Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
A Century of Plastics
After reading about polymer materials, engineer trainees examine how plastics have been integrated into everyday products. In groups, they compile a list of products made entirely without plastics and then, as a closing activity, try to...
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Polymers
Present polymers to your chemistry class with this practical PowerPoint. Begin with a definition and the properties of polymer materials. Branch out into diagrams of polymer structure. Consider the two general types: addition polymers...
Cornell University
Polymers: Making Silly Putty
Putty is proof that learning can be fun! Share the wonderful world of polymers with your class through an experiment. Young scientists create their own silly putty, then examine its properties.
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Oils and Plastic
Peruse the properties of polymers with your materials engineers, chemistry aces, or emerging ecologists. The inquiries in this resource include puncturing polyethylene plastic bags, dissolving polystyrene cups, creating a polymer ball...
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What is Plastic?
Students experiment with plastics. In this what is plastic lesson, students make a simple polymer and discuss recycling. Students identify various types of plastics.
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Polymers: The Discovery
Students examine various polymers. In this polymers lesson, students perform three experiments with polymers to identify them and observe their interesting properties.
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Sports Helmets and Impact Testing of Polymers
Students examine the importance of good quality safety gear. In this investigative lesson, students will tests various polymers, collect data, and analyze the data to determine which polymer is best for safety helmets. They will design a...
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Activity: Polymer Clay Millefiori Cane Beads
Students show an understanding of how millefiori beads are constructed by making some in several styles in polymer clay. They view images and techniques on a website imbedded in this plan and then attempt to make their own.
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Polystyrene Containers
Students conduct experiments to determine the effectiveness of polystyrene containers at preventing heat loss. For this polymers lesson, students design an experiment to determine how effective Styrofoam burger containers are at...
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Make Slime
Students make slime. In this chemical reaction lesson, student use Borax to make a gel like solution. Students add all ingredients listed, add food coloring, and mix well. Students see first hand how chemicals react together and create...
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Dragonfly Anatomy: Dragonfly Magnet or Pin
Students build anatomically correct dragonflies of polymer clay, use vocabulary for body parts, and define the function of the body parts as adaptations for survival.
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Bioplastics
Students define bioplastics and identify its uses. For this bioplastics lesson, students compare and contrast styrofoam to starch peanuts after careful examination. Students understand what biodegradeable means.
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Electromagnetic Energy and Its Spectrum
Your older elementary students investigate electromagnetic energy and the electromagnetic spectrum. They will observe 7 items represented in the electromagnetic spectrum and make a poster of all the things the items have in common. After...
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Burlap Weaving Gone Wild
Explore art using fabric with this resource. Learners talk about weaving and create art work after discussing this important technique. This is a great way integrate art and history.
Curated OER
The Bending and Bouncing of Light
Young scholars investigate refraction and reflection of light. In this light lesson, students perform 3 activities to observe light interacting with matter by using a flashlight. They explore refraction using a glass of water and...
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Counting Animal Populations
Students learn how to count animal populations by the Mark and Recapture method. In this counting animal populations lesson plan, students begin by predicting amounts of different candies in a jar. Students then simulate using beans, two...
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Beanie Baby
Students will explain the importance of soybeans. In this science activity, students participate in making a "beanie baby" necklace. Additionally, students observe their soybeans for germination and growth for 7-10 days. Students record...