Science Research: Forces and Movement
A blank student investigation worksheet guiding a hands-on experiment testing how the surface a toy car rolls onto affects the distance it travels, to teach the concept of friction.
Classroom resources
Explore middle-school science through experiments, investigations and practical labs. Choose a topic, compare variables and record observations to explain what happened.
Browse by lesson focus
Choose the topic or kind of practice you need.
A blank student investigation worksheet guiding a hands-on experiment testing how the surface a toy car rolls onto affects the distance it travels, to teach the concept of friction.
Guide students through a hands-on physics experiment testing how the speed of objects rolling down an inclined plane relates to potential energy.
Put scientific-method ideas into practice by comparing how much water different paper towels absorb. Students plan a controlled comparison, record measurements, calculate averages and use a graph to support their conclusion. Student notes and matched completed slides introduce variables and hypotheses beforehand, while an extension sheet suggests changing the liquid or measuring absorption time for a later investigation.
A hands-on inquiry science lab where students conduct three experiments (viscosity comparison, floating paperclip, water drops on a penny) to discover the properties of water: viscosity, surface tension, and cohesion.
A science resource introducing photosynthesis through a reading passage plus comprehension questions, and hands-on experiments (seed germination/light exposure, chlorophyll extraction, and at least one more experiment) to reinforce the concept.
The lesson begins with two tomato plants treated differently in more than one way, prompting students to discuss why the conclusion is unreliable. Fill-in notes introduce independent, dependent, and controlled variables before students apply the terms to basketball, studying, and a derby-car scenario. A short review and model answers support the follow-up discussion.
An inquiry-based lab experiment ("Eco-bottle Lab") that has students design and run a controlled experiment testing how a human-caused factor (e.g., fertilizer, pesticide, road salt, acid rain, oil) affects a terrestrial/aquatic ecosystem, then write a formal lab report.
A grades 5-7 scientific-method mini-unit that teaches variable types and experimental design through building and testing paper helicopters.
A multi-station high-school/middle-school physics activity that teaches uniform acceleration through hands-on experimentation, research, reading, video, and multiple-choice assessment.
Hands-on lab activity teaching students about human reflexes and the nervous system by testing several reflex responses on a lab partner.
An editable, blank scientific investigation template booklet that can be adapted to any science experiment, guiding students through the steps of the scientific method.
Demonstrate diffusion through a simple STEM experiment using Skittles candy, warm water, and a plate.
One-page graphic organizer worksheet for students to record the steps of the scientific method for an investigation.
An interactive lab investigation guide (both printable and PowerPoint/interactive formats, with a teacher key) using the PhET Circuit Construction Kit: DC simulation to have students investigate what factors affect the strength of electric current.
Students predict which balls will need the most and least blowing to begin rolling, then record observations for up to six balls on soft-to-vigorous scales. Two recording pages provide hypothesis, experiment, outcome and conclusion sections. Compare results with predictions and discuss the limits of the test: different balls vary in several properties, so these qualitative observations do not isolate the effect of weight, size or texture alone.
An investigation worksheet/booklet using a newton meter to measure how much force is needed to slide a wooden block across different surfaces, to teach the concept of friction.
A hands-on lab activity teaching microscope measurement concepts: image orientation/movement, using the diaphragm to control light, depth of field, magnification and field-of-view calculations, and resolving power.
A multi-unit inquiry project that teaches aquaponics/aquaculture concepts (reproduction, nutrient cycling, circuits, and molecular/ionic chemistry) aligned to BC Science 9 curriculum, using STEM design and real-world farm scenario problem-solving.
An investigation unit on heat and light from the sun and other sources, with vocabulary and a quiz, for grades 3-5.
A generic, reusable graphic-organizer template guiding students through the steps of writing up any science experiment (question, hypothesis, materials, procedure, data, conclusion).
Teach environmental science concepts (pollution, water quality, ecosystems, recycling, population, energy conservation) through hands-on labs framed as 'lab team' investigations.
Teach the concept of induced magnetism and magnetic poles through a hands-on paper clip chain experiment.
Teach students about capillary action and its role in the water cycle through notes, a hands-on experiment, and a slideshow presentation.
Introduce elementary students to basic chemistry concepts through 20 hands-on chemical-reaction experiments with explanations of the underlying science.