• 3-5: 4F/E2. How fast things move differs greatly. Some things are so slow that their journey takes a long time; others move too fast for people to even see them.
• 6-8: 4F/M3a. An unbalanced force acting on an object changes its speed or direction of motion, or both.

• 6-8: 9B/M3. Graphs can show a variety of possible relationships between two variables. As one variable increases uniformly, the other may do one of the following: increase or decrease steadily, increase or decrease faster and faster, get closer and closer to some limiting value, reach some intermediate maximum or minimum, alternately increase and decrease, increase or decrease in steps, or do something different from any of these.

• 9-12: 12B/H4. Use computer spreadsheet, graphing, and database programs to assist in quantitative analysis of real-world objects and events.

• 9-12: 12C/H1. Follow instructions in manuals or seek help from an experienced user to learn how to operate new mechanical or electrical devices.

• 6-8: 12D/M1. Organize information in simple tables and graphs and identify relationships they reveal.

• 6.RP.3.a Make tables of equivalent ratios relating quantities with whole number measurements, find missing values in the tables, and plot the pairs of values on the coordinate plane. Use tables to compare ratios.

• 7.RP.2.a Decide whether two quantities are in a proportional relationship, e.g., by testing for equivalent ratios in a table or graphing on a coordinate plane and observing whether the graph is a straight line through the origin.
• 7.RP.2.b Identify the constant of proportionality (unit rate) in tables, graphs, equations, diagrams, and verbal descriptions of proportional relationships.

• 8.F.5 Describe qualitatively the functional relationship between two quantities by analyzing a graph (e.g., where the function is increasing or decreasing, linear or nonlinear). Sketch a graph that exhibits the qualitative features of a function that has been described verbally.

This lesson plan from The Science House features toy trucks and motion detectors to explore motion graphing and its terminology. There are no calculations required. EDITOR'S NOTE: This lesson calls for LoggerPro or similar data analysis software, plus motion sensors. Costs can run $200-400, but site licenses typically cover all computers at a school building.

• Physical Sciences K-8 Graphing Unit
• Physics First Graphing Unit
• Conceptual Physics Graphing Unit
• Algebra-Based Physics Graphing Unit