Nuffield Foundation
Effect of Size on Uptake by Diffusion
Cell size is limited by the surface area to volume ratio, but why is this true? Scholars measure the surface area and volume of cubes before placing them into liquid. After a set amount of time, they measure the uptake by diffusion for...
Texas State University
Earth: Deposition and Lithification
Geology geniuses analyze sediment samples with a hand lens and sort according to physical characteristics. They also learn about the processes of cementation, compaction, and lithification within the rock cycle. The lesson plan is...
American Chemical Society
The Energy of Evaporation
Do all liquids evaporate at the same rate? Young scientists observe the evaporation rate of three different liquids. They measure the time, the temperature, and the change in energy. After comparing the chemical formulas, scholars...
Discovery Education
Cool It!
Adjust the melting time of ice without varying the temperature! Learners experiment with different materials to decide how the materials affect the rate an ice cube melts. They then connect their findings to the conductivity of each...
Cornell University
Vitamin C Module
Test the levels of vitamin C in different juices. After a lesson plan on the importance of vitamin C in our diets, learners use titration to determine the vitamin C content in juice. They use their experience with the titration to study...
Virginia Department of Education
Osmosis, Diffusion, and Active Transport
No, it really is okay to play with your food! Emerging scientists manipulate popcorn, eggs, and other household objects as they demonstrate multiple cellular processes. The activity, capable of modifications, is designed to reflect the...
Curated OER
Mass vs. Weight
Students make generalizations about weight and mass by engaging in two hands-on experiments. In this weight and mass lesson plan, students weigh both an empty beaker and beakers with various amounts of weight inside of them in order to...
Curated OER
Chemistry: Changing Materials
Students examine physical change with different temperature and solvents. In this elements and compounds lesson, students conduct experiments to discover what happens to the mass of a substance when is undergoes a physical change.
Curated OER
Scientific Tools
Students list different uses for common scientific instruments. They identify appropriate instruments to measure length, temperature, and mass. Pupils are given a copy of the "Science Tools" task sheet, students place the correct number...
Curated OER
Measuring Permeability of Soil, Sand and Gravel
Students investigate the different materials in their environment. In this geology lesson plan, students collaborate in groups to examine the differences in sand, soil and gravel. Students utilize a magnifying glass or microscope and...
Teaching Ideas
Investigation Prompts
Get your class started with experimentation and investigation by providing sentence starters. This chart is made up of three columns. The first column lists steps of the scientific process and the second provides sentence starters for...
Curated OER
Comparing Roots After Rotation of Ninety Degrees
High schoolers conduct an experiment and use different measurements of a single root to illustrate the mechanism of plant movement.
Curated OER
Observing the Growth of a Maize Root
Students conduct an experiment in order to observe the typical downward growth of a maize root. They become familiar with the root's growth patterns to use as a control for comparison in other experiments.
Curated OER
Investigating an Enzyme-controlled Reaction: Catalase and Hydrogen Peroxide Concentration
Are you looking for a way to measure cellular respiration? Try it with pureed potatoes. With some standard high school science equipment, biologists can perform an investigation and collect data surrounding byproducts of respiration. You...
Coastal Carolina University
Osmosis and Diffusion Lab: Honey I Blew Up the Bear
Beginning biologists explore passive transport through two demonstrations and a hands-on inquiry. Spray air freshener from one spot in the classroom and have class members raise their hands as the scent reaches them. Also, place a teabag...
Curated OER
Just Passing Through
Students explore how water moves through soil. They experiment with different soil types and record their findings.
Curated OER
What is the Rock Cycle and Its Processes?
Geology beginners examine three different rock samples and determine their origin by their characteristics. By making and recording observations, they become familiar with features of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock types....
Curated OER
A Heated Discussion
Students compare the colloquial definition of temperature with the scientific definition. They, in groups, then explore the changes of water under different temperatures and calculate and compare their findings on three different...
Curated OER
The Same but Different Part II
Third graders experiment with beakers of water and balloons to measure the volume of the gas in the balloon. They determine ways to change the volume of air in the balloon which changes its size but not its physical state. By heating the...
Curated OER
Experimenting with Yeast Metabolism
Ninth graders determine the rate of respiration by yeast and which sugars can be used as a food source by yeast using a CO2 gas sensor and computer software. This lesson is for an honors Biology class.
Curated OER
Wet-Dry Bulb Hygrometers: Measuring Relative Humidity and Apparent Temperature
Students work in groups of 4 for the activity/activity part of this exercise. They know that clouds are formed by the condensation of water vapor, affect weather and climate. Also that global patterns of atmospheric movement influence...
Curated OER
Osmosis
High schoolers investigate osmosis and diffusion in a liquid environment. In this osmosis lesson plan, students use dialysis tubing made into bags and filled with 3 different solutions. They observe the movement of water molecules into...
Curated OER
Sublimation
Students investigate sublimation and deposition using moth balls and toilet bowl freshener. In this sublimation lesson plan, students make a water bath and use two small beakers inside 2 larger beakers with moth balls in one and toilet...
Curated OER
The Reaction Between Magnesium and Hydrochloric Acid
In this rate of chemical reactions learning exercise, students experiment with different concentrations and volumes of hydrochloric acid mixed with magnesium. They measure the rates of the reactions and analyze their results from a graph...