Electricity & Magnetism		Light and Color		Mechanics
	Fluids		Matter		Waves, Sound, and Optics

Physics Lesson Plans

1. Attracting Balloons- The students will be able to demonstrate static electricity using balloons. The students will be able to identify static electricity that occurs in their daily lives.
2. Brown Bag Science- The purpose of this investigation is to introduce students to the concept of electricity and dispel any fears they may have that they don't understand the concept.
3. Bubble-ology and Bernoulli- The purpose of this activity is to introduce aerodynamics to the students by challenging them to devise the best ways to keep a bubble aloft.
4. Cloud Chambers and Kinetic Energy- Students experience radioactive decay and calculate the kinetic energy of alpha particles.

1. Downhill Discoveries- To help students understand physical properties such as kinetic and potential energy, friction, drag, slope, and acceleration .
2. Electromagnets- Students identify the relationship between magnets and electricity. They will also determine the purpose and convenience of an electromagnet in the real world.
3. Exploring the Path of Light- Students will realize that light travels in a straight path and in all directions through prediction and exploration.
4. How Far Does Light Go?- "How Far Does Light Go?" is a debate project which engages students in an examination of the scientific properties of light by engaging them with relevant evidence from the Web.
5. I'm Inclined to See (Exploration)- The purpose of this activity is to look at the motion of a sphere on an inclined plane and to discover basic relationships involving distance, time, speed (velocity), and acceleration.
6. Laws of Reflection- To develop the basic Laws of Reflection by observation of images of objects in plane mirrors.
7. Magnets- Classify objects attracted and not attracted by magnets. Analyze materials of objects used. Predict the poser of a unit magnet.
8. Make Your Own Invention- Students learn about Earth Day by developing their own inventions to help the environment.
9. Making an Electrical Circuit- Students will take the information they learned and apply it to similar situations presented to them on the attached prediction sheet.
10. Mass vs Weight- The purpose of this mini-teach is to give the students an understanding of the concepts of Mass vs Weight and a basic understanding of metric measurements.
11. Mickey's Magnets- To identify the two forces of a magnet-push and pull.
12. One Two Three Isaac Newton and Me- What affects a body's motion?
13. Optical Images- Students beginning the study of optics will recite the law of reflection, but are unable to apply that concept to ray diagrams when viewing images.
14. Periodic Motion: The Pendulum- To introduce the concept of periodic motion and relate it to the movement of a pendulum.
15. Physics Lesson- Lessons mostly on Newton's Laws.
16. Physics News- Keeps you up-to-date on the Physics Education world.
17. Potential and Kinetic Energy- Students will observe and record the amount of work done by the three different marbles rolling down an inclined plane and hypothesize about the reasons for the differences.
18. Rainbows and Prisms- Students will have the opportunity to explore how rainbows form through an exploration of prisms.
19. Rocket to Success- This lesson plan is a simple science experiment that students can use to understand Newton's complex theory of Action and Reaction.
20. Roller Coasters in the Classroom- The students shall be able to accurately define potential and kinetic energy. The students will explain the relationship of height to potential energy and the resulting kinetic energy.
21. Science Connection - Physics Lesson Plans- Weekly updated lessons.
22. Simple Harmonic Motion- The purpose of this lesson is to help students understand the theory of simple harmonic motion (SHM) by performing hands-on, practical application experiments.
23. Sounds Like Fun- Children are introduced to the concept of sound travel. Students construct "cup phones" and determine if sound travels better through plastic or insulated cups.
24. Spool Racer- This is a fun, exploratory lesson which will allow students to ask the following questions: What is energy? How is energy used? What are two different types of energy?
25. Static Electricity- A learning cycle format for inquiry teaching. Journal about what students think causes a lightbulb to light up when rubbed with a plastic bag.
26. Straight Line Motion with a Stomper- After this experience, the student should be able to define average speed (distance traveled/time) and be able to graph distance vs time and velocity vs time.
27. Super-Ball Physics- To study the motion of a ball in the air, its collision with a hard surface, and subsequent bouncing.
28. The Great Tin Race- Describe and recognize motion. Understand what is a reference point. Describe distance in reference to units of measurement.
29. The Inertial Balance- Explain the physics principle of the balance using Newton’s First and Second Laws. Differentiate between mass and weight.
30. The Ringer- The Ringer is a successful flying machine even though it is without wings, a tail or stabilizer.
31. Understanding Sound- The students will demonstrate their understanding of sound travel by predicting and explaining why you can hear the sound of a train coming when you put your ear on the track faster than you would by the air.
32. Understanding Waves- The purpose of this lesson is to give children a basic understanding of the physical properties of waves without becoming too technical.
33. Using Newton's Laws of Motion: Bottle Rocket Experiments- This lesson works well at the end of a solar system unit towards the end of school and is especially good for a science fair project.
34. Visible Light- Students will explore characteristics of light and heat.
35. What is gravity?- The students will be able to scientifically explain why the human body is attracted by the Earth.
36. What Makes a Parachute Float Slowly Down?- Students will predict how a parachute works using a sheet that includes a drawing or description.