Curated OER
Calibrating a Thermometer
Students calibrate an alcohol thermometer using the boiling and freezing point of water. In this physical science lesson, students explain what happens to boiling point of water as altitude increases. They calculate their experimental...
Curated OER
Matter and Energy
Students investigate the effects of air pressure on humans by utilizing the Internet. In this physical science instructional activity, students research the Internet to discover altitude sickness and air pressure. Students...
Curated OER
What Makes Thing Fly?
Second graders study lift, drag and thrust from a real flight instructor. In this physical science lesson plan students build and fly paper airplanes and experiment with variations and design.
Curated OER
Power in the Tubes
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.
Curated OER
Let's Get Physical
Explore the benefits of physical activity and how it will affect your learners' health. Students track their physical activities for one week and then compare their results. Collaboration with a math teacher woould be useful as it...
Curated OER
Science in baseball
Sixth graders examine how science is used in everyday activities, such as baseball.
Carnegie Mellon University
How Power Plants Work 3
Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble! Find out what drives a turbine to generate electricity and whether or not it has an impact on the environment. A discussion and lecture is divided by a hands-on activity in...
Curated OER
Lesson 2 - Design Process-Measuring Wind Speed
A terrific lesson focused on the design process. It begins with a presentation, "Design: Solve a Problem," which lists the steps of the process and then introduces the specific challenge: to build a device that measures wind speed....
Curated OER
Investigating the Relationship of Mass to Volume
Third graders explore the relationship of mass to volume. In this physical science lesson, 3rd graders participate in an investigation with a several materials and measure the mass and volume using scientific tools. Students discuss and...
Curated OER
Density Challenge
Students calculate the densities of several liquids that appear similar. In this physical science instructional activity, students go beyond understanding the way liquids of different densities behave to researching how this...
Curated OER
String Telephones and Musical Straws
Fourth graders investigate pitches of sound. In this physical science lesson, 4th graders participate in two activities that help them explore pitch--one activity has them working with string telephones and the amount of tension...
Curated OER
Earth's Ecology
Students investigate the three states of water. In this physical science lesson, students watch the video "Earth's Ecology" and observe water in its' three states. Students record observations.
Curated OER
The Energy of Decay
Students explore the decaying of organic matter. In this physical science lesson plan, students view a video of how organic material is harvested as an energy source. Students find uses for an old piece of fruit.
Curated OER
Simply Circuitry and Series Circuit
Students investigate a series circuit. In this physical science instructional activity, students use a battery, switch, and light bulbs to build an electrical circuit. Students identify the standard symbols being used in electric circuitry.
Curated OER
Sports and Science
Using footballs, basketballs, tennis balls, and more, learners conduct experiments to illustrate Newton's Laws of Motion. The experiments are conducted outside, and require them to throw, kick, and hit a variety of balls. Your...
Colorado State University
How Can I Turn a Solar Oven into a Refrigerator?
Whether you want to heat things up in science class or cool things down a bit, an intriguing lab's got you covered! Science scholars explore the principles of thermodynamics using a solar oven, then change the conditions to turn their...
CK-12 Foundation
Driverless Car
Who's driving that car? Science is! Through a simulation, learners adjust the magnitude and angle of motion on a driverless car. Two different motions create a resultant motion. Vectors represent the motion and graphs depict the...
CK-12 Foundation
Cliff Diver
Cliff diving is more than an adrenaline rush ... it's a lesson in physics! Scholars adjust the height of a cliff and plot the resulting velocity and position over time on graphs. They also can incorporate air resistance to monitor the...
University of Minnesota
Neurotransmission Model
Don't lose your marbles — you'll need them for a lesson on neurotransmission. Young scholars build a neurotransmission model using marbles, beads, rubber bands, string, and other elements. After studying specific neurotransmitters,...
CK-12 Foundation
Violin
Learners explore the science of sound by considering the characteristics that make unique sounds. Through an interactive simulation, they adjust tension and string size and view the corresponding wavelength and amplitude changes.
CK-12 Foundation
Irwin 2D
Learners explore two-dimensional motion through visual modeling with an interactive lesson that allows them to control the path of a robot. Graphs show both the horizontal and vertical motion as the robot continues through its...
CK-12 Foundation
Bobsled
Bobsled riders' safety depends on skill ... and physics! Learners use a simulation to understand the physics behind the sport. They manipulate the speed, mass, and/or turn radius of the sled and watch the effects on the centripetal...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Faces of Climate Change
How does climate change affect you? First in a three-part series, the activity focuses on how individuals living around the world are affected by climate change. Individuals take on the role of a given character and share their...
Colorado State University
How Far Away Is Space?
Outer space may be a lot closer than you think! Science scholars model the layers of the atmosphere using transparencies to gain insight into the scale of space. The resource includes ideas to tailor the activity to the skill level of...