Lesson Plan
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Investigating Motion, Forces, and Energy Lab Book

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders create their own experiements using toy trucks, cars or balls to measure the time it takes two of them to travel 5 meters, as well as at each 1 meter interval. They make use computers to make a time/distance graph and...
Lesson Plan
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Dueling Bumpers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students get an opportunity to show control of force and accuracy using a volleyball bump.
PPT
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States of Matter

For Teachers 8th - 10th
By viewing this PowerPoint your students' understanding of molecular energy should increase. The properties and inter-particular forces are summarized. The logical progression of information is useful, but more data to demonstrate...
PPT
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Using Heat

For Teachers 7th
The 6 slides give a few examples of ways that we use heat and heating systems.  There is a diagram of circulation in a stove and forced air system as well as other examples of heat movers. Great for an introduction.
Worksheet
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X vs. T graphs

For Students 7th - 9th
In this X vs. T graph, students sketch velocity vs. time graphs corresponding to the following descriptions of the motion of an object. Students also draw the velocity vs. time graphs for an object whose motion produced the distance vs....
Worksheet
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Acceleration 2

For Students 8th - 10th
In this acceleration instructional activity, students experiment with varying amounts of mass to observe the effects on the force needed to move an object. Students apply Newton's Second Law of Motion to describe the relationship between...
Lesson Plan
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Balloon Rockets

For Teachers 8th - 10th
In this balloon rocket worksheet, students experiment with a balloon, clothespin, straw, string and tape to observe Newton's Third Law of Motion in action. Students explain the action force and reaction force acting in the investigation.
PPT
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Backpacks and Hills

For Teachers 5th - 8th
This machines PowerPoint reviews effort and force in relation to work and informs students about different types of machines and the different ways forces are applied and how they work to increase efficiency.
Lesson Plan
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The Changing Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students observe and analyze weathering. In this earth science lesson plan, students demonstrate physical and chemical weathering in two experiments, then write questions for a class Jeopardy game.
Lesson Plan
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Acceleration 1

For Teachers 8th - 10th
In this acceleration worksheet, students use weights to increase the mass affecting the force on moving objects. Students plot a graph of their data and answer 3 questions about how the acceleration of the toy skateboard used in the...
Lesson Plan
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Vectors: Follow That Arrow

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Vectors and their connection to motion. A video will be presented to provide information for the class to use methods of solving vectors with and without grids. Real-world physical concepts will be explored in reference to vectors.
Lesson Plan
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Magnets

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders classify objects and create hypotheses regarding their magnetic properties. They watch a video about magnets and finally use a magnet to test their hypotheses created earlier.
Lesson Plan
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Weight and Velocity

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students perform an experiment in order to determine how increasing weight affects the velocity of a truck and use the computer to compile their data.
Lesson Plan
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Skateboard Science

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students investigate how skaters can turn in midair. In this physics lesson, students relate Newton's Laws to skateboarding. They carry out the maneuver with the help of their classmate.
Lesson Plan
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Numerical Determination of Drag Coefficients

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Pupils create a video of an object falling with a drag. In this physics lesson plan, students calculate drag coefficient using data from Logger Pro. They calculate velocity and acceleration of the object.
Lesson Plan
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2D Kinematics w/ String Racers

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students calculate the speed of string racers. In this physics lesson, students measure the time in several trials and get the average. They graph their results using a spreadsheet.
Worksheet
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Magnetism

For Students 9th - 10th
In this physics worksheet, students complete each of the statements with the correct word or phrase. Then they match each of the words listed on the left with their correct descriptions on the right.
Lesson Plan
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Swinging Observations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students build a pendulum type swinging apparatus and make specific and selective observations using what they know about scientific observations. They look for regularities of movement, patterns, and systemic changes over time.
Lesson Plan
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Physical Science Project-Atom

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate atoms. In this atom instructional activity, 5th graders investigate the parts of an atom. Students explore atom numbers and determine the number of electrons is in each atom.
Lesson Plan
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Discovering a Law of Space Physics

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students use data collected by an astronomer to determine the relationship between the time it takes the planet to orbit the sun and the average radius of the planet's orbit around the sun. Students use trial and error to find the...
Lesson Plan
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Gravity

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students perform inquiry in response to the question "Do objects fall at the same rate?", teacher candidates discuss a model experiment for secondary students to discover the answer, including recording and analyzing data.
Lesson Plan
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Communications

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers incorporate different disciplines into this lesson. For this science lesson, students investigate the use of communicating without words, and how it is different than communicating with words. They discuss the pros and...
Lesson Plan
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Wig-wag Physics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers make observations on the effects of a small, medium and large weight on the movement of a wig-wag apparatus. They use their observations to develop a generalized inference of the effect weight on movement patterns.
Lab Resource
Colorado State University

Why Does the Wind Blow?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Without wind, the weather man wouldn't have much to talk about! Blow away your junior meteorologists with a creative demonstration of how wind works. The activity uses an empty soda bottle and compressible Styrofoam peanuts to illustrate...