The Physics Classroom » Lesson Plans » Algebra Based Physics » 1D Kinematics

1-Dimensional Kinematics - Lesson Plans

The lesson plans below include links to the specific resources on our website.

Teacher Guides for labs can be found here.

NOTE: All CalcPad problem sets are customized problem sets created specifically for this course. The links direct users to the Guest version. Task Tracker users should use the link on the Task Tracker page to the trackable CalcPad version.  

Day 1 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Introduce Minds On Physics at The Physics Classroom
    Do short demonstration to show how it works
  2. Discuss Describing Motion with Words
    Scalars vs. Vectors, Distance vs. Displacement, Speed vs. Velocity
  3. Pair Practice: Describing Motion Verbally with Distance and Displacement Think Sheet
    complete, check answers, once approved by teacher, start Minds On Physics
  4. Minds On Physics: Mission KC1 and Mission KC2
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 1, Parts a, b, and c
  2. Minds On Physics – Mission KC1 and Mission KC2 (complete whatever was not finished in class)
  3. MOP User Tips: Read carefully. Always reflect on what you know and don’t know. Use the Help Me! button (bottom right of every question screen). Stop before you get frustrated; at which time you should visit the teacher’s office, pull out your notebook and review, read the Tutorial pages, etc.



 

Day 2 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Review Speed and Velocity
  2. Pair Practice: Describing Motion Verbally with Speed and Velocity Think Sheet (first 2 pages)
  3. Review Distance and Displacement Calculations
  4. Physics Interactives: Vector Walk
  5. Once done with above, begin work on Minds On Physics and Concept Builders (see Homework section)
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 1, Part d
  2. Minds On Physics – Mission KC3 on Speed and Velocity
  3. Concept Builders – Matching Pairs: Speed-Distance-Time


 

Day 3 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Acceleration; concept; representations with dot diagrams and data tables; accelerating vs. constant speed motions; direction of acceleration; equation; units
  2. Pair Practice: Acceleration Think Sheet
  3. Physics Interactives: Name That Motion
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 1, Part e
  2. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 2, Part b
  3. Minds On Physics – Mission KC4 on Acceleration



 

Day 4 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Quick demonstration of The Calculator Pad feature
  2. Guided Practice on Numerical Descriptions of Motion; use Describing Motion Numerically Think Sheet
  3. Pair Practice: Describing Motion with Diagrams Think Sheet
  4. Concept Builder: Acceleration
  5. Minds On Physics: Mission KC5 on Oil Drop Diagrams
  6. If time allows, review mathematics of distance, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Complete (if not done) - Acceleration and Mission KC5
  2. Calculator Pad – Kinematics 1
  3. Calculator Pad User Tip: Each problem comes with help links indicated by an icon (headphones, video camera, globe). The headphones links to an audio file with help that is very specific to the problem. The other icons lead to a web page (globe) or a YouTube video (video camera) that has a more general overview of the topic. If you see a headphones link and you're having difficulty, then use it!




 

Day 5 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Introduce describing motion with graphs as a set up for the lab
  2. Lab 1 – Position-Time Graphs Lab (requires motion detectors)
    Do and process
  3. Practice – Calculator Pad – Kinematics 1
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 3, Parts a and b
  2. Calculator Pad – Kinematics 1
  3. Calculator Pad User Tip: Each problem comes with help links indicated by an icon (headphones, video camera, globe). The headphones links to an audio file with help that is very specific to the problem. The other icons lead to a web page (globe) or a YouTube video (video camera) that has a more general overview of the topic. If you see a headphones link and you're having difficulty, then use it!




 

Day 6 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Position-Time Graphs
  2. Pair Practice: Describing Motion with Position-Time Graphs Think Sheet
  3. Concept Builder: Position-Time Graphs – Conceptual Analysis
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 3, Part c
  2. Practice – Calculator Pad – Kinematics 1 (if not done)
  3. Minds On Physics: Mission KG2 on Position-Time Graphs




 

Day 7 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Review Slope of Position-Time Graphs; examples
  2. Physics Interactives – Pace Tracer 1
  3. Practice – Calculator Pad – Kinematics 2 on Position-Time Graphs
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Calculator Pad – Kinematics 2 on Position-Time Graphs
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission KG3 on Position-Time Graphs




 

Day 8 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 2 – Velocity-Time Graphs Lab (requires motion detectors)
    ==do lab, process, complete report
  2. Practice: Describing Motion with Velocity-Time Graphs Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 4, Parts a and b
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission KG5 on Basics of Velocity-Time Graphs




 

Day 9 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Review/discuss Velocity-Time Graphs
     ==contrast p-t and v-t graphs
  2. Pair Practice: Describing Motion Graphically Think Sheet
  3. Physics Interactives: Graph That Motion
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 4, Parts c and d
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission KG6 and Mission KG7 on Interpreting Velocity-Time Graphs




 

Day 10 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Slope and Area of Velocity-Time Graphs
  2. Guided and Individual Practice: Kinematic Graphing - Mathematical Analysis Think Sheet
  3. Practice – Calculator Pad – Kinematics 3 on Velocity-Time Graphs
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 4, Parts c and d
  2. Calculator Pad – Kinematics 3 on Velocity-Time Graphs




 

Day 11 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Review: Graphing Summary Think Sheet (guided)
  2. Pace Tracer 2
  3. Concept Builders: Match That Graph
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 6, Parts a and b
  2. Concept Builder: Which One Doesn’t Belong? (Masters Level only)




 

Day 12 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Introduce Kinematic Equations; discuss problem-solving
  2. Motion Problems (Guided; selected Qs)
  3. Independent Practice - Calculator Pad – Kinematics 4 on Kinematic Equations
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 6, Part d
  2. Calculator Pad – Kinematics 4 on Kinematic Equations (if not done in class)




 

Day 13 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. More Practice - Motion Problems (Guided; selected Qs)
  2. Lab 3: Free Fall Acceleration (requires motion detectors/video analysis)
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 5, Parts a-c
  2. Calculator Pad – Kinematics 5 on Kinematic Equations




 

Day 14 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Free Fall
  2. Pair Pratice: Free Fall Think Sheet
  3. Concept Builder: Free Fall
  4. If you finish early: begin Calculator Pad – Kinematics 6 on Free Fall and Kinematic Equations
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Calculator Pad – Kinematics 6 on Free Fall and Kinematic Equations
  2. Concept Builder: Free Fall (if not completed in class)




 

Day 15 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Interpreting Velocity-Time Graph Think Sheet
  2. Kinematic Graphing – Mathematical Analysis Think Sheet (review)
  3. Physics Interactives: Two Stage Rocket
  4. In the time that remains … Calculator Pad – Kinematics 7 on Free Fall and Kinematic Equations

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 6, Part e
  2. Calculator Pad – Kinematics 7 on Free Fall and Kinematic Equations




 

Day 16 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
Review day: this is a chance for students to process ideas, work independently or together, and prepare for exam. Suggested online review activities include:
  1. Concept Builder: Up and Down
  2. Concept Builder: Graph That Motion
  3. Concept Builder: Which One Doesn’t Belong
  4. Minds On Physics: Mission KG9 (Kinematic Graphs and Oil Drop Patterns)
  5. Minds On Physics: Mission KG10 (Common Misconceptions of Motion Graphs)
  6. Calculator Pad – Kinematics 8 on Mathematics of Kinematics (Review of Unit)
  7. Review Session - One Dimensional Kinematics (Questions with answers and explanations for the whole unit)
NOTE: The above assignments are intended as optional review assignments and not required assignments.
 

Homework/Announcements
  1. Prepare for Test
  2. Complete all remaining work