Colorado State University

Kinesthetic Activities for Teaching Abstract Concepts

Presented at the Colorado Science Conference in Denver, CO on November 2014. Click here to find see a writeup about the event.

Topic #1: Your Body Knows Physics

• Getting Out of a Chair
• Falling Off a Cliff
• Walking a Tightrope
• Standing on Tiptoe

Topic #2: Be the Molecule / Atom / Photon

• Freezing Water
• Molecules in a Box – What causes pressure?
• Why does warm air “hold” More moisture than cool air?
• Extra content not covered in the session
  • What makes a gas a greenhouse gas?
  • Radioactive Decay – How do you ask a rock its birthday?
  • How do long and short EM waves interact with the Earth’s atmosphere?

Topic #3: Physical Demonstrations

• Friction Tug of War
• Lean In (Acceleration): Linear, Circular Motion
• Egg toss

Giveaways

• Hand Boilers – Why does warm air “hold” More moisture than cool air?
• Reusable Heat Packs – How can freezing make something warmer?

Many other lesson plans and guides available at:
http://lsop.colostate.edu/lesson-plans-guides/