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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Origami Flight: The Physical Setting

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate the forces that move certain objects.  In this physics lesson, 6th graders design and create paper flying objects using origami methods, which they practice flying in different conditions.  Students record and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aeronautics: Bernoulli's Principle

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore physics by participating in a science activity in class. In this flight properties lesson, students identify Bernoulli's principle of flight and his theory of statics and motion. Students conduct a demonstration by...
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Activity
Physics Central

Physics Central: Physics in the Bathroom: Ripping Neatly

For Students 3rd - 8th
A great science experiment to demonstrate Newton's First Law of Motion, inertia. There is a step-by-step guide on how to conduct this experiment and links to other sites about inertia.
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Activity
University of Maryland

University of Maryland: Boiling at Reduced Pressure

For Students 9th - 10th
A page from the University of Maryland Physics Lecture Demonstration Facility. Provides directions for a teacher demonstration of the dependency of the boiling point upon pressure. Shows apparatus and set-up; provides suggestions. Easily...
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Unit Plan
Physics Classroom

The Physics Classroom: Inertia and Mass

For Students 9th - 10th
This is part of a lesson on Newton's Laws of Motion that focuses on inertia and mass. It restates Newton's first law of motion. The lesson also gives a helpful visual description concerning friction.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Newton's Laws of Motion

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Lesson plan from the Illinois Institute of Technology that incorporates many demonstrations like pulling a tablecloth from under a place setting, or launching a rocket to show Newton's laws.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Simple Machines (Grades 1 To12)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this lesson plan students start by trying to open a paint can with their bare hands. Eventually, they will use a lever to open it. Various activities are used to enforce different simple machines.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Projectiles

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Lesson plan in which students will observe demonstrations and interact with various objects dealing with projectile motion. Subject matter for intermediate or middle school.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: How to Speed Up a Slow Grandfather: The Pendulum

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
In this lesson plan students are "given one hour to solve a problem that a has caused a huge drop in sales" for a clock company. All clocks are five minutes slow. Because of this, they must find a way to put the clock back on time...
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Activity
University of Maryland

University of Maryland: Thermal Expansion Pin Breaker

For Students 9th - 10th
A page from the University of Maryland Physics Lecture Demonstration Facility. Provides directions for a teacher demonstration of thermal expansion. Shows apparatus and set-up; Provides suggestions. Easily adaptable as a student project...
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Activity
University of Maryland

Lowering the Freezing Point of Water Using Salt

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A page from the University of Maryland Physics Lecture Demonstration Facility. Provides directions for a teacher demonstration of the effect of an ionic solute upon the freezing point of water. Shows apparatus and set-up; provides...
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Activity
University of Maryland

U. Of Maryland: Change of State of Liquid Nitrogen

For Students 9th - 10th
A page from the University of Maryland Physics Lecture Demonstration Facility. Provides directions for a teacher demonstration of the vaporization of liquid nitrogen. Shows apparatus and set-up; provides suggestions. Easily adaptable as...
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Activity
University of Maryland

University of Maryland: Boiling Water by Pumping

For Students 9th - 10th
A page from the University of Maryland Physics Lecture Demonstration Facility. Provides directions for a teacher demonstration which utilizes a Bell jar and vacuum pump to show the dependency of boiling point upon pressure. Shows...
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Activity
University of Maryland

U. Of Maryland: Latent Heat: Ice to Water to Steam

For Students 9th - 10th
A page from the University of Maryland Physics Lecture Demonstration Facility. Provides directions for a teacher demonstration of latent heat in the melting and vaporization process. Shows apparatus and set-up; provides suggestions....
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Activity
University of Maryland

University of Maryland: Absolute Zero

For Students 9th - 10th
A page from the University of Maryland Physics Lecture Demonstration Facility. Provides directions for determining the value of absolute temperature. Shows apparatus and set-up; provides suggestions. Easily adaptable as a student project...
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Activity
University of Maryland

University of Maryland: Boyled Marshmallows

For Students 9th - 10th
A page from the University of Maryland Physics Lecture Demonstration Facility. Provides directions for a teacher demonstration of Boyle's law. Shows apparatus and set-up; provides suggestions. Easily adaptable as a student project or lab...
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Activity
University of Maryland

University of Maryland: Ideal Gas Law Volume of One Mole

For Students 9th - 10th
A page from the University of Maryland Physics Lecture Demonstration Facility. Provides directions for a teacher demonstration of the ideal gas law. Shows apparatus and set-up; provides suggestions. Easily adaptable as a student project...
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Activity
University of Maryland

University of Maryland: Thermal Expansion: Ball and Hole

For Students 9th - 10th
A page from the University of Maryland Physics Lecture Demonstration Facility. Provides directions for a teacher demonstration of thermal expansion. Shows apparatus and set-up; provides suggestions. Easily adaptable as a student project...
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Activity
University of Maryland

Um: Carbon Dioxide Balloon on Liquid Nitrogen

For Students 9th - 10th
A page from the University of Maryland Physics Lecture Demonstration Facility. Provides directions for a teacher demonstration of sublimation. Shows apparatus and set-up; provides suggestions. Easily adaptable as a student project or lab...
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Activity
Science Bob Pflugfelder

Science Bob: Make a Paperclip Float!

For Students 3rd - 7th
Presents a procedure for getting a paper clip to float in water. Following the procedure, the site gives a brief explanation and discussion of surface tension.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Objects Race

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson plan grab a slope and different objects. Roll the objects down the slope and record which is the fastest. Students analyze the features of the objects that make them slow or fast.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Transfer of Momentum

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This instructional activity designed for primary level students, describes the bodily-kinesthetic method of showing the conservation of momentum with students rollerblading, using cars, and colliding marbles.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Electric Currents and Circuits

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This cooperative learning activity for intermediate to junior high students has them create various electrical circuits in order to understand electricity.