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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Snapshot of Science

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore physical and chemical changes. In this physical science lesson plan, 6th graders study vocabulary, discuss the changes they see in the world and look up information on chemical and physical changes. Students create...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physical Science: The Three Billy Goats Gruff

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Explore science through problem solving and learning how to solve the problem of the story "The Three Billy Goats Gruff." Young investigators will learn how to construct a model and design a solution. They will also keep records of their...
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Lesson Plan
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Center for Learning in Action

Introducing Physical and Chemical Changes

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
Young scientists investigate chemical and physical changes to the states of matter—gas, liquid, and solid—as well as solutions and suspensions with a variety of demonstrations, grand conversation, and an interactive quiz to check for...
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Electric Vocabulary

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Practice electric vocabulary using multiple methods. Learners begin by watching a video that explains vocabulary related to electric currents. They match vocabulary cards to practice and then create an electric circuit. Using the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physical Changes to Matter

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Pupils explore matter by conducting an in-class experiment. They experiment with water's various forms by melting and freezing water, identifying its new shape. These observations are recorded to supplement later discussion. They also...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physical or Chemical- That is the Question!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students observe the differences between physical and chemical changes in properties. Through the use of an interactive presentation, the students compare and contrast the changes and provide supporting examples of each type of change.
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

The Science of Snowflakes

For Students 6th - 8th
Who can grow the best crystals? Challenge class members to develop strategies for enhancing growth in the crystals. Through a lab investigation, learners study the properties of crystals and test the effectiveness of different growth...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Allowing Students to Explore Simple Physics and Marketing in English Class

For Teachers 9th Standards
Scientific method, linear measurements, friction, inertia. Imagine learning scientific vocabulary in an ELA class. Before researching and developing a presentation about simple machines, class members build a common, but decidedly...
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Lesson Plan
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Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Get Connected with Ohm's Law

For Teachers 5th - 12th Standards
Ideal for your electricity unit, especially with middle schoolers, this lesson plan gets engineers using multimeters in electrical circuits to explore the relationships among voltage, current, and resistance. Older learners may even plot...
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Lesson Plan
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

Synthesis and Characterization of CdSe Quantum Dots

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Does the size of a sample change the physical properties of that substance? It turns out it can! Young scientists combine physics and chemistry to synthesize CdSe quantum dots and record their color properties. Learners should notice a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Visual Vocabulary

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students interpret and name the vocabulary termed acted out by the mime. In this science/language arts/physical education activity, students are given a set of vocabulary terms to discuss within their group. Next, students place all...
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Lesson Plan
Carnegie Mellon University

Consumer Preferences in Lighting

For Teachers 6th - 12th
What is a watt? This tongue-twisting, mind-bending question and others are answered through this instructional activity on the different lighting options available. With the support of a PowerPoint, teach your physical science class...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Floating Fishes: How do Fishes Control Buoyancy?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Playing with balloons, water, oil, and bottles help put this lesson over the top! Participants use air-filled balloons in water tanks to experience gas compression. They also use oil-filled bottles to experiment with buoyancy. Included...
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Lesson Plan
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Center for Learning in Action

Introduction to Matter

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Begin your states of matter lessons with a demonstration designed to introduce the concept that all matter has properties. Reinforce this concept through vocabulary exploration, and the creation of atom models; salt, water, and carbon...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aquatic Science

For Teachers 7th - 8th
What a terrific way to explore the pond habitat! Learners discuss the animal and plant life found in the Long Island area. They also discuss vocabulary terms, identify pollution concerns, and resource conservation.
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Lesson Plan
Royal Society of Chemistry

Separating Mixtures: How We Concentrate Natural Materials

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Have your class look at a granite specimen and describe what they see. They should note three distinct components. Discuss mixtures with them and how they might be separated, then send them to the lab to figure out how to take apart five...
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Lesson Plan
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Nevada Outdoor School

Let It Snow! Let It Melt!

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd Standards
Winter weather offers a great opportunity to teach young scientists about the states of matter. This activity-based lesson includes a range of learning experiences, from experimenting with the rate at which ice melts to singing a song...
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Lesson Plan
Florida International University

Designing an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV): Concepts in Lift, Drag, Thrust, Energy, Power, Mass, and Buoyancy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Engineer an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to study concepts of physics. Using household materials, collaborative groups design and build an AUV and then test Newton's Laws of Motion as they apply them in underwater environments...
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Lesson Plan
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Beyond Benign

Packed Up Properties

For Students 6th - 8th
Determine physical properties of potential packaging materials. Continuing from previous lessons in the series, the resource asks groups to identify physical properties of the substances. They test for conductivity, solubility, water...
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Lesson Plan
National Park Service

Glaciers and Water

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Explore the amazing power of glaciers with a hands-on earth science experiment! After first learning basic background information, learners go on to create their very own chunks of frozen water and gravel in order to observe first-hand...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vocabulary Bursting with Energy

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students review key physics terms using a Visual Thesaurus. In this science lesson, student groups compete against each other to correctly identify "imposter" words from a list of related physics vocabulary terms.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Read About Science: Toys

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners complete another Read about Science with a focus on toys. Individually, they read a book of their choice about toys and define new vocabulary. To end the science lesson, they complete a KWL chart and share what they gathered...
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Lesson Plan
Science Friday

Ugh, a Bug!

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Young entomologists familiarize themselves with the physical characteristics of insects. Composed of two activities, each lesson involves your scientists tapping into their prior knowledge of bugs and making observations of real live...
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Isotope Rummy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Thanks to this game, teaching isotopes will never be the same. Physical science scholars work their way toward understanding isotopes in an entertaining game. Pupils play rummy in groups while practicing good sportsmanship and creating...