of energy in chemical reactions.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Roller Coaster Marbles: How Much Height to Loop the Loop?
This is a really fun project even if you don't like going on roller coasters yourself. You'll build a roller coaster track for marbles using foam pipe insulation and masking tape, and see how much of an initial drop is required to get...
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Balancing Mobiles
In this lesson plan, middle schoolers will apply mathematical, science, and engineering concepts to experiment with balancing levers. They will learn to classify types of levers to design and build a simplified mobile. Students will...
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago: Activities: Build a Roller Coaster
Build the roller coaster, then keep making adjustments to see how it affects the potential and kinetic energy of the marble along its tracks.
Physics4kids
Physics4 kids.com: Energy Around Us
If you need a brief overview of energy than check out this website. Energy is defined and several different types of energy are mentioned. The site also has an online quiz you can take to measure your understanding.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Potential Energy: How Is It Related to Kinetic Energy
After creating three different ramps with various heights, students will release toy cars from the tops of each ramp. Based on the elementary age level, students will collect data and analyze it.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Build a 'Breath Spray Bomb' to Study Small Explosion
Hold onto your hats. In this science fair project, you will make a device that sends a film canister across the room with a small chemical explosion. The energy for the explosion is derived from the combustion of ethanol. You will...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Teaching Engineering Design With an Egg Drop
Students build a device to protect an egg and prevent it from breaking when dropped.
NBC
Nbc Learn: Science of Golf
NBC Learn, in partnership with the United States Golf Association, uncovers the science, technology, engineering and math behind the game of golf. For lesson plans provided by the National Science Teachers Association, open the video and...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: How Long Will My Sleepy Yo Yo Sleep?
Yo-yo's are a fun toy and there is nothing simpler than a string wrapped between two connected disks. But there's a lot of physics that makes a yo-yo work. In this science fair project, learn more about how and why a yo-yo works. You...
![Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Paddle Power [Pdf] Activity](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/240133-269c480d57012b98a42b2a6067ff8946.jpg?1661182394 "Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Paddle Power [Pdf] Activity")
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Paddle Power [Pdf]
Hands-on challenge to design and build a paddle boat that moves across water using a rubber band as its power source. Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, test, and redesign it if necessary. Activity...
Other
Fear of Physics: Roller Coaster
Use animation and other interactive strategies to help understand physics principles. Change the track and height to see if your ball can make it to the end.
Museum of Science
The Atoms Family
Let this classic family of monsters guide you as you learn about energy. Interactive exercises, experiments, and demonstrations help to build knowledge and raise questions.
Other
My Physics Lab: Roller Coaster
Create a simplified roller coaster with this simulation by creating a track shape for a ball to travel on. Students can change gravity and damping. Site includes equations to help students understand what is happening in the simulation.