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

Newton's Laws of Motion

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students investigate the effect of thin films to surface friction. In this physics lesson, students calculate the coefficient of friction using mathematical formulas. They discuss its importance in their everyday lives.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Go-Car" Lab

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students construct a car based on directions given. In this physics lesson, students calculate average speed using distance and time information. They collect data and create a graph of distance vs. time.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jet Engine Magazine

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore physics by creating a magazine cover in class. In this flight lesson, students identify the motion and force that must be generated in order for a jet engine to lift off the ground. Students create a cover for a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electricity

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students identify the relationship between batteries, circuits and voltage. In this physics lesson, students investigate the way batteries are put into different apparatus. They discuss why different machinery need different voltage of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Parallel Circuits

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students investigate the way an electrical circuit works. In this physics lesson, students use voltmeters and ammeters to measure voltage. They construct a circuit using provided circuit kits.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seeing Interference Fringes with a Telescope

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers construct an interferometer using a simple telescope. In this physics lesson, students explain how light waves create the fringe patterns. They observe patterns made by different objects in the sky and compare them.
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

Natural Indicators: How Do They Work?

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students describe characteristics and common uses of acids and bases. They describe the role of natural indicators in the chemistry of acids and bases after testing and making observations on a variety of plant extracts. Students observe...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creepy Crawlies

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders study the world of insects. They join Greenpatch Kids, an organization of young people who are interested in nature and want to protect our environment. In addition, the students assess use of technology as a valuable...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New York City Water Quality Assessment Project

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students investigate the chemistry of water and how its molecular structure supports life through its biochemcial, physical, and environmental roles. They investigate the quality of water as it interacts with the environment. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Industrial Processes of Polymers: How toys Are Made

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore how technology and science have created the plastics that make toys.  In this industrial processes lesson students work on their own injected molded product and a blow molded product.
Lesson Plan
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The Invention of Faraday Cage

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars demonstrate how Faraday's cage work by building their own electroscope. In this physics lesson, students explain how Faraday's cage work. They cite several applications of this principle in the real world.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

This Is How We Roll!

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students research how roller coasters work. In this physics lesson plan, learners research the history of roller coasters and the safety factors in the design of a roller coaster on the website www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Human Traits

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars investigate their own traits and how they are affected by heredity. In this human traits and heredity lesson, students observe, compare, and describe physical differences among themselves. Young scholars read the book...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Future Body

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explain the benefits of cyborg augmentation. In this technology lesson plan, students research how the nervous system works. They create posters and present them to class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plan a Mission to Recently Discovered Planet

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students plan a mission to a recently discovered planet. In this science instructional activity, students research spacecraft design, distances in space, long-term missions in space, and life-sustaining planets. Students work in groups...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth and Sun's Distance

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students consider the shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sun. They view the first segment of Science Court video and use Timeliner software to construct a scale of the distance between the Earth and the Sun.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chucky Chickadee: Bird and Breakfast Meet the Winter Friends

For Teachers K - 1st
Students compare and contrast the attributes of winter birds. In this winter bird lesson, students examine the physical attributes of Black-capped Chickadees, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Flickers, Juncos, Nuthatches, and Tufted Titmouses as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creatures of the Sea

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete a two-month long unit on the physical characteristics of the oceans and animal environments. They create a "Creatures of the Sea" alphabet book in collaboration with a kindergarten class, conduct Internet...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Era of Self-Sufficiency - Pre-1890

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students investigate the relationship between physical geography and Utah's settlement. In this Utah land instructional activity, students view a PowerPoint about Utah land and work in groups to answer questions about the uniqueness of...
Lesson Plan
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Electricity and Lightning

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students define important vocabulary words related to electricity and charges. In this physics instructional activity, students examine force created by electricity and lightning. They differentiate between the two forces and how they...
Lesson Plan
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Moment of Inertia Contest

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students design a wheel that can go down the ramp with the smallest moment of inertia. In this technology lesson, students construct their model using a computer program. They calculate the moment of inertia of their finished product.
Lesson Plan
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Particle Man and the Photon

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students simulate photon transmission, scattering and absorption. In this physics lesson, students explain why some objects appear bright while others appear dark. They define photon and radiation in their own words.