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Physics Tug of War
Learners set up books with rubber bands stretched between the books. When two identical books are stretched apart and released, they move back toward each other an equal distance.
Watch It Fly
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Learners observe projectile motion by launching wooden balls off of a table top. They set up a rubber-band launcher so that each ball experiences a consistent amount of force.
Newton's 2nd Law: Inquiry Approach
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In this lab activity, learners act as fellow scientists and colleagues of Isaac Newton. He has asked them to independently test his ideas on the nature of motion, in particular his 2nd Law.
Rubber Band Racer
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In this activity, learners construct speedy vehicles made out of paper plates and powered by twisted rubber bands.
Swinging Yo-Yo
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Learners build a pendulum from a yo-yo, and then design their own experiment to determine what affects the pendulum's period of swing.
Give Me a Brake
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In this activity, learners explore the concept of how brakes can stop or slow mechanical motion.
Build a Borneo Glider
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In this inquiry-based activity, learners investigate the basic forces of flight as they construct their own paper glider that represents a rainforest creature from Borneo (large, tropical island in So
Gymnast
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In this physics activity, learners build a toy with a figure that spins around like a gymnast on the high bar.
Swing in Time
Learners build and investigate pendulums of different lengths. They discover that the longer the string of the pendulum, the longer the time it takes to swing.
How Do Things Fall?
Learners engage in close observation of falling objects. They determine it is the amount of air resistance, not the weight of an object, which determines how quickly an object falls.
Twist & Shout
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Learners examine what happens when a tube spins in two directions at once. They push on a cardboard tube causing it to spin along its length while at the same time turning from end-to-end.
Breaking Beams
Learners investigate stress and strain by designing, building, and testing beams made from polymer clay.
Airboat
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In this activity related to Newton's Laws of Motion, learners build a boat powered by a propeller in the air.
Hovercraft
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In this activity, learners build a hovercraft using a paper plate, cup, and simple motor.
Prepare for a Construction Zone Field Trip
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In this activity, learners explore work, forces, simple machines, and construction. This lesson guide includes simple ways to demonstrate these principles as well as hands-on activities.