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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We Have Work to Do!

For Teachers K - 2nd
An excellent lesson awaits your young scientists! In it, learners are invited to explore the world of pulleys, levers, and planes; simple machines that make lifting heavy things much, much easier. They watch video, and engage in hands-on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Qualitative Examples of Conservation of Mechanical Energy

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Instructions for series of six activites, a reading of scientific literature, and a choice of six assessments await you in this physics resource. Well-written plans guide you in guiding your pupils to experiment with levers, pulleys,...
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange (ALEX)

Use Simple Machines to Help Stuart Little

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Third graders study six simple machines while working in expert groups. They use the information from the research to decide which simple machine the Littles could use to move a package. They demonstrate how their simple machine works in...
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Lesson Plan
Earth Day Network

Filtering Water

For Teachers 5th - 8th
See the water filtration system up close with a fun science experiment. Young scientists work for several class periods to design a water filter using household objects, and then decide which filter material would be most effective in...
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Lesson Plan
K20 LEARN

The Cold, Hard Truth

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Things are really getting heated in the lab! Science scholars scope out the facts about heat energy transfer using a simple lab from the K20 Center. Groups collaborate to observe temperature changes between hot metal and water, then use...
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Lesson Plan
NEED Project

Calibrating Thermometers

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Engage young scientists in the upper-elementary and middle school grades with this collection of simple experiments. Whether you're teaching about heat transfer, density, or potential energy this resource has a lab for you.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students investigate simple machines. For this simple machines lesson, students construct two simple machines and describe what they do. Students show that simple changes help machines do work with less effort. Students use a paper clip...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines Stations!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the principles and uses of an inclined plane, screw, and wedge and identify examples of simple machines. They rotate through three experiment stations, complete a worksheet for each station, and read a handout...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Simple Machines, Odd Machines

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students recognize and identify common objects that can be used as a lever. In this simple machines lesson, students experiment with materials to design and construct a machine that uses a lever. Students also design and build a catapult.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Applied Science - Technology (1B) Pre Lab

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore simple machines. In this technology lesson, 1st graders review pulleys, levers, wedges, and ramps. They experiment with lifting items with and without these simple machines. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Applied Science - Technology (2A) Lab

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders experiment with simple machines. In this machine lesson, 2nd graders go to different labs to see examples of a lever, inclined plane, wedge, pulley, gears, and wheel and axle. They discuss how a machine makes work a lot...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines V - Wheels and Axles and Gears

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the principles and uses of gears, and examine how gears can be used to alter the direction of motion or the speed of an object. They observe two cars with different sized wheels roll down an inclined plane,...
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Lesson Plan
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

No Fossils in This Fuel

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Yeast and sugar go beyond the pantry and into a fuel experiment. Use these common baking ingredients to assist your class in creating ethanol, a natural fuel. Pupils observe the process and gather information to elaborate on the...
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
The heat of solution measures how much thermal energy a dissolving substance consumes or gives off. The experiment demonstrates both endothermic and exothermic reactions. Scholars dissolve several substances, measure the temperature...
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Lesson Plan
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PHET

Planetary Magnetism

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
What do magnetic fields look like? The best way to learn about magnetic fields is to try identifying them for yourself. Scholars will understand the importance of magnetic fields after completing this experiment. The extension activities...
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Lesson Plan
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Baylor College

Using Heat from the Sun

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Let's heat things up! This simple experiment demonstrates for students the important role the sun plays in providing the earth with energy. Place one cup of water in direct sunlight and one in shade, then take measurements in order to...
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Lesson Plan
NASA

Soda Straw Rockets

For Teachers K - 6th Standards
Three, two, one, blast off to a better understanding of force and motion with this exciting science lesson! Beginning with a discussion about rockets and gravity, young scientists go on to complete a series of worksheets about net forces...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Germs Experiment 2

For Teachers K - 5th
Students express artistic ideas thru art glitter and science. Students experiment with the theory of how germs spread. Students summarize findings in an art format. Students work in groups to analyze data.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Slide is a Simple Machine

For Teachers 2nd - 9th
Young scholars explore inclined planes. In this simple machines lesson plan, students conduct an experiment on a slide using a rope with a bag. Young scholars observe the force needed to pull the bag to the top of the slide.
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Lesson Plan
Code.org

Using Simple Commands

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Turtles might be slow, but class will zoom by when your pupils build a program in which reptiles draw a grid. Using App Lab and JavaScript, class members build a program to find the most efficient way to draw an image of a three-by-three...
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Lesson Plan
PricewaterhouseCoopers

Conservation: Water

For Teachers K - 2nd
Here is a fantastic experiment-based instructional activity on water conservation, waste, and filtration. The lesson plan is well-developed and provides background information, discussion leads, and six scripted lab activities anyone can...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can a Mouse Lift an Elephant?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Read Just a Little Bit, by Ann Tompert as an introduction to levers. Discuss playground seesaws and then turn learners loose to experiment with the placement of a fulcrum. Their goal is to determine where to place it in order to lift ten...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan Outline for Rainbow Science

For Students 7th - 12th Standards
Young scientists study light reflection and refraction as they determine the critical angle, the rainbow angle, and color separation in rainbows. Teams record the data they collect in a shared spreadsheet and discuss results with the class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science Experiments

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders work together in groups to design and complete one science experiment of their choice. Following the experimental steps, they show their experiment and the results to the class in the form of a PowerPoint. They explain...