Students use metersticks and spring scales to analyze the force required to pull and lift two different masses. Analysis questions then direct students to think about a force exerted through a displacement, and the companion document can then be used to spark classroom discussion. This is not meant to be an all-inclusive document; further discussion will be required to properly introduce Work and Energy.

This activity is designed to have students investigate the basics of forces and how they affect motion. They will also have the opportunity to participate in a PHET Simulation by the University of Colorado on Force and Motion and use the simulation to create a simple Experimental Design and collect data.

This lesson is part of the Virginia K-12 Computer Science Pipeline which is partly funded through a GO Virginia grant in partnership with Chesapeake Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, and the Loudoun Education Foundation.  In this lesson, students will create examples of gravitational potential and kinetic energy transformations using Scratch.  

Students work in stations to discover what causes sound.  They extend their learning as they plan and conduct investigations demonstrating vibrating materials can transmit energy.

This spreadsheet has links to audio files and lesson plans for the Kinetic Scholar lessons developed as part of the Active Learning grant our school division was awarded. Many are student voiced and all involve some sort of audio lesson paired with movement. We encourage teachers to take students outside to listen and move around with these lessons when possible to increase circulation, get some fresh air, and enjoy our beautiful campuses.

Join the ladybug in an exploration of rotational motion. Rotate the merry-go-round to change its angle, or choose a constant angular velocity or angular acceleration. Explore how circular motion relates to the bug's x,y position, velocity, and acceleration using vectors or graphs.

Create a laser by pumping the chamber with a photon beam. Manage the energy states of the laser's atoms to control its output.

Learn to sing a song that reminds us of a big spinning wheel. We will also meet a new instrument that makes its sound by spinning - a hurdy-gurdy! Then watch as our special guest, Ms. Thomas, shows us how to make our very own spinning toy - a whirligig! Come spin with us!

This module is designed to guide students in better understanding light. The students will also understand how light travels and interacts with other materials.  The teacher will facilitate students' explorations as they generate a summary of their experiences.  Throughout this unit, students will be guided in using practical materials such everyday items found in their classroom and light energy produced by flashlightThe goal of this module is for students to explore light and to better understand how it behaves.  This module has been designed for 5th grade students or students who are developmentally ready to explore light.  This module could also be used as a review for students in upper grades who need to build their fundamental understanding.  This module was developed by Sarah Donnelly, Stephanie Hooks & Karin Kaerwer as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education.

Science Instructional Plans (SIPs) help teachers align instruction with the Science Standards of Learning (SOL) by providing examples of how the content and the scientific and engineering practices found in the SOL and curriculum framework can be presented to students in the classroom.

Description: Many people love roller coasters, but a portion of the population might prefer a slower, calmer ride experience.  Busch Gardens, a popular theme park in Williamsburg wants to offer a variety of rides that appeal to all ages and abilities.  Can you help them design and create a roller coaster that will move at a much slower pace than the typical roller coaster?  You will present your prototype in the form of a marble run built on the provided surface.  Think about the marble runs that you may have played with or built when you were younger.  Can you redesign a marble run that will take the marble the longest amount of time possible to reach the end without stopping?  At the conclusion, each group will test and time their marble runs.

A realistic mass and spring laboratory. Hang masses from springs and adjust the spring stiffness and damping. You can even slow time. Transport the lab to different planets. A chart shows the kinetic, potential, and thermal energy for each spring.

How do microwaves heat up your coffee? Adjust the frequency and amplitude of microwaves. Watch water molecules rotating and bouncing around. View the microwave field as a wave, a single line of vectors, or the entire field.

Overview of the activity: Introduce students to the Brainpop videos to open the discussion of what magnets are and how they can be used.  

The student will investigate and understand simple machines and their uses. Students are learning the purpose, function and environmental examples of simple machines in their daily lives. These comprehension “mix-ups” are a great way to monitor students’ understanding of the content along with checking reading comprehension.

This lesson is part of the Virginia K-12 Computer Science Pipeline which is partly funded through a GO Virginia grant in partnership with Chesapeake Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, and the Loudoun Education Foundation. During this lesson, students will create a storyboard and pseudocode which will be used while creating a simulation using Scratch. 

Try the new "Ladybug Motion 2D" simulation for the latest updated version. Learn about position, velocity, and acceleration vectors. Move the ball with the mouse or let the simulation move the ball in four types of motion (2 types of linear, simple harmonic, circle).

Video Description:  Simple machines are all around us and help make our work easier. When simple machines are combined, a compound machine is created. Learn about NASA's compound machine, the lunar crane, and the simple machines it contains to make work easier in Our World.  Video length:  4:17.NASA eClipsTM is a suite of online student-centered, standards-based resources that support instruction by increasing STEM literacy in formal and nonformal settings.  These free digital and downloadable resources inform and engage students through NASA-inspired, real-world connections.NASA eClips Our World videos (grades 3-5) help students understand the differences between science (the natural world) and engineering (the designed world).  These video segments supplement elementary learning objectives not only in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, but also in reading, writing, visual and performing arts.

This is an introductory lesson to Science SOL 5.3 - The student will investigate and understand that there is a relationship between force and energy of moving objects.
While reading the book, students will stop at predetermined points and visualize what is happening in the book based on the author' words.