Physical Science Activities

Parachute STEM Lab - Canopy Diameter vs Descent Time | Scientific Method

Created by
TWFScience

Turn a simple parachute build into a rigorous, print-and-go STEM investigation. Students test how canopy diameter affects descent time, practicing the full scientific method: defining variables and controls, following a consistent drop procedure, recording 10 trials per size, calculating averages, a

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: Newton's Three Laws of Motion Worksheets & Activities Bundle | 1st, 2nd, 3rd Law

Pendulum STEM Lab - Pendulum Length vs Swing Period | Scientific Method

Created by
TWFScience

Give students a true inquiry experience: they build a simple pendulum, change only the string length, and use repeated timings to determine how the period changes with length. The packet guides them from planning a fair test to organizing data, averaging, and graphing—then wrapping up with clear CER

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Optics and Light Unit: Lessons, Lab Stations, & Activities

Created by
TWFScience

Bring high school optics to life with this complete unit on light, reflection, refraction, lenses, ray diagrams, and the human eye. This resource sequence combines direct instruction, interactive scavenger hunts, literacy integration, and hands-on labs to keep students engaged while mastering key ph

10th - 12th General Science, Physical Science, Physics

Paper Table STEM Lab: Which Support Shape Holds the Most Weight?

Created by
TWFScience

Give students a fast, hands-on engineering investigation: build a paper “table,” change only the support shape, and measure which design holds the greatest load. With tight build rules and simple materials, students plan a fair test, collect one clear data point per shape, and create a comparison ba

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

S.7.11.B Human Dependence and Influence on Ocean System | TEKS Science 7th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

This RESOURCE BUNDLE is for Texas grade 7 science teachers who are teaching S.7.11.B - Human Dependence and Influence on Ocean System according to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Standards set down by the Texas Education Agency and want to prepare their students for STAAR. ✅ Complet...

7th Grade Chemistry, General Science, Physical Science

Also included in: S.7.11 - Earth & Space - Human Impact on the Hydrosphere Bundle | TEKS 7th Grade

S.7.11 - Earth & Space - Human Impact on the Hydrosphere Bundle | TEKS 7th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

This RESOURCE BUNDLE is for Texas grade 7 science teachers who are teaching S.7.11 - Earth and Space - Human Impact on the Hydrosphere according to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Standards set down by the Texas Education Agency and want to prepare their students for STAAR. ✅ Comple...

7th Grade Basic Principles, Chemistry, Physical Science

S.7.12.A - The Flow of Energy within Trophic Levels | TEKS Science 7th Grade

Created by
TWFScience

This RESOURCE BUNDLE is for Texas grade 7 science teachers who are teaching S.7.12.A - The Flow of Energy within Trophic Levels according to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Standards set down by the Texas Education Agency and want to prepare their students for STAAR. ✅ Complete S.7....

7th Grade Chemistry, General Science, Physical Science

Also included in: S.7.12 - Organisms & Environments - Ecosystems Bundle | TEKS 7th Grade | STAAR

Blow Cup Challenge STEM Lab: Bernoulli, Airflow, and Optimal Gap Distance

Created by
TWFScience

Engage your students with a fast-paced, low-prep engineering and physics lab that turns two cups and a table tennis ball into a rich investigation of airflow and pressure. Students use the full scientific method to test how the gap between two cups affects the success rate of transferring a ball by

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Paper Helicopter STEM Lab: Blade Length vs Descent Time | Whirlybird

Created by
TWFScience

Turn a single sheet of paper into a powerful investigation of forces and motion. In this hands-on lab, students build and test paper “whirlybirds” with different blade lengths to determine how blade size affects descent time. The activity emphasizes testing, data quality, graphing, and claim–evidenc

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Chemistry Project-Based Learning (PBL) Activities 10 Engaging Hands-On Projects

Created by
TWFScience

Transform your life science lessons into exciting, inquiry-based learning experiences with this comprehensive Chemistry Project-Based Learning (PBL) Bundle! These ready-to-use projects immerse students in real-world applications of chemistryPBL - Chemistry BundlePBL - Biology BundlePBL - Physics Bun

8th - 11th Chemistry, General Science, Physical Science

Also included in: High School Project-Based Learning Bundle - Biology, Chemistry, Physics | PBL

Physics Project-Based Learning (PBL) Activities 10 Engaging Hands-On Projects

Created by
TWFScience

Transform your life science lessons into exciting, inquiry-based learning experiences with this comprehensive Physics Project-Based Learning (PBL) Bundle! These ready-to-use projects immerse students in real-world applications of physics concepts while building critical thinking, problem-solving, an

8th - 11th General Science, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS HS-PS1-3, HS-PS2-1, HS-PS2-2+4

Also included in: High School Project-Based Learning Bundle - Biology, Chemistry, Physics | PBL

Physical Science Project-Based Learning (PBL) Activities 10 Engaging Activities

Created by
TWFScience

Physical Science Problem-Based Learning Activities for Middle School Science - 6th, 7th, 8th Grade. Transform your science lessons into exciting, inquiry-based learning experiences with this comprehensive Physical Science Middle School Project-Based Learning (PBL) Bundle! These ready-to-use projects

6th - 9th General Science, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS HS-PS1-3, HS-PS2-1, HS-PS2-2+4

Also included in: Middle School Project-Based Learning Bundle - Life and Physical Science | PBL

