Open-and-go lessons that inspire kids to love science.

Science curriculum for K—5^th grades.

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Hands-on — lead students in the doing of science and engineering.
NGSS-aligned and Common Core — make the transition to the Next Generation Science Standards and support Common Core.
Less prep, more learning — prep in minutes not hours. Captivate your students with short videos and discussion questions.

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Force Olympics

Forces, Machines, & Engineering

This unit helps students develop their first concept of “force,” and the idea that by playing with forces and thinking about them, we can accomplish surprisingly big t... More

Mystery 1: Pushes, Pulls, & “Work Words"

What's the biggest excavator?

Exploration (15 min)

Activity: Be a Digging Machine (15 min)

Extras (1 hr)

Read-Along Mystery 2: Pushes, Pulls, & “Work Words”

Why do builders need so many big machines?

Book: Big Machines at Work (25 min)

Optional Activity: Forces at Work (20 min)

Mystery 3: Strength & Direction of Force

How can you knock down a wall made of concrete?

Exploration (10 min)

Activity: Don't Crush That House (20 min)

Extras (1 hr)

Read-Along Mystery 4: Strength & Direction of Force

How can you knock down the most bowling pins?

Book: How to Win at Bumper Bowling (25 min)

Optional Activity: Crash-Cup Bowling (20 min)

Mystery 5: Forces & Engineering

How can we protect a mountain town from falling rocks?

Exploration (25 min)

Activity: Boulder Bounce (20 min)

Extras (2 hrs)

Read-Along Mystery 6: Forces & Engineering

How could you invent a trap?

Book: The Monster Trap (20 min)

Optional Activity: Be an Inventor (25 min)