Physical Science
Using Physical Science Gadgets and Gizmos, Grades 3-5 By Matthew Bobrowsky, Mikko Korhonen, Jukka Kohtamaki. (2014). 103p. NSTA Press, (978-1936959389). Gr. 3-5.
This is a great resource for all of the units in physical science. Find this book here: http://www.amazon.com/Physical-Science-Gadgets-Gizmos-Grades/dp/1936959380/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418022915&sr=1-2&keywords=using+physical+science+gadgets+and+gizmos |
Children's Books
Energy Makes Things Happen By Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Illus. By Paul Meisel. (2003). 40p. HarperCollins Publishers. (978-0064452137). Gr. K-4.
This book explains how energy is used and where energy comes from, as well as the different forms of energy. Energy is traced back to the sun, and explains that energy is needed to do any activity. In this book, you can find out all the ways you and everyone on earth need energy to make things happen. Simple language and humorous illustrations show how energy comes originally from the sun and can be transferred from one thing to another. Find this book here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/energy-makes-things-happen-kimberly-b-bradley/1100866122?ean=9780064452137&itm=1&usri=9780064452137 |
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind By William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer. Illus. By Elizabeth Zunon. (2012). 32p. Dial Books for Young Readers, (978-0803735118). Gr. 1-3.
This book is suggested for grades 1-3 due to the simple language, however the content of the story is an inspiring journey of a boy in Malawi that builds a windmill from scrap metal to power his village. This is a great way to show the students that there are ways to obtain green energy and that even children can make a difference. You can relate this story to kinetic and potential energy (kinetic when the windmill is being moved by the wind). *Note - there is a short novel version of this story for Gr. 4-7* Find this book here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-boy-who-harnessed-the-wind-young-readers-edition-william-kamkwamba/1109136621?ean=9780803735118 |
Forces Make Things Move By Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Illus. By Paul Meisel. (2005). 40p. HarperCollins Publishers, (978-0060289072). Gr. K-4.
This book explores force, the affects of gravity and friction too! It is a great book for a unit on force and motion. Use this book to talk about the different forces that can make things move - or stop! Find this book here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forces-make-things-move-kimberly-brubaker-bradley/1100151981?ean=9780060289072 |
Technology Resources
Pendulum Variables - This is an interactive online activity that explains how a pendulum works, and how changes variables like: gravity, length of string, angle of start, and rotation angle. After understanding how the pendulum works, the students get to adjust the variables to see the shapes the pendulum would make. This activity looks at the force and motion, also discusses the position of an object and its effect. Also a good source to identify independent and dependent variables.
Energy in a Roller Coaster- This is a simple simulation for students to observe the kinetic and potential energy during a roller coaster.
Instructional Resources
Marshmallow Catapult - This is a fun activity to do in the classroom demonstrating force and motion.
Forces Lesson - This is a lesson packet on forces, covers direction and speed.
Assessment Resources
Kinetic and Potential Energy- This worksheet and answer key allows the students to demonstrate their ability to identify kinetic and potential energy.
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Force and Motion Test and Key | |
File Size: | 15 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Kinetic and Potential Energy Quiz- This is a fill in the blank assessment page on kinetic and potential energy.
Children's Books
The Shocking Truth About Energy By Loreen Leedy. (2011). 32p. Holiday House, (978-0823423880). Gr. 2-5.
This book is explains where energy comes from in its various forms, identifies the pros and cons of each, and has pop-up illustrations and diagrams. This would be a good book to use at the start an electricity unit. Find this book here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shocking-truth-about-energy-loreen-leedy/1102269534?ean=9780823423880&itm=1&usri=9780823423880 |
What Makes A Magnet? By Franklyn M. Branley. Illus. By True Kelley. (1996). 32p. HarperCollins Publishing, (978-0064451482). Gr. K-4.
This book describes how magnets work and includes experiments on how to make a magnet and a compass. It would be a great book for the magnet section of this unit. Find this book here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-makes-a-magnet-franklyn-mansfield-branley/1107910485?ean=9780064451482 |
Charged Up: The Story of Electricity By Jacqui Bailey. Illus. By Matthew Lilly. (2006). 32p. Picture Window Books, (978-1404811294). Gr. 2-6.
This book describes how electrical energy is generated in power stations and how it travels through pylons, power cables, and wires into people's homes. The book also includes an activity. Find this book here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/charged-up-jacqui-bailey/1012228512?ean=9781404811294&itm=1&usri=9781404811294 |
Technology Resources
Simple Electrical Circuit - This is an interactive game where students can replace parts of a circuit to see the result, lighting a bulb.
Electricity Game - This is a drag and drop puzzle game. The students will try to place the components in the correct way to get the power to the target box.
Circuit Building - This is an informational game with an interactive circuit building component.
Static Electricity Game - This is a game for students to test their knowledge of static electricity in a "Who-Wants-To-Be-A-Millionaire" style game.
Instructional Resources
Cool and Not so Cool - This is an activity to demonstrate thermal conductors. Help the students understand the concept of a conductor and what makes a good conductor.
Build a flashlight - Instructions on how to build a flashlight with a soda can, and cereal box. Fun activity to demonstrate circuits and conductors.
