US Department of Energy
Solar Distiller
Explore the sun's ability to distill contaminated water with this simple set of classroom experiments. After filling two glass bowls, one with muddy water and the other with salt water, they are covered with plastic wrap and placed in...
Curated OER
Environment: Water & Air
The introduction to the lesson plan mentions a sailor's limited capacity to store drinking water on his ship. Pupils then set up an overnight experiment to remove freshwater from salt water by distillation. There is a math and map...
NOAA
What Killed the Seeds?
Can a coral cure cancer? Take seventh and eighth grade science sleuths to the underwater drugstore for an investigation into emerging pharmaceutical research. The fifth installment in a series of six has classmates research the wealth of...
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Nuts! Calculating Thermal Efficiency
Oh nuts! Do macadamias or almonds produce more thermal energy? Energy enthusiasts find out with this experiment. The objective is to demonstrate to your class how the chemical energy contained in foods can be converted into useable...
Curated OER
The Miracle Fish: Learning to Design an Experiment
Young scholars develop procedures to explore the behavior of fish. In this scientific experiment lesson students from a hypothesis, write a question, identify different variables and controls in their experiment.
NOAA
Off Base
How does carbon dioxide affect the world's oceans? The final installment in a series of six lessons has pupils research ocean acidification, then conduct an experiment to witness the delicate balance that exists in our seas. Materials...
Curated OER
Osmosis Investigation
High schoolers investigate osmosis as they determine how carrot cells respond to two different environments. They conduct the experiment, record the data, and answer discussion questions.
Curated OER
Study the Fizz
Middle schoolers experiment to determine which bottle of soda has more dissolved carbon dioxide. In this solutions lesson, students use the scientific method to test the amount of carbon dioxide in bottles of soda. They identify and...
Curated OER
Bringing The Greenhouse Effect Down To Earth (CO2 experiment)
Students compare 4 different form of carbon dioxide and discuss the role that carbon dioxide has in the Greenhouse Effect. They then understand that the Greenhouse Effect is a naturally occurring event.
Curated OER
Periodic Behavior of Oxides
Students investigate the properties of oxides and observe their periodic trends. In this behavior of oxides lesson plan, students experiment with metallic oxides and non-metallic oxides to determine if they are acid, basic or amphoteric...
Curated OER
Using Environmental Models to Determine the Effect of Acid Rain on an Ecosystem
Demonstrate to your middle school science learners how chalk breaks down in a weak acid. Discuss what affects acidic rain might have on ecosystems. Lab groups then choose one of two questions: "How does acid precipitation affect an...
NOAA
Watch the Screen!
Can a sponge cure cancer? Life science pupils visit the drugstore under the sea in the fifth lesson of six. Working groups research the topic then get hands-on experience by testing the inhibiting effects of several plant extracts on E....
Curated OER
Observing The Influence Of Acid Rain On Plant Growth
Students observe one of the direct effects of acid water on plant growth. Students engage in an experiment which will take about 2 weeks. Students will understand the effect that acid rain has on plant growth.
Curated OER
Looking At Acid's Effects On Metals
High schoolers perform an experiment that demonstrates acid rain. The chemical effect of acids on metals may take at least five days for the human eye to see, even though the reaction starts as soon as the acid contacts the metal.
Curated OER
Soil Buffering
Students observe the pH change of an acid mixture poured over soil in a filter. Since the buffering capability of soils differs, you may want to do this experiment with several different soil types.
Curated OER
Towers of the Lost City
Middle school marine scientists compare the pH change in distilled and saltwater as acetic acid is added one drop at a time. Then they compare the pH change in both when sodium hydroxide is added. This experiment demonstrates the...
Curated OER
Digital Video Lesson Plan: Brine Shrimp
Students participate in classroom experiment to gain better understanding of type of environment brine shrimp can best survive. Students then explore effects of common saltwater pollutants on survival of animals in sea.
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Synthesis of Nickel Nanowires
It's all about the scale—they're not just wires, they're nanowires! The second lesson of the series builds on the oxidation-reduction experiment in the first lesson. Scholars synthesize a sample of nanowires using electrolysis. As they...
Curated OER
Black Death Biology
Students in pairs explore the transmission of the Plague, through experimentation. Cooperative groups use the scientific method to solve the fictional problem of a bacteria spreading in the Amazon. Groups also create a vector to visually...
Curated OER
Life in Extreme Environments - Who is on Top in the Food Chain?
Young scholars discuss the design of experiments to determine how much and how fast rotifers feed and design experiments with a lab partner and in small collaborative groups. They then collect data from experiments and present results of...
Curated OER
Enzymes and Catalysts
Students discuss the functioning of the digestive system and the specific enzymes present. They observe the action of amylase on starch to identify characteristics of enzymes then perform an experiment on the effects of temperature on...
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
Effect of Acid Rain on Plants
Students observe the effects of acid rain on plants through experimentation and research. Students research types of crops in their area. Students work in small groups to complete the experiments given, as well as write a report and...
Curated OER
Analysis of Bleach
Students analyze and compare laundry bleaches by testing their oxidizing powers. They conduct their lab experiment, compare/contrast their results with other students' work, and complete a worksheet.