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Activity
PBS

Super Sleuths

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
There's no such thing as the perfect crime! Your class of sleuths are ready to investigate the trace evidence at a crime scene and compare it to a list of suspects. They use their investigative skills to record physical properties of the...
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Activity
PBS

Print Hints

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
It would be a crime not to give the lesson a chance! An inquiry-based lesson has pupils assume the role of crime scene investigators as they make observations about shoe prints. They look for patterns in the prints such as distance and...
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Activity
PBS

No Slip Grip

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
The force will be with you during an inquiry-based lesson focused on friction. Young scientists explore the effect of different surfaces on friction. They use rubber bands to measure the amount of force needed to move an object on the...
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Activity
PBS

Insulation Station

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
It's all about the material. Learners experiment with different substances as they try to keep an ice cube from melting. They draw conclusions by answering a set of questions about the types and amount of material that had the best result.
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Activity
PBS

Twirling in the Breeze

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Blow classes away with a hands-on lesson investigating wind speed. Learners use common materials to design and construct anemometers. They then test their anemometers and collect data on the wind speed created by a fan.
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Activity
PBS

Star Power

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Let there be light—or maybe not. Pupils learn about light pollution with an investigation of constellations. They create constellation boxes and experiment with different levels of light. Observations are then made about the lighting in...
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Activity
PBS

Season Seeking

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
It's a time of change. A hands-on activity engages young scientists in a lesson highlighting the change of seasons. They brainstorm indicators of season changes in nature and then look for them. Next, they record observations in a field...
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Activity
PBS

Cloud Clues

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
It's cloudy with a good chance of learning! An inquiry-based lesson begins with an exploration of transparent, translucent, and opaque materials. Young scientists then connect their learning to the different cloud types as they take the...
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Lesson Plan
2
2
American Chemical Society

The Same Parts Can Make Many Objects

For Teachers 2nd
Snap to it! Young experimenters use Snap Cubes to model how a larger object is created from a smaller parts. Using a guide, they rearrange their cubes to create all possible arrangements of four and five cubes.
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Lesson Plan
2
2
American Chemical Society

Heating Can Make a Change That Cannot Go Back Again

For Teachers 2nd
Heat is a gateway to change. While exploring the properties of baking powder, pupils learn that some heat-related changes are permanent. Using an animation, the lesson uses chocolate chip cookies as an example.
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Lesson Plan
2
2
American Chemical Society

Changes Caused by Heating and Cooling

For Teachers 2nd
It's heating up—and cooling down—in here! A hands-on lesson allows learners to experiment with melting and freezing butter to observe changes as a substance transitions between liquid and solid form. They also view an animation that...
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Lesson Plan
2
2
American Chemical Society

Float and Sink

For Teachers 2nd
We're not talking about the kitchen sink. Learners explore what types of objects sink and float in water in an inquiry-based lesson. With experimentation, they find similarities between materials that float and those that sink.
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Lesson Plan
2
2
American Chemical Society

Dissolving is a Property

For Teachers 2nd
Believe it or not, it is possible for liquids and solids to get along! A hands-on lesson has individuals explore dissolving properties of candies in water. They complete an activity guide to record observations about different candies...
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Lesson Plan
2
2
American Chemical Society

Liquids Have Properties

For Teachers 2nd
Liquids have many similarities, but their differences can set them apart. Using a student activity guide, learners conduct different property tests on water, oil, and syrup. They record their results and use them to rank the liquids by...
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Lesson Plan
2
2
American Chemical Society

Using the Properties of Materials to Improve a Model Boat

For Teachers 2nd
Work together to stay afloat. Using a paper boat, pupils connect properties of materials to their usefulness. They test different paper to determine how many pennies each boat will hold and learn that combining materials with different...
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Lesson Plan
2
2
American Chemical Society

Testing Materials to Learn About Their Properties

For Teachers 2nd
Storing food in plastic makes more sense than storing it in paper. Young learners research the properties of these materials along with aluminum foil. They then connect the properties of the materials to their usefulness by completing a...