TeachersFirst Energy, Force, and Motion - Science Resources
This collection of resources will help you research information about energy, force, and motion. Read the descriptions to find out whether a site sounds right for what you want to know. Some sites may be more challenging reading, while others may offer solid basic information. Some of the sites also provide interactives or lesson plans/activities.
View our entire list of resources that are tagged energy, force, and motion
32 Results | sort by:
PBS's Physical Science Collection - PBS's Physical Science Collection
Grades
K to 12
tag(s): magnetism (36), newton (24), periodic table (49)
In the Classroom
After learning about Newton's Laws of Motion, students can create a book with examples using Book Creator, reviewed here. Students can use Seesaw, reviewed here to write new information that they learned after watching the videos. Students can use Padlet, reviewed here to post questions that they have after watching videos.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
24 Elementary Force and Motion Experiments & Activities - Teach Junkie
Grades
3 to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): gravity (50), motion (55), science fairs (19), simple machines (21), STEM (343)
In the Classroom
Students can use Online Voice Recorder, reviewed here to record themselves conducting the experiment. Students can use Seesaw, reviewed here as a journal to post what happened during their experiment. Finally, students can use Google Keep, reviewed here to write notes while they are conducting their experiments.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
13 Activities and Lessons to Teach Potential and Kinetic Energy - Science Buddies
Grades
3 to 9In the Classroom
Students can use Padlet, reviewed here to post questions that they have as they conduct their experiment. Students can use Free Screen Recorder Online, reviewed here to record themselves as they are experimenting. Finally, students can use Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here to write step-by-step instructions that they took as they experimented.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Force And Motion Science Experiments - Science Fun for Everyone
Grades
3 to 8tag(s): energy (138), forces (46), motion (55), science fairs (19)
In the Classroom
Students can use Padlet, reviewed here to post questions that they have as they conduct their experiment. Students can use Free Screen Recorder Online, reviewed here to record themselves as they are experimenting. Finally, students can use Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here to write step-by-step instructions that they took as they experimented.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Bill Nye The Science Guy: Energy - Bill Nye The Science Guy
Grades
3 to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): conversions (38), energy (138)
In the Classroom
Students can use Google Drawings, reviewed here to compare and contrast potential and kinetic energy. Students can use Padlet, reviewed here to post their questions or reflections after watching the video. Students can use Book Creator, reviewed here to create different types of energy books.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Science Trek - PBS
Grades
3 to 6tag(s): animals (267), aviation (50), deserts (20), dinosaurs (47), earthquakes (50), ecology (116), fire (23), matter (50), senses (21)
In the Classroom
Students can watch the videos shared on the site and use Kiddle, reviewed here to research more about the topic. After watching "Earthquakes: A Whole Lot of Shaking Going On" video, students can use Google My Maps, reviewed here to visit the sites of the earthquakes. After watching the video "Asteroids versus Comets," students can use Google Drawings, reviewed here to compare and contrast an asteroid versus a comet.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Physics Simulations - PHET Interactive Simulations
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): atoms (43), circuits (19), density (20), electricity (60), energy (138), forces (46), friction (12), light (55), magnetism (36), mass (21), matter (50), motion (55), planets (124), probability (129), simulations (45), solar system (123), sound (74), sounds (40)
In the Classroom
Students can use Kiddle reviewed here to research more information about the topic after they have played the simulation. Students can use Dotstorming reviewed here to vote on their favorite. Students can use Google Keep reviewed here to take notes as they are engaging in the simulation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Force and Motion: Study Jams! - Scholastic Inc.
