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Security System Design
Pupils explain how laser security systems work. In this security system design instructional activity students create a presentation of their system that they designed.
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Splitting the Penstock
Students investigate the best way to calculate the measurements of an area. In this geometry activity, students relate a large circle to a cylinder and its measurements. They use PVC pipes to gain hands on experience as they calculate...
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Light Your Way
Students investigate how a simple series circuit functions. They design and construct a working portable flashlight, develop a written plan for the flashlight, test their flashlight for functionality and reliability, and draw the series...
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What is the Best Insulator: Air, Styrofoam, Foil, or Cotton?
Students investigate the properties of insulators by attempting to keep a cup of water from freezing, and once it is frozen, to keep it from melting. They conduct the experiment, record and analyze the results, and answer discussion...
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Wind Energy
Students explore wind energy by making a pinwheel to model a wind turbine. They experiment with their turbine by placing it in different locations for optimal energy.
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Solid Waste Takes Over
Learners explore solid waste and its effects on the environment. They explain some of the major problems caused by waste disposal and the use of landfills. They suggest ways to reduce the amount of solid waste going into a landfill.
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Stop Heat from Escaping
Students explore the uses of insulation and describe how insulation helps to conserve energy. They work in groups and use plastic, wool, paper and aluminum to experiment with the heat-retaining properties of various materials.
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Environment: Wild Wind Direction
Students examine the different types of wind patterns. Using common materials, they construct weather vanes to measure and record wind direction over a two-week period. After analyzing the data, they draw conclusions about the...
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Riding the Radio Waves
Students examine the basic concepts of radio waves and magnetic fields. They study how the AM radios are built and demonstrate the concepts of amplitude and frequency.
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What Is Energy? Short Demos
Students engage in three short, hands-on, in-class demos which expand students' understand of energy. First, using peanuts and heat, students see how the human body burns food to make energy. Then, they create paper snake mobiles to...
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Electromagnetic Pick-up
Students investigate electromagnetic energy. In this magnetism lesson, students will create an electromagnet and test changes with increased energy. They will compete by building the strongest electromagnet.
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Steamship Portland: Where's the Energy?
Students examine how steamships operate. They describe the necessary energy conversions. They construct a model paddlewheel ship. They use rubber bands as examples of potential and kinetic energy as they unwind and set the models in motion.
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Invention: Computer Technology
Middle schoolers comprehend that inventions can change the way we live. They comprehend that many inventions start out with design flaws and are refined later by subsequent inventors and designers. Students are explained that the...
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Power, Work and the Waterwheel
Middle schoolers use a two-liter bottle, dowel rod and index cards to design and construct a water wheel. They then calculate the power created and measure the work done by the water wheel in Watts and Joules.
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Buoyant Boats
Students design and construct a boat out of aluminum foil and a few other simple materials. The boats then be tested by floating them in water, then adding mass until they sink. They explore the various shapes of boat construction.
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The Solar System: Go Green with the Sun!
Third graders learn how to use solar power. In this sun, technology and energy instructional activity, 3rd graders learn how the solar power from the sun can give off energy, learn about solar panels, discuss their uses and benefits,...
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Build Your Own Submarine
High schoolers construct their own submarine following a certain procedure. In this physics activity, students calculate the density of objects using a mathematical formula. They explain why some object floats in water while some do not.
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Waterwheel Work
Students investigate the history of the waterwheel and common uses for water turbines today. They construct an experimental waterwheel using a two-liter plastic bottle, measure the rate of revolution of a waterwheel, and complete a...
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Earn Points with Technology
Students explore renewable energy by analyzing a diagram. In this fossil fuel activity, students view a chart explaining the different energy consumption from automobiles and how they impact our environment. Students analyze a point...
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Ramp and Review
Students participate in an activity in which they observe a ball as it rolls down an incline into a cup. They take measurements and use equations that describe the concepts of mechanical energy, work and power, momentum, and friction. ...
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Transistor Hunt
Students locate transistor devices in school. They explain the importance of transistors.
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Tsunamis
Students investigate the natural disasters known as tsunamis by researching the Internet. In this nature lesson, students define the word tsunami and discuss how they are created. Students complete an online activity based on water...
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Radius, Diameter and Area
Learners identify the radius and diameter of a circle. In this geometry lesson, students calculate the volume and area of a cylinder and circle. They relate the circumference of a circle to Pi.
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Unit Circle and Triangle
Students apply the Unit Circle to solve ratios of triangles. In this geometry lesson, students derive the different ratios of a triangle using the Pythagorean Theorem. They find the angles of a unit circle using a right triangle.