9 Free Physics Resources for School
- olivershearman
- Sep 30
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 14
I have been a teacher for almost a decade now and a maker of many, many teaching resources. I am a great believer in the power of teacher-made resources supporting fellow teachers and also in giving back to the community as well. While I do make many resources that are for sale for a low price and are of high quality, I also feel that I should give back to the community in a honest and clear way. To that end, below I show and link 9 free physics resources that you can pick and use today if you would like. These are mostly literacy and research based resources and can support an active classroom and add more flavor when it comes to teaching and learning through different methods.
Learning about the physics of speed, including concepts like drag, energy, and relativity, is important because it deepens our understanding of motion and its limits in the natural world. Drag explains how air resistance affects objects moving at high speeds, influencing vehicle and aircraft design for efficiency. The relationship between speed (going fast) and energy highlights the exponential energy demands at higher velocities, shaping advancements in transportation and engineering. Relativity introduces the fascinating effects of speed on time and space at near-light velocities, broadening our grasp of the universe's laws. The physics of fast has practical applications in technology, innovation, and understanding the cosmos. With this in mind, let's engage with this excellent learning resource!
Bring the physics of fast to life with a ready-to-use research project template that helps students explore drag, relativity, and speed through authentic STEM inquiry. Learners complete a concise one-paragraph summary, connect formulas and graphs in a mathematics connection, and link concepts to real engineering or technological applications. A five term glossary helps builds precise vocabulary, while three challenging inquiry questions drive deeper thinking. Two extra sets of three questions are included, an easier set for younger students and a more challenging set for older students, so you can switch as needed for perfect differentiation. A creative item space invites models, sketches, or data visuals to showcase understanding. Assessment is clear and fair with a 20 point rubric for self, peer, or teacher scoring. Teacher guidance provides step-by-step implementation tips, pacing ideas, and extension options for middle school science and high school physics classrooms, making this a practical and valuable purchase for teachers who want rigorous, engaging learning with minimal prep time.
This story is about Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen and his discovery of X-rays. The story is available in 3 Lexile levels (850L, 1050L & 1200L) great for a variety of young readers and it engages them to learn about science through a story rather than yet another YouTube video, but something a bit different and enjoyable for students!
Studying the physics of roller coasters is both fascinating and important as it applies key physics concepts like energy, circular motion, friction, and forces in an engaging context. Rollercoaster physics offers insights into how these forces interact to create thrilling yet safe rides, enhancing understanding and safety in broader areas such as automotive safety and structural engineering. Rollercoaster physics serves as an excellent educational tool, linking theoretical knowledge with practical applications, making it a compelling area of study.
Studying the physics of roller coasters is both fascinating and important as it applies key physics concepts like energy, circular motion, friction, and forces in an engaging context. This field offers insights into how these forces interact to create thrilling yet safe rides, enhancing understanding and safety in broader areas such as automotive safety and structural engineering. Roller coaster physics serves as an excellent educational tool, linking theoretical knowledge with practical applications, making it a compelling area of study.
Friction forces explain why shoes grip floors, bike brakes stop wheels, and rockets need heat shields, so mastering this topic builds core understanding for NGSS MS-PS2 and HS-PS3. A focused reading passage with questions helps students connect friction to everyday motion, energy transfer, wear, and efficiency using clear examples like sliding vs rolling, tire tread patterns, and sports equipment. Scaffolded questions move from vocabulary and recall to cause and effect, and explanation using evidence, strengthening science literacy as well as problem solving. This approach streamlines planning and equips students to analyze real situations where friction is helpful or harmful, from safe walking to conserving energy in machines.
Learning about the Doppler effect is important because it explains how the frequency of waves changes with the motion of the source or observer, a concept with broad applications in science and technology. The Doppler effect helps us understand the behavior of sound and light waves, enabling practical uses such as radar systems, medical imaging with Doppler ultrasound, and studying the motion of stars and galaxies in astrophysics. Understanding the Doppler effect enhances our ability to interpret wave behavior in real-world scenarios, improving technologies and expanding our knowledge of the universe. A great topic to learn about with this useful teaching resource.
Learning about the Doppler effect is important because it explains how the frequency of waves changes with the motion of the source or observer, a concept with broad applications in science and technology. The Doppler effect helps us understand the behavior of sound and light waves, enabling practical uses such as radar systems, medical imaging with Doppler ultrasound, and studying the motion of stars and galaxies in astrophysics. Understanding the Doppler effect enhances our ability to interpret wave behavior in real-world scenarios, improving technologies and expanding our knowledge of the universe. A great topic to learn about with this useful teaching resource.
Understanding how push and pull forces work helps students connect everyday motion to core physics ideas like balanced vs unbalanced forces, friction, mass, and acceleration, making it a perfect fit for NGSS MS-PS2. Teaching this topic through a focused reading passage with questions turns abstract terms into clear, testable ideas using real examples such as starting a bike, opening a door, or sliding a box. Scaffolded questions move from recall to cause and effect to prediction, so learners practice evidence based reasoning and apply formulas like F = ma in age appropriate ways. This approach streamlines planning, strengthens science literacy, and gives classes the tools to analyze motion they see every day, from sports to simple machines.
For some bonus content that is not free, but is of fantastic quality. Consider my Critical Thinking Frameworks which are incredibly structured and variable to support learning physics and truly learning to think critically.
Thanks for Reading
Cheers and Stay Curious
Oliver - The Teaching Astrophysicist
Comments