Insulators and Conductors Experiment - This is a worksheet for an experiment, testing various insulators and conductors.
It's Electric! - This is an experiment worksheet on electrical currents.
Assessment Resources
Electrical Charges - This is a worksheet and answer key about electrical charges, this should be part of the curriculum when talking about magnets and static electricity. The students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge about an object being positively charged or negatively charged (like the ends of a magnet).
Electricity Guide Worksheets - This page contains 13 different assessment assignments for students involving static electricity, circuits, types of energy, etc.
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insulatorsandconductorsworksheet.pdf | |
File Size: | 113 kb |
File Type: |
Physical Science SOLs
4.2 The student will investigate and understand characteristics and interactions of
moving objects.
Key concepts include:
moving objects.
Key concepts include:
- a) motion is described by an object’s direction and speed;
- b) changes in motion are related to force and mass;
- c) friction is a force that opposes motion; and
- d) moving objects have kinetic energy.
In order to meet this standard, it is expected that students will:
- Describe the position of an object.
- Collect and display in a table and line graph time and position data for a moving object.
- Explain that speed is a measure of motion.
- Interpret data to determine if the speed of an object is increasing, decreasing, or remaining the same.
- Identify the forces that cause an object’s motion.
- Describe the direction of an object’s motion: up, down, forward, backward.
- Infer that objects have kinetic energy.
- Design an investigation to test the following hypothesis: “If the mass of an object increases, then the force needed to move it will increase.”
- Design an investigation to determine the effect of friction on moving objects. Write a testable hypothesis and identify the dependent variable, the independent variable, and the constants. Conduct a fair test, collect and record the data, analyze the data, and report the results of the data.
In order to meet this standard, it is expected that teachers know:
- The position of an object can be described by locating it relative to another object or to the background.
- Tracing and measuring an object’s position over time can describe its motion.
- Speed describes how fast an object is moving.
- Energy may exist in two states: kinetic or potential.
- Kinetic energy is the energy of motion.
- A force is any push or pull that causes an object to move, stop, or change speed or direction.
- The greater the force, the greater the change in motion will be. The more massive an object, the less effect a given force will have on the object.
- Friction is the resistance to motion created by two objects moving against each other. Friction creates heat.
- Unless acted on by a force, objects in motion tend to stay in motion and objects at rest remain at rest.
4.3 The student will investigate and understand the characteristics of electricity.
Key concepts include:
Key concepts include:
- a) conductors and insulators;
- b) basic circuits;
- c) static electricity;
- d) the ability of electrical energy to be transformed into light and motion, and to produce heat;
- e) simple electromagnets and magnetism; and
- f) historical contributions in understanding electricity.
In order to meet this standard, it is expected that students will:
- Apply the terms insulators, conductors, open and closed in describing electrical circuits.
- Differentiate between an open and closed electric circuit.
- Use the dry cell symbols (–) and (+).
- Create and diagram a functioning series circuit using dry cells, wires, switches, bulbs, and bulb holders.
- Create and diagram a functioning parallel circuit using dry cells, wires, switches, bulbs, and bulb holders.
- Differentiate between a parallel and series circuit.
- Describe the types of energies (i.e., thermal, radiant, and mechanical) that are transformed by various household appliances (e.g., lamp, toaster, fan).
- Create a diagram of a magnetic field using a magnet.
- Compare and contrast a permanent magnet and an electromagnet.
- Explain how electricity is generated by a moving magnetic field.
- Design an investigation using static electricity to attract or repel a variety of materials.
- Explain how static electricity is created and occurs in nature.
- Construct a simple electromagnet using a wire, nail, or other iron- bearing object, and a dry cell.
- Design and perform an investigation to determine the strength of an electromagnet. (The independent variable could be the number of coils of wire and the dependent variable could be the number of paperclips the magnet can attract.)
- Describe the contributions of Ben Franklin, Michael Faraday, and Thomas Edison to the understanding and harnessing of electricity.
In order to meet this standard, it is expected that teachers know:
- A continuous flow of negative charges (electrons) creates an electric current. The pathway taken by an electric current is a circuit. Closed circuits allow the movement of electrical energy. Open circuits prevent the movement of electrical energy.
- Electrical energy moves through materials that are conductors (metals). Insulators (rubber, plastic, wood) do not conduct electricity well.
- Among conducting materials, the rate at which energy flows depends on the material’s resistance.
- In a series circuit, there is only one pathway for the current, but in a parallel circuit there are two or more pathways for it.
- Rubbing certain materials together creates static electricity.
- Lightning is the discharge of static electricity in the atmosphere.
- Electrical energy can be transformed into light or motion, and can produce thermal energy.
- Certain iron-bearing metals attract other such metals (also nickel and cobalt).
- Lines of force extend from the poles of a magnet in an arched pattern defining the area over which magnetic force is exerted.
- An electric current creates a magnetic field, and a moving magnetic field creates an electric current.
- A current flowing through a wire creates a magnetic field. Wrapping a wire around certain iron-bearing metals (iron nail) and creating a closed circuit is an example of a simple electromagnet.
- Benjamin Franklin, Michael Faraday, and Thomas Edison made important discoveries about electricity.