The Physics Classroom » Lesson Plans » Conceptual Physics » 1D Kinematics

Conceptual Physics Course Package

We are nearing completion of our Conceptual Physics Course Package. This downloadable package will include Think Sheets created specifically for a Conceptual Physics course. The Think Sheets will be available in Microsoft Word format, allowing teachers to easily make changes and customize the product. Answer sheets will be provided in both PDF and Microsoft Word format. Each unit contains a file titled ImageBanks which includes graphics used in the Think Sheets, allowing teachers the ability to modify them and re-purpose them for quizzes, tests, and other products. The downloadable package also included an entire lab program for our 12 units. This will include Student Activity Sheets and Teacher Guides in Microsoft Word format. The Teacher Guides include expected answers and to the Student Activity Sheets, time estimates, material lists, a description of alternative materials and methods, procedural details, and words of caution. Finally, each unit is equipped with a Bonus folder that has a generous collection of other goodies of interest to teachers of the course.

We are expecting the product to be complete and available for purchase in April or May of 2025. An update will be provided once the project is complete.

In creating our Lesson Plans and Learning Outcomes for this course we have referenced several of the items that we intend to place in the package. We have used red text wherever we have made such a reference. These items will only be available by purchase of the course package.
 

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.

IMPORTANT: 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: Distance vs. Displacement Think Sheet
    complete, check answers, once approved by teacher, start Concept Builder
  4. Concept Builder: Distance vs. Displacement (Apprentice Level)
  5. If time allows: start Minds On Physics
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 1, Parts a, b, and c
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission KC1 on Scalars and Vectors and Mission KC2 on Distance and Displacement (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. Discuss Speed and Velocity; meaning of each; comparison and contrasts, average vs. instantaneous
  2. Pair Practice: Speed vs. Velocity Think Sheet
  3. Lab 1 - Physics 500
  4. Concept Builder: Matching Pairs: Speed-Distance-Time
 
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. If not done, complete Speed-Distance-Time Concept Builder


 

Day 3 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Acceleration
    Meaning, accelerating vs. constant speed, rate quantity, equation, units, examples; introduce dot diagrams and data tables
  2. Pair Practice: Acceleration Think Sheet
    Complete, check answers; start Concept Builder
  3. Concept Builder: Acceleration
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 1, Part e
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission KC4 on Acceleration


 

Day 4 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Describing Motion with Diagrams and Data
    Dot diagrams and their interpretation; p-t tables, v-t tables
  2. Pair Practice: Diagrams and Data Tables Think Sheet
  3. Physics Interactives: Name That Motion
  4. If time allows, start Minds On Physics: Mission KC5 on Oil Drop Diagrams
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 2, Parts a and b
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission KC5 on Oil Drop Diagrams


 

Day 5 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 2 - Position-Time Graphs
    Do and process; discuss meaning of shape and relationship to motion
  2. Short Quiz (on Days 1 - 4)
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 3, Parts a and b
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission KG1 on Basics of Position-Time Graphs


 

Day 6 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Review Lab; discuss Position-Time Graphs
  2. Pair Practice: Position-Time Graphs
    Do; check answers; once done, begin ...
  3. Concept Builder: Position-Time Graphs - Conceptual Analysis
  4. If time allows, begin Minds On Physics work
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Minds On Physics: Mission KG2 on Shape and Slope of Position-Time Graphs


 

Day 7 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: Pace Tracer 1
    Do; complete Student Activity Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Minds On Physics: Mission KG3 on Matching Motion and Shape on a Position-Time Graph


 

Day 8 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 3 - Velocity-Time Graphs
    Do and process; + vs. - velocity; fast vs. slow; constant vs. changing speed; direction changes
  2. Pair Practice: 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 Velocity-Time Graphs
  2. Concept Builder: Velocity-Time Graphs
  3. Start Physics Interactives: Pace Tracer 2
    Work on Student Activity Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 4, Part c
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission KG6 on Interpreting Velocity-Time Graphs


 

Day 10 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Complete Physics Interactives: Pace Tracer 2
    Finish Student Activity Sheet
  2. Short Quiz (on Days 5-9)
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Minds On Physics: Mission KG7 on Interpreting Velocity-Time Graphs 2
 

Day 11 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: Kinematic Graphing
    Use Student Activity Sheet; do and process, then ...
  2. Complete The Basic 6 Concept Checker
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Physics Interactives: Graph That Motion
 

Day 12 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Introduce the Calculator Pad; demonstrate how it works
  2. Discuss slope and area of velocity-time Graphs using Slope and Area of Velocity-Time Graphs Think Sheet
  3. Review Oil Drop Diagrams and their meaning; use Oil Drop Diagrams and Graphs Think Sheet
  4. Concept Builder: Dots and Graph
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, 1-D Kinematics: Lesson 4, Part d
  2. CalcPad: Kinematics 1 on Velocity-Time Graphs
 

Day 13 of Kinematics

Lesson Plan
  1. Concept Builder: Match That Graph
  2. Concept Builder: Words and Graphs
  3. Review for tomorrow's test; optional review activities include ...
    Concept Builder: Which One Doesn’t Belong?
    Minds On Physics: Mission KG8 on Slope and Area of a Velocity-Time Graph
    Minds On Physics: Mission KG9 on Graphs and Oil Drop Diagrams 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Prepare for Test
  2. Complete all remaining work