Physical Science Unit Resources
Energy
Energy and Matter Potential Energy
Heat Energy Transfer Kinetic Energy
Forces and Interactions
Newton’s First and Second Law of Motion Gravity
Newton’s Third Law of Motion Electric and Magnetic Forces
Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation
Waves
Digital and Analog Signals
Structure and Properties of Matter
Atoms, Elements & the Periodic Table Motion of Molecules
Synthetic Materials Changes in Molecule Motion
Chemical Reactions
Evidence of a Chemical Change Thermal Energy Project
Conservation of Mass
Kinetic Energy Mini Unit Resources
Students use marbles, ramps and blocks to learn how mass and speed affect an object’s kinetic energy. Then, students use the Energy Skate Park PhET simulation to construct and analyze graphs of mass, speed and kinetic energy. Finally, students use a double ball bounce (drop a tennis ball on top of a basketball) to construct an argument. Extension activities include creating a roller coaster for a marble and calculating energy on the ride!
Potential Energy Mini Unit Resources
Students begin by identifying all of the types of energy they used today and classifying this energy as potential or kinetic. Then, students break down the energy changes that occur in a bouncing ball and collect data about how drop height affects bounce height. Students create an excellent graph of their data with TAILS (Title, Axes, Intervals, Labels, Scale) and use their graph to answer the question How does gravitational potential energy affect the total energy in the bouncing ball system? Finally, students use pendulums to figure out how the total amount of potential energy in a system changes!
Heat Energy Transfer Mini Unit Resources
Students explore convection and radiation through quick labs. Then, they analyze data to determine which colors absorb the most heat energy and which materials make the best insulators. After learning that increasing global temperatures are endangering the tuatara population in New Zealand, students design, construct and test a tuatara nest that reduces heat energy transfer and keeps the eggs cool!
Energy and Matter
In this mini unit, students learn about how Dr. Shirley Jackson’s childhood activities led to an illustrious career in physics. Then, students practice their own lab skills while measuring mass, volume and temperature. They plan and carry out two investigations: One to learn how different masses of ice affect the temperature of water and one to determine how type of matter affects temperature change. Students analyze their data and construct an understanding of the relationships between matter, mass, temperature and energy transfer. Extension activities include building a thermometer! This is a great unit to begin the year with!