Lesson Plan
Baylor College

What Makes Water Special?

For Teachers K - 5th
Get close up and personal with a drop of water to discover how the polarity of its molecules affect its behavior. Elementary hydrologists split and combine water droplets, and also compare them to drops of oil. Much neater than placing a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Chemistry of Water

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students investigate the properties of water. In this chemistry of water lesson plan, students observe a demonstration of the properties of water using sand, sugar, oil, vinegar and salad dressing. Students experiment with water, pepper,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Walking Magic

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct experiment with water striders by placing the insect in two different solutions and discuss their observations. They discover that weight and surface area are important factors in their experiment.
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Mysterious M&M's

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
The first in a six-lesson mini unit, all using M&Ms® candies, this physical science activity gets kids to observe a single piece and discover what happens when it is placed in a plate of water. The activity can be used to...
Lesson Plan
University of Washington

Using Modeling to Demonstrate Self-Assembly in Nanotechnology

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Do polar opposites attract? After an introduction on the polarity of molecules, pupils are asked to design a self-assembling model using materials with different polarity. The challenge should motivate learners to develop a workable...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Properties of Water with a Splash of Color

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the properties of water. In this cross curriculum art and physical science lesson plan, students experiment with a variety of materials to demonstrate the cohesive forces and adhesion of water. Students create a water...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Molecular Forces at Work: Creating Soap Bubbles

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Learners investigate adhesion, cohesion and surface tension. In this molecular forces lesson plan, students observe multiple demonstrations that show surface tension, the attraction of water molecules to each other and the ability of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Water Freeze

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe how salinity affects the time it takes water to freeze. They participate in an experiment to determine that ice is essentially salt-free whether formed from fresh or salt water
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Unit

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students make boats and race them. In this physics lesson plan, students investigate surface tension, molecules, and cohesion by competing in a class race with their boats. Students experiment with liquid soap to see how much will make...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physical and Chemical Properties of Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students experiment with water as a component of suspensions, solutions, and heat conduction contributing to the use of food and the health and wellness of human beings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Much Do I Know About Water?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore how water behaves on a penny.  In this states of matter lesson, 6th graders observe water as they add drops to a penny. This lesson helps students apply the adhesive properties of water to the water cycle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Take a Dip: Sticky Water

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students complete lab activities to investigate the "sticky" properties of water, such as surface tension and capillary action, due to the polarity of the molecules.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Big is a Molecule?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars estimate the size of a molecule of oleic acid. They conduct an experiment using chalk dust, water, and oleic acid, solve various calculations, and answer discussion questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making "Cents" of Surface Tension

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the unique behaviors of water. They investigate surface tension using water drops on a penny and pennies dropped in a cup.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Much Do I Know About Water?

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore ways to analyze the properties of water and examine the chemistry of water.  In this water lesson students work in groups and complete several activities. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electrolysis of Water

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine the electrolysis of water by completing an experiment.  In this water lesson students will explain how hydrogen can be extracted from water and how energy flows through an electrolysis system. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pauli's Magical Water

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students predict the shape of molecules using VSEPR theory. In this chemistry lesson, students differentiate a polar and nonpolar molecule. They discuss why water's polarity is very important.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students observe demonstrations of exothermic and endothermic reactions and determine the changes that take place in a chemical reaction. Students observe four demonstrations showing entropy, attraction of molecules due to polarity,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Molecular Structure of Proteins

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students examine the effects different substances have on proteins. They test different molecules reaction to water. They discover how the amount of water affects the shape of the protein.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lose Some Weight- Evaporate!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students determine that some liquids are able to evaporate more readily than others. They create a balance using cups and a ruler to determine which end of a strip dipped in alcohol or water evaporates the fastest, hence loses the most...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can Chromatography Separate A Pigment?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students separate a mixture of pigments with ion exchange chromatography and predict whether the ion-exchange matrix is positively or negatively charged based on the type of pigment bonded to the matrix.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diffusion Across a Selectively Permeable Membrane

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate how water passes through cell membranes. In this biology lesson, students differentiate osmosis and diffusion. They illustrate the movement of water in both processes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chloroplasts

For Teachers K - 12th
Students study chloroplasts, their structure and evolution.  In this photosynthesis instructional activity students experiment with polarized light and the production of chlorophyll.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching about the Chemistry of Oxygen Solubility

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore solubility of gases in water, Henry's Law, LeChatelier's Principal, and supersaturation of gases in water.