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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Determining Momentum and Energy Loss of Balls Colliding Against Different Surfaces

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students experiment with the bounce of balls on various surfaces. In this physics lesson, students use various surfaces to bounce balls to study the momentum. This hands-on activity with the concepts of elasticity of surfaces which is...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Principles of Flight: Bernoulli's Lift

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students discover how air pressure effects flight.  In this physics lesson, students create two types of airplane wings so they can observe the way air pressure creates lift.  Students utilize a printout to create the airplane wings.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Balloons: Math with the Montgolfier Balloon

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discover the history of hot air balloons by watching one ascent.  For this physics lesson, students utilize a Montgolfier Hot Air Balloon from an earlier lesson and record the temperature, rate of ascent and the volume....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Staying Up

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students will explain the Archimedes's Principle. In this lesson on plankton, students will describe three factors that can affect the buoyancy of plankton. This lesson contains extensive background information, extensions, and multiple...
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Lesson Plan
Center of Excellence for Science and Mathematics Education

A Sick Astronaut

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Aspiring astronauts graph, interpret, and analyze data. They investigate the relationship between two variables in a problem situation. Using both graphic and symbolic representations they will grasp the concept of line of best fit to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Attributes of Renewable Energy: From Nanopossibilities to Solar Power

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore solar energy, why we use it and how we use it.  In this renewable energy lesson students compare active and solar techniques.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You Are Here

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners determine the relative size and distance of the planets in the solar system. They use ratios in their mathematical calculations to make models of the planets after discussing the relative sizes of the planets. They keep a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Welcome to Love Canal

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students engage in a variety of activities that address the ethical issues surrounding the Love Canal case study.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eggs: A Practical Application

For Teachers All
Apply food selection and preparation guidelines related to egg products. National Standard 14.3.3 Identify functions of eggs: binder, thickener, coating, leavening agent, emulsifier Identify egg cooking temperatures, techniques/methods:...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Floodplain Modeling

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students simulate the impact of fluctuating river volumes on structures and landforms. They experiment with table top-sized riverbed models and water. Students consider how human design can help mitigate the effects of a flood.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Solar System: Go Green with the Sun!

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders learn how to use solar power.  In this sun, technology and energy instructional activity, 3rd graders learn how the solar power from the sun can give off energy, learn about solar panels, discuss their uses and benefits,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great MPA Debate

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students study the 'Marine Protected Areas' process.  In this ocean lesson students work in groups, conduct research and present it to the class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Construction Technologies: Construct the Strongest Bridge

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers investigate how engineers use different types of bridges for different places. In small groups they design and construct bridges for three different scenarios, and answer a series of investigating questions applied to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mixed Media Landscape Design

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders create mixed media representations of landscape designs in Africa and Asia. The lesson plan is great for cross-curricular projects with the Social Sciences and/or Literature, or can be used as a self-contained project. ...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dead Body Math

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students solve the mystery of dead Mr. Potato Head using physics and algebra. They discuss Newton's Law of cooling as it applies to the mystery scenario involving a cooling baked potato as the "victim". They manipulate algebraic...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Charles’s Law

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers describe the relationship between temperature and volume. In this chemistry lesson, students perform an experiment and record their their results. They use Charles' law to explain their observations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering a Law of Space Physics

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners 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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pumped Up Gas Prices

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students spend one month keeping track of the mileage and gasoline amounts they or their family has used. Information is entered into a spreadsheet to help calculate the average gas prices over time.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hurricane Floyd

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars take their knowledge about the hydrosphere and apply it to the issue of population growth and development. In particular, students will learn how increasing development in eastern North Carolina may have worsened the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What are Alternative Fuels? -- Gas Laws in Action/Propane Investigation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils identify the physical properties of propane by applying the gas laws to them. They compare and contrast Charles's and Boyle's gas laws and complete problems using them. They discuss their answers to end the lesson.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Ionic and Polar Covalent Crystals

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders make a number of ionic crystals. They compare a preserved snowflake to the physical properties of the ionic crystals. They apply qualitative observations and drawings in their discussion of the similarities between ice...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tiger Woods Physics

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students comprehend the independence of vertical and horizontal velocity vectors. They calculate height, time of flight and range of projectile objects. Students perform derivation for range of same plane projectile motion. They perform...
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Activity
Teach Engineering

Amusement Park Ride: The Ups and Downs in Design

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
Groups design the ultimate roller coaster by considering potential and kinetic energy. They test their designs using marbles and then go on to rate each group's design based on aesthetics, loop diameter, and cost.
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Activity
Teach Engineering

When Silicon Talks

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Explore Snell's Law using thin films. In the fifth installment of a seven-part series, pupils solve a set of problems relating to Snell's Law and use this skill during an experiment requiring the collection of reflective measurements...