Grades
3 to 6In the Classroom
Have students walk around the classroom (or school) and record examples of real-life force and motion--pushing a chair, opening a door, dropping a pencil. They can label each as a push or pull and describe the direction and force involved. Students can create a flipbook with key terms from StudyJams! video: force, motion, friction, gravity, acceleration. Under each flap, they can write definitions, draw pictures, and provide examples. To complete this activity digitally, make a template using Google Slides reviewed here and have students work with that. Using a toy car, have students test how it moves over different surfaces (carpet, tile, cardboard, sandpaper). They can measure and compare distances traveled, then graph results using ClassTools reviewed here to discuss how friction affects motion.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Fish Force - PBS Kids
Grades
K to 2tag(s): energy (138), forces (46), friction (12), motion (55), Problem Based Learning (14), problem solving (265), STEM (343)
In the Classroom
Introduce the concept of force by showing images or toys in motion, and have students sort them into "push" or "pull" categories. Follow up with a class discussion about how force makes things move. Recreate a mini "ice rink" using a smooth surface (like wax paper or a tray) and small stuffed animals. Let students experiment with gently pushing toys to simulate Ruff's rescue mission and observe how different surfaces affect movement. Give students toy cars and ramps. Let them experiment by varying the ramp height and recording how far the vehicle travels. Have them discuss how force changes with ramp height. In small groups, students can design their own tabletop game using marbles, paper, and toys. The goal is to move an object using force, without touching it directly! They'll think about angles, direction, and strength of force.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Force, Motion, Friction and Energy - Baylor College of Medicine
Grades
4 to 6In the Classroom
Substitute any similar toy truck or dragster model to include in your experiments. Have students set up a simple ramp with different surface materials (sandpaper, felt, plastic, cardboard). Have students release toy vehicles from the top and observe how surface texture affects speed and distance. After completing hands-on trials, have students create diagrams showing how energy is transformed (ex, potential to kinetic energy) during motion. They can annotate with real observations from the toy truck experiments. In small groups, have students choose a question about force or motion (ex., "How does weight affect travel distance?"). They can plan and conduct an experiment, record data, and share results using charts or a short presentation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
The Wonder of Science - Paul Andersen
Grades
K to 12tag(s): biodiversity (35), chemicals (36), climate (97), earth (192), ecology (116), ecosystems (99), energy (138), environment (248), forces (46), genetics (82), life cycles (22), light (55), matter (50), molecules (41), motion (55), oceans (139), planets (124), sound (74), space (238), stars (79), weather (170)
In the Classroom
This site is a must-have for all science teachers, providing high-quality lessons and teaching materials. Be sure to visit the Phenomena section to find the Master List of Phenomena Google Document, which shares suggestions for observable science events, or to find phenomena by grade level. Engage students in learning by sharing videos on this site, then use edpuzzle, reviewed here to add questions and focus comments to the videos to support student learning. Use the ideas and resources on this site to create flipped and blended learning lessons or playlists to encourage students' choice of learning activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Science at Home - Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): architecture (81), circuits (19), dna (52), energy (138), engineering (136), forces (46), gravity (50), light (55), natural resources (33), plants (139), recycling (45), solar energy (35), sounds (40), STEM (343), water cycle (25), weather (170)
In the Classroom
This site is a must-have for all teachers of science. Bookmark the resources found on the site to use when planning science lessons. Share the science education webinars with your peers for professional development sessions. Share the at-home lessons with parents in your classroom newsletters or updates; consider sharing a monthly activity for students to complete at home. If necessary, create travel kits for students who don't have the needed resources at home. Another option is to ask a volunteer to conduct labs and experiments with students during center time at school. Engage students using Padlet, reviewed here to provide a prompt for students to respond on a video sharing the results of their experiments. This is a link to Padlet's Help section for posting video or an image. Extend learning by asking students to create infographics using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here, to explain their understanding of the science concepts explored.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Young Scientist Lab - Discovery Education and 3M
Grades
K to 8tag(s): careers (198), data (199), forces (46), light (55), magnetism (36), recycling (45), rockets (14), sound (74)
In the Classroom
Add this site to your science lesson resources. As students complete activities ask them to create blogs describing their experiments and results. Webnode, reviewed here, is a simple tool for creating and sharing blogs for all grade levels. Have students share their science experiments through weekly or monthly podcasts using a podcasting tool like Podcast Adobe, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Science4Fun - Abdul Wahab Malik
Grades
K to 5This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animals (267), density (20), earth (192), electricity (60), energy (138), forces (46), friction (12), gravity (50), heat (13), magnetism (36), mass (21), motion (55), periodic table (49), planets (124), plants (139), preK (301), temperature (34)
