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Interactive
Physics Classroom

If This, Then That: Color

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
The dress color debate of 2015 taught the importance of understanding how we see light. Scholars view a shirt under two different colored lights and then must predict what color the shirt will appear under a third light. They apply color...
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Activity
DiscoverE

Waterproofing the Roof

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Can your pupils build a roof that stands the test of time? Use an insightful engineering design project to highlight both materials science and architecture. Scholars either team up or work as individuals to design, create, and test a...
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Shedding a "Little" Light on Cancer Surgery

For Teachers 10th - 12th Standards
Many types of cancer treatments now depend on nanotechnology—a big "little" discovery. Scholars begin by removing "malignant" tissue from simulated brains, one using fluorescent markers thanks to nanotechnology and one without. This...
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Interactive
PhET

Beer's Law Lab

For Students 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Beer's Law can be used to measure the concentration of certain compounds in samples of food. In the concentration simulation, particpants change and measure the concentration of different solutions by manipulating various types of...
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Lesson Plan
California Institute of Technology

Physics of Light

For Students 9th - 12th
Gummy bears are tasty, but did you know they are also used to determine color and light properties? Use the activity as a way to demonstrate light absorption, light reflection, and refraction with high schooler. Pupils conduct small...
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Lesson Plan
NASA

Earth's Global Energy Budget

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Introduce your earth science enthusiasts to the earth's energy budget. Teach them using an informative set of slides that include illuminating lecturer's notes, relevant vocabulary, embedded animations, colorful satellite maps, and a...
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Interactive3:19
Scholastic

Study Jams! Light Absorption, Reflection, & Refraction

For Students 4th - 9th
Zoe and RJ are trying to photograph an egret on a lake, but they are having trouble with the lighting. Reflection, refraction, and absorption are explored through their thoughtful dialogue so that your physical scientists are illuminated...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Using the Spectrophotometer to Analyze a Mixture

For Teachers 9th - 12th
General chemistry classes practice spectroscopy. They grasp the relationships between wavelength, absorbance, and solution concentration. Additionally, they gain valuable practice using laboratory equipment such as burets and pipettes....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Visible Spectroscopy Expert Witness Problem

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
In a simulated crime science investigation, chemistry or physics sleuths use spectroscopy to analyze solutions. The lesson gives learners practice making salicylate solutions, using spectrophotometers, calculating dilution amounts,...
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Assessment
Curated OER

2000 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad National Exam - Part I

For Students 9th - 12th
The National Chemistry Olympiad exams are comprehensive tests covering an entire  year of chemistry concepts. You can use them as practice for competing in the challenge, or simply as a review, or as an actual final exam for your general...
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Assessment
Curated OER

2009 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad National Exam - Part I

For Students 9th - 12th
The 2009 version of the first part of a national chemistry competition is posted for your use with olympiad hopefuls. Test takers deal with 60 multiple choice questions covering an entire year of chemistry curriculum. Use this to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Absorption of Solar Energy

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Two sequential parts to this lesson introduce your class to the electromagnetic spectrum, the ability to absorb radiant energy, and the pigments in leaves that are responsible for collecting sunlight to be used in the photosynthetic...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Kit Lesson #9 - Properties of Solar Radiation: Reflection, Transmission, and Absorption

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Middle school science stars observe and record data on the solar radiation reflected off or transmitted through various materials. They predict properties for various materials, and test their predictions by touch. This activity becomes...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spectrophotometer Determination of an Equilibrium Constant

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students determine an equilibrium constant using a spectrophotometer. In this equilibrium lesson plan, students calibrate a spectrophotometer with 5 solutions in order to prepare the spectrophotometer for the experiment. Students measure...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Bonneville

Passive Solar Water Heating

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Put empty milk jugs to good use. Scholars consider the characteristics they might change about a milk jug to improve light absorption. They design a passive solar water heater using the milk jug and then measure the temperature change in...
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Instructional Video1:14
PBS

Light Absorption: Effects of Light | UNC-TV Science

For Students 6th - 12th
Beat the summer heat by exploring the properties of color. Scientists view a video explaining the relationship between light absorption and energy transfer using variables including intensity, time, and wavelength. A multiple-choice...
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Instructional Video1:18
PBS

Reflection and Refraction | UNC-TV Science

For Students 6th - 12th
Uncover the exciting interactions of light energy and matter ranging from color to optical illusions. Participants explore color using red and green apples, differences between reflection and refraction, and descriptions of related...
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Lesson Plan
2
2
American Chemical Society

Designing an Absorbency Test

For Teachers 2nd
Time to soak up some learning! A hands-on instructional activity teaches learners about the absorbency properties of substances. They conduct tests by dipping different materials in water to determine which hold water and then complete a...
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Activity
Exploratorium

A Splash of Color - Is Pure Water Colorless?

For Students 6th - 12th
What makes the ocean blue but a glass of ocean water nearly colorless? Investigators prepare tubes of water to examine the color of water. Scholars discover the relationship between light absorption, color variations, and water depth as...
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Activity
1
1
American Chemical Society

Diapers: The Inside Story

For Students K - 5th
There shouldn't be any accidents with this activity! An inquiry-based lesson has learners explore the absorption properties of the gel compound in diapers. After testing its properties, they learn the science of the molecules that make...
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Lesson Plan
University of Colorado

Graphing the Rainbow

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Here's a colorful resource about spectra. An intriguing activity teaches pupils about diffraction grating and about absorption and emission spectra. They see how to represent spectra using line plots and try out this skill in a matching...
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AP Test Prep
College Board

2013 AP® Biology Free-Response Questions

For Students 10th - 12th Standards
AP® free-response questions are often challenging for scholars. Give them practice writing free-response questions using former questions from the AP® Biology exam on topics such as genetic mutations, cellular respiration, evolution, and...
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Purdue University

Design of an Earthen Dam for a Lafayette Neighborhood

For Teachers 3rd
How do dams support bodies of water? Scholars engage in a hands-on STEM activity where they design, build, and test dams to learn about bodies of water and how humans use natural resources. They learn how criteria and constraints affect...
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Interactive
PBS

Earth’s Energy Budget

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Is Earth's energy flow a little off balance? Explore our energy budget using a click-through interactive. Scholars discover the many factors that move solar energy around the planet and why the system is no longer in equilibrium.