Yeast Balloon STEM Lab: Sugar % vs CO2 Production | Scientific Method

Created by
TWFScience

Turn a cup, balloon, and pantry ingredients into a full scientific-method investigation. Students explore how sugar concentration changes yeast fermentation by measuring balloon circumference as a proxy for CO₂ volume. The lab emphasizes variables, fair testing, repeated trials, graphing, and CER wr

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Forever Chemicals - PFAS Reading | High School | Persistence, Health, & Cleanup

Created by
TWFScience

Forever Chemicals (PFAS): Persistence, Health & Cleanup. This resource is suitable for students in grades 8 and up. Tackle literacy and science by having your students read and answer questions from a scientific article. Questions include knowledge (direct from the paper), thinking, connecting,

8th - 12th Science, Chemistry, Physical Science

Also included in: Human Impact & Sustainability - 13 Reading Comprehension Bundle | Grade 8 and Up

S.7.12.B - Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems | TEKS Science 7th Grade | STAAR

Created by
TWFScience

This RESOURCE BUNDLE is for Texas grade 7 science teachers who are teaching S.7.12.B - Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems according to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Standards set down by the Texas Education Agency and want to prepare their students for STAAR. ✅ Complete S.7.12.B - 7t...

7th Grade Chemistry, General Science, Physical Science

Also included in: S.7.12 - Organisms & Environments - Ecosystems Bundle | TEKS 7th Grade | STAAR

Halloween Ghost Balloon STEM Investigation: The Science of Lift and Reaction

Created by
TWFScience

Tonight is the Hallowbrook Harvest, and the town’s glowing Pumpkin Beacon—the lantern that keeps mischievous spirits from pranking the candy supply—has dimmed. The only way to recharge it is to airlift a ghost balloon up to the Witching Line so it can soak up protective moonlight.Your team has been

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: Halloween Science Activities & Investigations | Labs, Stations, STEM, Readings

Halloween Candy Combustion Calorimetry STEM Lab Food Energy & Chemical Reactions

Created by
TWFScience

Midnight approaches in Hallowbrook, and the town’s Lantern of Wards is flickering. To keep prankster spirits from short-circuiting Halloween, we must fuel the lantern with treats that have enough Treat Heat—the real, measurable energy hidden inside candy. You are the Order of the Calori-mancers. You

9th - 12th Basic Principles, Chemistry, Physical Science

NGSS HS-PS3-1, HS-PS3-4

Also included in: Halloween Science Activities & Investigations | Labs, Stations, STEM, Readings

Balloon Lift Design STEM Investigation: The Science of Lift and Reaction

Created by
TWFScience

Turn a bottle, balloon, and household ingredients into a full engineering-design challenge! Students test how different amounts of baking soda affect CO₂ gas production and balloon lift.The lab emphasizes variables, fair testing, repeated trials, data collection, graphing, and CER writing—perfect fo

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Candy Chemistry Combustion Calorimetry STEM Lab Food Energy & Chemical Reactions

Created by
TWFScience

Turn everyday candy into a rigorous calorimetry and energy conservation investigation. Students burn a small candy sample under a soda-can calorimeter, measure the water’s temperature change, calculate q = m·c·ΔT, and estimate energy per gram (J/g and kcal/g)—then deduce from evidence which candy ha

9th - 12th Basic Principles, Chemistry, Physical Science

NGSS HS-PS3-1, HS-PS3-4

Also included in: Valentine's Day Science Activities | STEM, Project, Readings | High School

STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Created by
TWFScience

Build a high-engagement, low-prep STEM program that grows with you. This Growing Bundle collects my best STEM investigations—each one built around true engineering design, fair testing, repeated trials, data tables, graphing, and CER writing. Buy once and get every future lab added to this bundle at

6th - 11th Chemistry, Engineering, Physical Science

NGSS MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3+5

Halloween Science Activities & Investigations | Labs, Stations, STEM, Readings

Created by
TWFScience

Make October downright electric with hands-on, low-prep Halloween science. This Growing Bundle includes STEM activities, stations, readings, and more-all with a festive twist. Buy once and get every future addition free via bundle updates (price increases as new activities are added).What Students D

6th - 11th Chemistry, Engineering, Physical Science

Haunted Swamp STEM Lab Investigation: Halloween Water Filtration Challenge

Created by
TWFScience

A mysterious toxic spill has cursed the Haunted Swamp! Your class of scientists has been summoned by the local town council to design and build a filtration system that can rescue the swamp’s ghostly residents before Halloween night. Each team must engineer, test, and optimize a filter that clears “

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: Halloween Science Activities & Investigations | Labs, Stations, STEM, Readings

Survival of the Creepiest – Halloween Creature Adaptation STEM Challenge

Created by
TWFScience

On Halloween night, the Earth's climate fractures into eerie realms warped by monstrous weather. Only creatures born of imagination (and backed by science adaptation) can survive. Your mission: design a horrifying yet biologically believable organism that has adapted to, thrives in, one of these cur

6th - 10th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2-2, MS-LS2-4+5

Also included in: Halloween Science Activities & Investigations | Labs, Stations, STEM, Readings

The Chemistry of Candy - High School Reading | Sugar, Acids, Thermal Reactions

Created by
TWFScience

The Chemistry of Candy Reading Comprehension Passage and Questions - This article explains how chemistry shapes every aspect of candy—from the colors created by dyes and the tang of acids to the structure, texture, and reactions of sugars—revealing how science transforms simple ingredients into swee

9th - 12th Science, Chemistry, Physical Science

NGSS HS-PS1-2, HS-PS1-3, HS-PS1-4

Also included in: Valentine's Day Science Activities | STEM, Project, Readings | High School