Explore the factors that affect a pendulum's motion. (A pendulum is a weight hung from a fixed point.) Shared by the Concord Consortium.
 

Scope and Sequence connection: 8:2 Forces and Motion on Earth.

This simulation encourages the exploration of the forces at work when pulling against a cart, and pushing a refrigerator, crate, or person. Students can create an applied force and see how it makes objects move and change friction and see how it affects the motion of objects. The PhET Interactive Simulations project from the University of Colorado Boulder creates free interactive math and science simulations. PhET sims are based on extensive education research and engage students through an intuitive, game-like environment where students learn through exploration and discovery.

Scope and Sequence connection: 8:2 Forces and Motion on Earth

This activity will help students demonstrate Newton's third law of motion, " For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." The only materials required are a ruler with a center groove and seven marbles, each the same size. Shared by Bill Nye's website.

Scope and Sequence connection: 8:2 Forces and Motion on Earth. 

These resources by NeoK12 may be useful for teaching gravity. The  NeoK12 website hosts a variety of educational videos, animations and games for students from K-12th grade. They have been included in the American Library's Association list of "Great Websites for Kids." 

Scope and Sequence connection: 8:2 Forces and Motion on Earth.

Resources and a short video explaining tectonic force and tectonic plates. By NASA.

Scope and Sequence connection: 7:1 Geology; 8:2 Forces and Motion on Earth. 

A sixteen-page comic book about the Earth's magnetic field. Travel down through the interior of the earth then back up into the ionosphere to learn how the magnetic field works. Created by the United States Geologic Survey.

Scope and Sequence connection: 8:2 Forces and Motion on Earth; 8:3  The Sun, Earth and Moon System and Earth Science: Geology: Surface processes.
Performance standard: 1.1a, 1.1f.

Students design a roller coaster using what they know about energy transfer (potential to kinetic.) Please note Flash is required for this interactive. Created by the Jason Project at National Geographic.

Scope and Sequence connection: 8:2 Forces and Motion on Earth. 

This activity includes a series of lessons on turbine design projects. They can be used to help students design a project that tests which turbine blade design is the best for lifting.  The work includes connections to various careers related to design and engineering.  There is also a game to help students understand how to weight the economic and environmental pros and cons of alternative energy sources.

Scope and Sequence connection: 6:1 Energy and Simple Machines ; 7:1 Geology and 8:2 Forces and Motion on Earth.

In small groups, students will build electromagnets, discover how electricity and magnetism are interrelated, and learn how these concepts relate to the Sun. Shared by NASA. Some materials are required.

Scope and Sequence connection: 8:2 Forces and Motion on Earth;  8:3 The Sun, Earth and Moon System.