Experiments, Variables, and Relationships - Lesson Plans

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

Day 1 of Experiments, Variables, and Relationships

Lesson Plan

1. Getting Ready
   • Seating Charts
   • Materials/Unit 1 Packet
   • What’s this course about? 
   • What’s makes this course Honors level? 
2. Policy Stuff (Abbreviated)
3. A Look at Lab Notebooking and Claim-Evidence-Reasoning
4. Lab 1 – Dune Buggy Challenge - purpose; set up data table; collect data (Stopwatch), hand-graph; Logger Pro graph; conclusion with Claim-Evidence-Reasoning

 
Homework/Announcements

1. Complete Lab 1 (if not done)
2. Relax. Think good thoughts. Be like a proton. Stay positive. It’s going to be a great year.

 

Day 2 of Experiments, Variables, and Relationships

Lesson Plan

1. Discuss Lab Safety and Other Policy Stuff
2. Quickly review Dune Buggy Lab; discuss Claim-Evidence-Reasoning
   Practice and Check: Claim-Evidence-Reasoning
3. Discuss Types of Relationships
   Handouts: Short || Long || Slides
4. Exercise on Desmos (Think Sheet)
   Links for Graph 1 || Graph 2 || Graph 3 || Graph 4 || Graph 5

 
Homework/Announcements

1. Read/Review Types of Relationships (Short || Long || Slides)

 

Day 3 of Experiments, Variables, and Relationships

Lesson Plan

1. Policy/Logistics, including Lab Reporting Guidelines
2. Create Physics Classroom Task Tracker Account using Class Sign Up Code (for Task Tracker users)
   Your class sign-up code is: ___________________
3. Review: Relationship Types (Short || Long || Slides) and Dependent vs. Independent Variables; This and That
4. Pair Practice: Relationships and Proportional Reasoning Think Sheet; complete with your partner; check with answer key
5. Lab 2: Bounce Height
   ==Collect data and plot using graphing software
   ==Complete lab in your lab notebook (Purpose, Data, Graph, Claim-Evidence-Reasoning)

 
Homework/Announcements

1. Concept Builder: Experiments and Variables (on variables, experimental design, and graphs)
2. Physics class is just warming up … you're learning skills for doing Physics

 

Day 4 of Experiments, Variables, and Relationships

Lesson Plan

1. Discuss the concept and mathematics of slope
2. Guided and Individual Practice: Using Graphs Think Sheet (Short Version)
3. Concept Builder: Calculating Slope
4. Lab 3 – Paragraph Graphs (view Data Sheet)

 
Homework/Announcements

1. If not done in class, finish Concept Builder work and Lab reports
2. Slowing Down Wisdom: Slowing down is often a faster way to complete your Concept Builder work (and learn) than trying to rush through it. Take time to slow down … so that you can read more carefully, so you can reference an in-class handout, so you can read notes you’ve recorded in your notebook, so you can use the Help Me! button, and so you can reflect on what you know and don’t know. Slowing down is the fastest way to learn!

 

Day 5 of Experiments, Variables, and Relationships

Lesson Plan

1. Review Unit 1 on Experiments, Relationships, and Graphs – Handouts, Slide Decks, Practice Pages, Help Me! button
2. Concept Builder: Proportional Reasoning (on Relationships)
3. Concept Builder: Which One Doesn’t Belong? Relationships (on relationships)
4. Lab 4: Stopping Distance (<==Click link to visit Page) View Handout
   ==Discuss lab concept, notebook set up, data plotting software, link to web page
   ==Collect data, plot data, complete lab and report

 
Homework/Announcements

1. If not done in class, finish Concept Builder work
2. Complete Lab 4 (if not done) Need help? Review Lab Report Guidelines.
3. You should now have four labs completed in your lab notebook.

 

Day 6 of Experiments, Variables, and Relationships

Lesson Plan

1. Lab 5 – Does Mass Matter?
   ==Discuss lab set-up, meaning of period, procedural tips
   ==Collect data, analyze, complete lab
2. Quiz on Experiments, Relationships, and Graphs

 
Homework/Announcements

1. Notebooks will be collected at the end of class on Day 7. View Scoring Rubric.
2. Physics begins moving tomorrow. Bring your racing shoes!