II. PHYSICAL SCIENCE TOPICS

1. Force and Motion
2. Energy
3. Properties of Matter
4. Changes in Matter

Additional Sites for Physical Science

1. Teaching Units / Lesson Plans
2. Student Activities / Projects / Interactive Sites
3. Information / Facts / Data / Reports
4. Videos / Movies / Animations
5. Photographs / Slides / Diagrams / Graphics
6. Periodicals / Journals / Newspapers
7. Searches / Explorations / Investigations
8. Physical Science Topics for Teachers

Elementary

1. P.FM.E.1 Position -"A position of an object can be described by locating the object relative to other objects or a background."
   1. Amusement Park Physics
      Using principals of physics, students will create a roller coaster by making choices from a menu of options. Their rollercoaster is then rated for fun and safety. Good site for middle school, but a nice extension for upper elementary.
   2. BBC Science: Forces in Action
      In this activity children will investigate the properties of forces acting on a moving object. A quiz is included.
   3. BBC
      Elementary students can use this to help with the positioning of an object in relationship to another object. First the students will have to locate all the living things in a given picture. Then, they will have to categorize the objects as to where they are located (ie. on the wall, near the swing). Another activity is actually a heredity area of study, where the students must look at a young form of the object and determine which object it will turn into. There is also an optional quiz.
   4. How Things Fly
      Great informational packet for students explaining the dynamics of airplanes, hot air balloons, etc. Includes physical activities for students to do as a group in school or with their families at home. Also, a great list of resources for teachers. Includes an exhibit from the National Air and Space Museum.
   5. Inclined Plane
      Outstanding - Upper elementary students use a computer generated inclined plane to alter intial velocity, mass, and angle of a frictionless inclined plane. Students can graph and print individual results to compare different properties.
2. P.FM.E.2 Gravity -"Earth pulls down on all objects with a force called gravity. With very few exceptions, objects fall to the ground no matter where the object is on the Earth."
   1. BrainPop - Gravity New
      In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby teach you all about the ins and outs of gravity. You’ll learn everything from Sir Isaac Newton’s famous apple to Albert Einstein’s theory that massive objects use gravity to “bend” space and time. You’ll also find out about gravity’s effect on tides, humans, and even the earth’s rotation. In addition, Tim and Moby explain the difference between mass and weight.
   2. Gravity - A Brief History of Gravity New
      This site provides teachers with the history of gravity related discoveries by famous scientists over time. Photographs and information on such figures as Ptolemy, Copernicus, Tyco Brahe, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, and Einstein.
   3. How Does Gravity Work? New
      This site provides the teacher general information about how gravity works. A video on gravity is also found on the site. Howstuffworks.com has information on a variety of science topics available for use by students and teachers.
   4. The Mystery of Gravity
      This page contains basic information and FAQs about the force we call gravity. It plays an important role in our universe.
   5. What is Gravity
      Gravitation (or gravity) is a force of attraction. It is produced by all pieces of matter in the universe and pulls on all pieces of matter in the universe, regardless of matter type.
   6. What is Gravity?
      Every object in the Universe attracts every other object in the universe. This invisible force for masses to move toward each other is called Gravity.
3. P.FM.E.3 Force -"A force is either a push or a pull. The motion of objects can be changed by forces. The size of the change is related to the size of the force. The change is also related to the weight (mass) of the object on which the force is being exerted. When an object does not move in response to a force, it is because another force is being applied by the environment."
   1. BBC Science: Forces and Movement
      This is an interactive site allows to test the effect of a pushing force on a toy car. An online quiz is included.
   2. BBC Science: Pushes and Pulls
      This site is aimed at children ages 5 - 6. There is an interactive experiment and quiz. This site has teacher resource links.
   3. BBC Science: Friction
      On this site children investigate the properties of friction when a toy car drivers over various surfaces. A quiz is included.
   4. Make a Balloon Rocket
      Upper elementary students use household materials to build their own balloon rocket. A printable page is included for directions along with a nice illustration. You must click on the experiment icon in order
   5. Science Bob Marvelous Machines
      This site has experiements for springs, gears, wheels, levers, friciton, and pullleys.  The site has activity sheets for each experiement.
   6. Simple Machine Topics
      This site provides several links to sites about simple machines. A multitude of information and activities for elementary teachers, students, and parents is provided.
4. P.FM.E.4 Speed - "An object is in motion when its position is changing. The speed of an object is defined by how far it travels in a standard amount of time."
   1. Fear of Physics
      Learn about position, velocity and acceleration. Explains how speed is measured.
   2. ZOOM - By Kids for Kids-Measuring Boat Speed New
      This is a student activity that can be used to measure boat speed (Or other types of objects) as it moves thru water. A cool, calculating, speed-measuring trick.