Curated OER
Skateboard Science
Students investigate how skaters can turn in midair. In this physics instructional activity, students relate Newton's Laws to skateboarding. They carry out the maneuver with the help of their classmate.
Curated OER
Construction of an Ammeter and a Voltmeter from a Galvanometer
Students explore series and parallel circuits. In this physics lesson, students construct a simple circuit and measure its maximum current. They construct their own voltmeter and ammeter that operates at a specified range.
Curated OER
Vectors
Students differentiate distance and displacement. In this physics lesson plan, students use formulas to calculate for displacement. They draw vectors using the grid.
Curated OER
Newton’s Laws of Motion
Eighth graders explore the three laws of motion. In this physics lesson, 8th graders observe teacher demonstration and explain what happened in terms of Newton's Laws. They complete worksheet at the end of the lesson.
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2D Kinematics w/ String Racers
Students calculate the speed of string racers. In this physics activity, students measure the time in several trials and get the average. They graph their results using a spreadsheet.
Curated OER
Investigation of Hooke's Law Lab
Young scholars determine the spring constant by conducting an investigation. In this physics lesson, students collect data and create a graph of force vs. displacement. They compare the results of two different methods to find spring...
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Scientific Inquiry: Periodic Motion
Students construct their own pendulum. In this physics instructional activity, students design an experiment to find the factors affecting its period. They formulate a conclusion based on experimental data.
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Magnetism in Action
Third graders experiment with magnetic force and magnetic fields. They examine how magnetic forces can act through a distance.
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Gyrocopter - Describing Rotary Motion
Learners calculate angular displacement, velocity and acceleration of gyrocopters. In this physics lesson plan, students compare data taken from 3 different gyrocopters. They explain how differences in construction material affect...
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Magneto-hydrodynamic Drives
Students examine how electric and magnetic fields can be used to force water out of a chamber to move a vehicle forward.
Curated OER
Parachutes: Is it Surface Area or Shape?
Students investigate how to make a good parachute. In this physics lesson, students observe the motion of parachutes as it falls and measure the time. They collect data and calculate the average descent time for each canopy shape.
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Vectors: Follow That Arrow
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.
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Simple Machines: Levers
Students discover the fundamentals and daily applications of simple machines. They practice basic engineering theory through their hands-on demonstrations of levers.
Curated OER
Changing Borders
Middle schoolers explain that the boundaries between countries are not permanent, then analyze current events and stories as examples of cooperation and conflict. They describe a place using physical and human characteristics.
PE Central
Fitness Advertisements
Exercise is good for your heart, your bones, your lungs, and your mood! Middle schoolers read more about the effects of regular exercise before creating their own posters that advertise the benefits of physical fitness.
Curated OER
TE Activity: Pulley'ing Your Own Weight
Students experiment with common objects such as spools, string and soap to determine how pulleys make it easier to move large objects. They look at the difference between fixed and movable pulleys. They examine the many uses engineers...
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Simple Machines
Students explain how simple machines work and design their own machine. They use the Internet for research.
Curated OER
TE Activity: Yogurt Cup Speakers
Sixth graders build a speaker as they investigate the roles of electricity and magnetism. They discover the properties of magnets, create an electromagnet, and determine the direction of a magnetic field. They show cause and effect...
Mr. E. Science
Electric Charges and Current
Resistance is not futile, it is voltage divided by current. The presentation goes in depth covering electric charges, conductors, insulators, electric fields, static charges, and circuits. The lesson is the 12th in a series of 26.
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Wheeling It In!
Students use everyday materials (milk cartons, water bottles, pencils, straws, candy) to build a small-scale transportation device that incorporates the wheel and axle and the lever. They race their carts/trucks, measure distance, time...
Curated OER
Electricity
The presentation begins with a circuit building activity and two data tables for young scientists to copy and complete. Full of clever animations, it will definitely spark student interest! However, the information is incoherent. You may...
Curated OER
Gyrocopters-Producing Rotary Motion
Students demonstrate rotary motion by practicing with gyrocopters. In this physics lesson plan students work in groups to construct a gyrocopter and explore how physics effect it torque and inertia.
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Extreme Acceleration
Learners explore the concept of acceleration. They determine the acceleration rate of a roller-blader and graph the results.
Curated OER
Work, Power, and Entropy
High schoolers experience work and power and observe the process of entropy. In this physics lesson, students conduct an experiment that shows work (force & distance), power (work/time), and exemplifies the process of entropy.