Lesson plan that uses students' step length to understand the relationship between distance, speed and acceleration. Includes graphing of data and interpretation of graphs.

This video clip is meant to serve as a writing or discussion prompt during a unit on forces and motion. This can be used at varied grade levels, with the expectation that student responses would be more complex in higher grade levels.

This brief video clip demonstrates how to create a hovercraft from simple materials. Toward the end of the clip, the students in the video explains the science behind the hovercraft's motion (reduced friction). Students are encouraged to continue the experimentation on their own by changing variables in the design of the hovercraft.

In this activity, students construct their own rocket-powered boat called an "aqua-thruster." These aqua-thrusters will be made from a film canister and will use carbon dioxide gas produced from a chemical reaction between an antacid tablet and water to propel it. Students observe the effect that surface area of this simulated solid rocket fuel has on thrust.

CK-12 Basic Physics - Second Edition updates CK-12 Basic Physics and is intended to be used as one small part of a multifaceted strategy to teach physics conceptually and mathematically.

In this lesson, students will learn that forces can change the speed or direction of motion. Students will observe what happens to a toy car as it moves down a ramp and then encounters "speed bumps" that are added at different lengths away from the ramp. Students will also add a clay figure to the top of the cars to see what effect the ramp and "speed bumps" will have on the figure.

Using third grade Michigan Science Standards students will learn about force and motion then design, describe, and create an arcade game for others to play.  Since this is a PBL, many ELA content standards are also included.

Students observe the relationship between the angle of a catapult (a force measurement) and the flight of a cotton ball. They learn how Newton's second law of motion works by seeing directly that F = ma. When they pull the metal "arm" back further, thus applying a greater force to the cotton ball, it causes the cotton ball to travel faster and farther. Students also learn that objects of greater mass require more force to result in the same distance traveled by a lighter object.

After a discussion about what a parachute is and how it works, students create parachutes using different materials that they think will work best. They test their designs, and then contribute to a class discussion (and possible journal writing) to report which paper materials worked best.

In this STEM lesson, students will use a pattern to design and build a robotic rover with cardboard and a balloon. They will investigate the engineering challenges of wheels, speed, and friction while they examine the concept of a prototype in engineering. Students will demonstrate the use of potential and kinetic energy and explain ways the rover can be used in space travel and exploration.

Students will calculate the time it takes for Arctic terns at a given average migration speed.

Through this lesson, students learn about the four forces of flight: lift, thrust, drag, and weight. They evaluate the role design plays on aerodynamics and the distance a paper airplane travels.

In this lesson, students will use different surfaces to test which will cause less friction on a ball. This will let the students determine how friction affects the distance an object in motion will go. This leson will include cooperative grouping for the activity and whole group discussion of the results.

Students will experience force and speed by constructing model cars in cooperative groups. The students will explore ways to move their cars at different speeds. Each group will create a PhotoStory describing their cars.

Students will conduct three related investigation concerning magnetic attraction and the relative strength of magnets. The three investigations can be completed in any order, so can be set up as centers or for small group sessions. Students will record their observations on the provided data sheet.

This lesson is the first of a two-part series on the science of hurricanes and the kinds of technology being used to identify and track them. In this activity students examine different scientific aspects of hurricanes, all in an effort to begin to understand the nature of motion?particularly how changes in speed or direction of motion are caused by forces.

This lesson is the second in a two-part series on the science of hurricanes and the kinds of technology being used to identify and track them. In this activity students? study of hurricanes is broadened by exploring how technology and science are used today to identify, measure, and track powerful tropical storms to better warn and secure people from their often-devastating impact.

Fun learning inquiry labs on Newton's Laws using common materials. Explore the Physics behind cars, rockets, seatbelts, planets, common "magic tricks" and more.

In this activity students will investigate the paths that marbles take once set into motion and then how to change those paths, noting if and how they change.

In this lab activity, students investigate the concept of frame of reference by observing, describing and drawing the same walking motion from different positions. Additionally, they determine the effect of frame of reference on the walking time. Students analyze their data and observations and develop a working definition of the concept of frame of reference. A description of the lab report format is provided.