In the Classroom
Bookmark Science4Fun as a resource for interesting, classroom-friendly science experiments. Share a link to experiments on your class web page for families to complete at home. Consider taking photos of the different stages of an experiment your students are doing in class. Use Google Slides, reviewed here, to display them on your webpage for students and families to view at any time.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
The Bowers Institute: Design Challenge Learning - The Tech Museum of Innovation
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): agriculture (50), architecture (81), commoncore (61), density (20), energy (138), forces (46), friction (12), gravity (50), heart (26), human body (97), magnetism (36), matter (50), motion (55), plants (139), simple machines (21), sound (74)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many free lesson plans offered at Design Challenge Learning to teach science concepts. Create a class wiki with additional resources for experimenting with science. Not comfortable with wikis? Check out the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through. Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts demonstrating their understanding of one of the concepts. Use a site such as podOmatic, reviewed here, and then post them on the wiki or on your class web page.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
City Technology - The City College of New York
Grades
K to 6tag(s): circuits (19), energy (138), engineering (136), forces (46), friction (12), gravity (50), motion (55), STEM (343)
In the Classroom
Use this site as part of any unit about force, motion, or energy. Have student groups create the different projects found on the site, and share their creations with classmates. Have students upload a photo they took of their project, and add voice bubbles to explain what they learned using a tool such as Phrase.it, reviewed here. Have students create projects found on City Technology, then host your own Science Fair!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Minute Physics - Minutephysics
Grades
7 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): matter (50)
In the Classroom
Use this site as an introduction to a physics lesson or new topic. In your blended learning or flipped classroom have students view the video at home using VideoAnt. With VideoAnt you and your students can write comments and add questions right to the video saving class time for discussion of the questions and comments. Consider encouraging students to create their own video explanations of concepts in Physics to teach others what they have learned. Use a tool such as Adobe Express Video Maker, for the explainer video. Share them using a tool such as SchoolTube. Gifted students will love these videos. Share this link on your class web page and have students choose a favorite video to explain in detail to the class as a "student teacher."Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Physics Games - PhysicsGames.net
Grades
3 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): energy (138), forces (46), gravity (50), motion (55)
In the Classroom
Advertising is quite pervasive on the site. You may want to introduce the site on your interactive whiteboard and discuss how to avoid the advertisements before allowing students to explore on their own. This is a great tool to use in the science classroom. Younger students can interact with the games successfully even without much background knowledge. Each of the activities encourages trial and error learning. Ask students to explain to a peer how it works, and they will discover the principles. Older students can try these interactives and write about the physics concepts introduced and explored. If you have a class website, blog, or wiki, embed in your site for easy access. Extend student learning by challenging them to create their own physics game using Stencyl, reviewed here. Stencyl is a download and works perfectly in 1:1 or BYOD classrooms as it works on any and all devices (DAT).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
CK-12 - CK-12 Foundation
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): atoms (43), cells (82), charts and graphs (193), decades (7), energy (138), equations (132), fractions (179), genetics (82), inequalities (27), landforms (36), measurement (126), oceans (139), organisms (12), periodic table (49), probability (129), pythagorean theorem (20), rocks (44), scientific method (48), seasons (56), solar energy (35), solar system (123), statistics (128), STEM (343), test prep (70), variables (20)
In the Classroom
Introduce CK-12 to your students (and parents) on your interactive whiteboard and demonstrate ways to use the site at home. Be sure to create a link to the site on your class website or blog for easy access at any time. Create an account and upload your own resources and activities to create your own flexbooks for use with students. CK-12 is available in many languages. Use this site with your ESL/ELL students as a supplement to classroom resources.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Bridge Ocean Science Education - Virginia Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): animals (267), geology (61), habitats (100), marine biology (31), oceans (139), plants (139)
In the Classroom
Use lesson plans offered on the site during your science units. Allow older students to explore the site to gather specific information about marine explorations and share through multi-media projects. Have students make a multimedia presentation using one of the many TeachersFirst Edge tools reviewed here. Some tool suggestions are (click on the tool name to access the review): Visme and Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education. Teachers of gifted students may want to use the site as a supplemental resource for students to do self-study projects geared toward individual interests.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
Use the form at the top of the page to log in, or click here to join TeachersFirst (it's free!).
Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
Close comment form