Carnegie Mellon University
Lab Report
A set of instructions and a 100-point grading rubric have been designed for writing lab reports. Appropriate for middle schoolers, this lays out what to include for each of the six steps in the scientific method: title, hypothesis,...
Curated OER
Geometric Relations
Students use computers to create a sketch of a geometrical shape that can be extruded to show the shape as a three-dimensional drawing. In this computer assisted drawing lesson, students follow explicit directions which include screen...
Curated OER
Weather Variables Lab
Students examine what happens when air temperature drops and gets closer to the dewpoint. They perform a lab activity which illustrates the effects on humidity, precipitation and barometric air pressure.
Curated OER
Creating a Thematic Map
Students create and analyze a weather-related data table and a thematic map based upon information provided.
Mrs. Burgess
End of the Year Geometry Projects
Geometry students will be ecstatic about these engaging and enlightening end-of-the-year projects! Types of project ideas include interviewing a geometer, an ABCs of geometry poster, an engineering lab report, and origami work.
Curated OER
Open-Ended Scientific Method Lab
Students inspect a given problem and come up with a hypothesis. In this investigative lesson students come up with a hypothesis for a problem, test each hypothesis and evaluate how successful each one was.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
EarthViewer
Can you imagine Washington DC and London as close neighbors occupying the same continent? Learners will be fascinated as they step back in time and discover the evolution of the earth's continents and oceans from 4.5 billion years ago to...
Curated OER
Tootsie-Roll Pop Chemistry
Middle schoolers use Tootsie-Roll Pops to become familiar with atoms and chemical formulas. They, in groups, find more combinations of Tootsie-Roll Pops than the other lab groups within 3 minutes (Round 1), and within 5 minutes (Round 2).
Curated OER
Vectors
Students describe a complex path by the use of adding vectors. They comprehend the difference betwee scalar and vector quanitities. Students disucss the naviagation lab. They are explained the procedures for the lab. Students are...
Curated OER
Vectors
Learners are introduced to the bridge building challenge. They perform two labs and work in small groups to finish the vector worksheet. Students review vector additions. They then move onto the Forces on an Inclined Plane Lab. ...
Curated OER
Vectors
Students describe a complex path by the use of adding vectors. They are explained the procedures and rules of the balloon car race. Students are remined that the summary and answers to the questions are due Monday. They are given the...
Curated OER
Chemical Composition of American Coins
Students investigate the chemical composition of pennies dated 1983 or later. For this chemical composition of American coins lesson plan, students scratch the surface of the penny to expose the zinc core. They put the penny in...
Curated OER
Ecology of the Dump
Students determine which types of garbage are biodegradable and which are nonbiodegradable. They practice measuring skills, hypothesizing, taking data, and writing a lab report. Students observe the relative biodegradability of metal,...
Cornell University
Nano Interactions
Tiny particles can provide big learning opportunities! Middle school scientists explore the world of nanoparticles through reading, discussion, and experiment. Collaborative groups first apply nanotechnology to determine water hardness....
Curated OER
Making Soap
Students recognize and use chemical indicators in the lab, recognize the need for safety while doing chemical experiments and understand the need for following precise directions.
Curated OER
Understanding Cells
Students identify and define several related vocabulary terms. Students complete a short lab and complete the questions. Students create a cell crossword puzzle and play cell computer games through the included links.
Curated OER
How Old Is This Tree?
Students work in pairs to determine the age of a tree using two different methods in this experiment. They collect data about how trees change over time.
Curated OER
Vectors
Students describe motion by the use of adding vectors. They identify the difference between the x and y components of vector quantities. Students are given the Paper Bridge Building handout and the instructions as to where to perform...
Curated OER
Ecology of the Dump
Young scholars recreate landfills in petri dishes, observe relative biodegradability in a year-long project, and isolate a cellulose degrading bacteria while discovering the need for recycling and the serious problem waste management has...
Curated OER
Making Soap
Students explore what chemical indicators are and use pH paper to determine if something is alkaline or basic. In this pH lesson students manufacture their own soap.
Curated OER
Insects Are Helpful!
Students see that insects do lots good and are very valuable to humans and nature. This is part of an ongoing effort to dispel fears of insects. They rotate through a series of centers that have examples of how insects contribute to our...
Curated OER
Candy Cane Chemistry
Fourth graders, in groups, examine the effect of heat on bonding forces by doing laboratory work.
Curated OER
What's in Our Woods?
Students observe their local forest and document the change that occurs over the school year. For this forestry lesson, students utilize a GPS to mark a certain area of the woods as their study area for the remainder of the year....
Curated OER
Magnetic Discovery Bottle
Students examine how to conduct simple investigations and use simple equipment to gather data. For this magnet lesson students decide what types of objects are attracted to magnets.