Philadelphia Museum of Art
Physics at the Art Museum: Kinetic Energy, Potential Energy, and Work
Connect science, math, and art for a true interdisciplinary lesson! Learners explore simple machines in art. Through analysis with a physics app, they identify positions of kinetic and potential energy and make conclusions about work.
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Simple Machines, Odd Machine
Students construct a device to 'launch' a marshmallow at the teacher and then discuss various forms of levers. They work in teams to design catapults and identify different kinds of levers.
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Stop Pulling My Bot Around!
Students investigate the relationship between work and mechanical advantage. In this physics instructional activity, students calculate the work and efficiency of pulleys. They identify the different types of pulleys.
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Fulcrums in Our Body
Second graders discuss fulcrums and levers and identify at least two fulcrums and levers on their bodies. They also identify fulcrums and levers on animal bodies.
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What Can We Lose? What Do We Lose as we Gain Force With A Lever?
Third graders view a demonstration of a teeter totter as a basis for assessing pre-knowledge of a lever. They create a KwL chart. Students work in small groups to conduct a variety of experiments. The first requires students to tie books...
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Simple Machines III - Pulleys
Fourth graders are introduced to a spring scale to show that the forces on both sides of the pulley are the same. They break into groups to lift objects with fixed pulleys and with multiple looped pulleys and then measure the force...
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Simple Tensile Testing of Polymeric Films and Sheeting
Chemistry classes pretend to be consultants to a grocery story trying to decide what polymer to use for therir new non-paper bags. They prepare tensile bars and use them to test plastic film samples for strength and stretchability. Both...
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The Anti-Gravity Machine
Students examine physics by completing a bicycle experiment in class. In this gravity lesson, students measure the characteristics of different bicycles and compare their different race times. Students utilize a shoebox, pencil, tape,...
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Roll with the Punches: Depression Era Machinery
Learners construct models of simple and complicated machines with Legos. Then they design an experiment using the scientific method. ESE modifications included.
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Flight Dreams: Birds Flew First
Students observe how bird flight and machine flight are similar. In this aerodynamics lesson, students observe how birds fly and the shapes of their wings, and investigate how observing birds helped develop the concept of machine flight....
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Exploring Basic Physical Science Concepts
Students use the concepts of simple machines to construct a mobile. The inquiry is made in groups and presentations are made by constructing reports. The assessment is based upon the final product of the mobile and how students use...
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The Hand Drill: An Example of a Screw
Students examine how a screw works as an inclined plane and a hand drill works as a screw. In this physics instructional activity, students complete two hands-on activities working with simple machines including screws and hand drills....
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Machines Use Energy
Third graders observe and discuss examples of friction. They discuss what experimentally increases and decreases friction. They then predict which surface will produce the most friction and verify the prediction.
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Three Classes of Levers
Eighth graders research the three classes of levers and create a Power Point presentation showcasing the fulcrum, effort arm, and resistance arm in each class. They then write a paper explaining real life applications of the levers.
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Pulley Power
Third graders engage in a manipulative experiment in the mechanical advantage of simple machines. It graphically demonstrates the change in magnitude of applied force when using simple machines. Great for ESL to discover the ratio...
Jefferson Lab
The Shape of Things
Here is an interesting science lesson/activity which has learners working in groups in order to simulate experiments done at the Jefferson Science Lab. In this one, groups use a pie tin, a Hula Hoops, a marble, and a magic marker to...
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Friction and Machines
Fifth graders experimentally determine the relationship of friction to the functioning of machines. They demonstrate that rollers can decrease frictional force and increase speed and research to discover other ways that friction can be...
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Gears and Proportions
Students explore gears. In this simple machines and ratio instructional activity, students view a video clip in which front and rear bicycle gears are explained. From a set of gear combinations and gear ratios, students identify high...
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Learn about Torque
Students calculate torque and determine its uses. In this lesson on torque, students watch a video and teacher demonstrations and work with a small group on a lab activity. Students provide example of how torque is used in daily life,...
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Van de Graaff Generator
Students explore static electricity using the Van de Graaff generator. In this physics activity, students construct their own Van de Graaff using simple materials. They explain how charges accumulate on this device.
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Build Your Own Hovercraft
Students construct a hovercraft following specific procedures. In this technology lesson plan, students explain the physics principles behind hovercraft. They compare and contrast this machine with the aircraft.
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Energy All Around: Energy in Our Lives
Students identify the different sources of energy. In this energy lesson, students list different machines and identify the type of energy used to operate them. They create a diagram of a wind turbine and label its parts.
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Wright Again: 100 Years of Flight
Aspiring aeronautical engineers demonstrate different forces as they construct and test paper airplanes. This lesson plan links you to a website that models the most effective paper airplane design, an animation describing the forces...
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Call to Arms: Robotic Analogues for Human Structures
Investigate deep sea discovery through the emerging technology being built. In this physical science lesson, students analyze the different types of motion available in the human arm. Students research educational websites discussing...
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