Curated OER
How much Carbon Dioxide is in My Seltzer Water?
Pupils discover the law of conservation of mass though experimentation. In this chemistry activity, students experiment with acid - base indicators to determine the presence of carbon dioxide. Pupils complete the labs with analysis...
Polar Trec
What Is My Footprint?
How do one's habits and lifestyle choices affect the environment? Through a short online survey, learners will calculate their own carbon footprints then determine how to reduce their impact on the environment through simple steps, such...
University of Georgia
Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions
Equip your chemistry class with the tools to properly understand endothermic and exothermic reactions. Young chemists collect, analyze, and graph data to determine how the Law of Conservation of Matter is applied to chemical composition...
Intel
Composting: Why Bother?
The first STEM lesson in a group of 10 explores composting. After discussing how to make a better tomorrow, classes are challenged to track garbage in their communities, visit a local waste management facility, and conduct a survey about...
Norwich Institute for Language Education
Simple Machines
Planning a unit on simple machines? Save some time and energy with this collection of lessons and activities that explores how these devices are used in the real world to make life a little easier.
Curated OER
Swinging Pendulum
Middle schoolers engage in an activity which demonstrates how potential energy (PE) can be converted to kinetic energy (KE) and back again. Given a pendulum height, students calculate and predict how fast the pendulum will swing by...
Columbus City Schools
The Magic of Energy: A Disappearing Act?
Using the 5E method for teaching about kinetic energy, potential energy, and conservation of energy, this two-week unit with many videos and possible extensions is sure to keep pupils engaged as they are learning.
Teach Engineering
Exploring Energy: Kinetic and Potential
The potential of the energy in the class is moving. The third segment in a six-part unit on energy provides a deeper understanding of kinetic and potential energy. Learners understand the relationship between mass, speed, and energy and...
Curated OER
Are You the Bug or the Windshield
A fun slide show which illustrates different size bugs hitting car windshields. Your junior highers should be amused while they learn the relationships between mass, velocity, and force of an impact. Scientific terminology is used, but...
Santa Monica College
The Composition of Potassium Chlorate
The third lesson plan in a series of 11 begins by using thermal decomposition of potassium chlorate to determine the mass percent of oxygen. Then a second activity allows scholars to demonstrate that the resulting residue is from a...
Serendip
Using Models to Understand Photosynthesis
Is your class in the dark about photosynthesis? Shed some sunlight on an important biological process with a thoughtful activity. After answering questions to help determine their level of knowledge, learners work with chemical equations...
University of Texas
Lives of Stars
Stars exist from a few million years to over 10 billion years, depending on their mass. Scholars perform a play acting as stars to learn about their different life cycles. They develop an understanding of many of the fundamental concepts...
Curated OER
Mass of Water vs. Ice
Students examine how ice changes state and when its volume changes. In this mass lesson students complete a lab that shows them how waters volume can change.
Curated OER
Momentum Conserved
Students explore Newton's Laws of Motion and how momentum is conserved. In this physics lesson plan, students observe experiments in which various items collide. Students draw conclusions as to how "momentum" defined as "mass X velocity"...
Curated OER
Boarding School
Students discuss conservation of energy using a skateboarder in the halfpipe or a person on a roller coaster as an example. Using mathematical equations, students examine potential and kinetic energy of the examples. Lesson is completed...
Curated OER
The Chemistry of Killer Coal
Learners research chemical components of coal, as well as environmental health impacts of mining and burning coal. They discuss conservation of mass as it relates to combustion of organic compounds.
PHET
Energy Skate Park: Basics
Keep calm and half pipe. An exciting simulation teaches pupils about energy transfer from potential to kinetic and thermal as a skater moves through a half pipe or other track. After a brief introduction, scholars can build their own...
Columbus City Schools
ABC: Acid Base Chemistry
Bubble, bubble, boil and trouble! What causes common substances like baking soda and vinegar to react the way they do? Welcome your junior chemists to the wonders of acid-base chemistry using a comprehensive and fun resource. Engage them...
Curated OER
TE Lesson: Kinetic and Potential Energy of Motion
Pupils investigate the difference between potential and kinetic energy. They examine the formulae associated with both types of energy. They complete how quickly a pendulum with swing by converting potential energy into kinetic energy.
Curated OER
Measuring the Heat Energy of a Chemical Change
Students investigate the Law of Conservation of Energy and the relationship between heat and temperature. In this heat energy and chemical changes lesson, students observe a candle heating a paper cup of water and make predictions about...
Virginia Department of Education
Formulas and Percent Compositions of Ionic Compounds
Try not to blind anyone with science by following the safety rules. The lesson encourages scholars to form an ionic compound from magnesium and chlorine. Then they determine the empirical formula and determine the mole ratio and percent...
Teach Engineering
Bouncing Balls
How high will it bounce? Groups determine the height different balls bounce off of different surfaces. By performing the necessary calculations, they determine the initial and final momentum of the balls. The included worksheet provides...
Science Matters
Peanut Energy
How do humans get energy since they aren't mechanical and can't photosynthesize? Learners explore this question by relating potential energy in food to human energy levels. Scholars measure the change in mass and a change in temperature...
Curated OER
Energy Conservation
Class is divided into groups of 2-4 students. They then are given a list of 36 items that are found in our homes and which use electricity. They are going to pretend that because of an energy shortage, they have to pick only twelve items...