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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Beam Focusing Using Lenses

For Students 11th - 12th
Explore optics using an inquiry-based experimental approach! Young scholars use a set of materials to design and build a unit capable of focusing a beam of light. They experiment with different lenses to determine the best approach to...
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Activity
DiscoverE

Helping Hand

For Students 6th - 12th
Sometimes we all need a helping hand. Scholars get together to lend a hand in creating an assistive device that must be able to grab a hard-to-reach object. Now that's some help we could all use!
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Activity
DiscoverE

First You See It, Then You Hear It

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Light and sound go hand in hand. Pupils set up a system that will emit sound when a laser is directed at a photodiode. Various objects, such as a comb and talcum powder, allow for modulation of the laser beam. Individuals also...
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Lesson Plan
DiscoverE

Product Dissection

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Sometimes, taking things apart is more fun than putting things together. Groups of learners participate in a reverse engineering activity. They dissect a device of their choosing to see how it works—great hands-on learning from the...
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Activity
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

Lines on Paper - Laser Box

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
See what you cannot see by getting a little creative. An intriguing lesson has learners use lasers to explore X-ray diffraction. Given a box with unknown structures, they shine a laser through the box and interpret the results....
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Lesson Plan
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

Creating and Testing Silver-Nanoparticle Socks

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed Standards
Antibacterial socks are a product of nanotechnology. An inquiry-based instructional activity asks collaborative groups to create their own antibacterial socks and then test them against other products on the market. The sock with the...
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Lesson Plan
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

Understanding Wave Motion - Slinky vs. Snaky: Which Spring is Dominant?

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
Ride the wave to an understanding of refraction! The first in a series of two inquiry-based lessons challenges learners to create transverse waves with two different types of springs. As their wave hits an object, they observe the change...
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Lab Resource
US Department of Energy

Go Far Cars Ramp: A Basic Ramp with Four Height Settings

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Precise measurements make the job easier! One of the challenges when using an inclined plane for testing comes from pupils not using exact measurements. They often rely on books that slide or different ramp lengths when experimenting. By...
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Activity
Discovery Education

The Time of Our Life

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Mammals are some of the newest organisms to appear on Earth. Young scholars complete an activity that results in a timeline showing the appearance of different types of living organisms. Provided with a list that spans from prokaryotes...
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Activity
Discovery Education

Stomp Rockets

For Teachers K - 8th Standards
Watch the excitement grow as learners experiment with homemade rockets. Pupils create their own rockets from a soda bottle and experiment with launch angles. They discover the launch angle has a significant effect on the distance the...
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Activity
Discovery Education

It's Melting!

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
It's a race to the finish! Which ice cube will melt the fastest? Scholars discover the effect thermal energy has on melting ice. They experiment with melting ice cubes on different materials and learn that even at a consistent...
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Activity
American Museum of Natural History

Buried Bones

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Patience is the name of the game. Using Plaster of Paris and chicken bones, learners simulate an archeological dig site. They excavate the chicken bones over a period of several days using tools and a large amount of patience.
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Activity
PBS

Blowin’ in the Wind

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Wind energy is making a comeback recently, and classes will want to take part! A hands-on lesson asks groups to build their own windmill that will lift a cup with varying weight. They use their windmill designs to experiment with angles,...
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Activity
Curated OER

Bronx Cheer Bulb

For Teachers 9th - 12th
If you chew or make a "raspberry" while viewing an LED light source, the light will appear to wiggle or flicker. It is not because of the light itself, but because of the vibration of your skull! Have your physics class give this a try...
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Activity
Curated OER

Bicycle Wheel Gyro

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Using a bicycle wheel and a rotating stool, young physicists experiment with angular momentum. This is a simple, fun, and educational activity that demonstrates a foundational concept. If you can secure the materials, it is definitely...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Location

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the tools used by Columbus to chart his latitude. They study the change of a location over time.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is A Cave?

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students explore their existing concepts of caves and match them with a working definition to use during the unit. They name the two types of rock formations in which most American caves occur, and define "show cave" and "wild cave."
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Mitosis with Meiosis

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Life science learners view an online animated mini textbook comparing two types of cell division. Working in groups, they use a digital microscope to capture images of cells in different stages of mitosis and meiosis. Then they create an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chop, Chop, Who's There?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students write a letter of persuasion about the problems facing the rainforest. They examine and write about how humans are destroying the rainforest.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Now You See Me, Now You Don't

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Bioluminescence fascinates most upper elementary scientists. Display images of different glowing deep-sea organisms and discuss their environment. Young biologists then experiment with images and different colors of filtered light. In...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Uniform Motion

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students identify when uniform motion occurs. They watch a teacher made PowerPoint explaining the concept of uniform motion and carry out an experiment to understand the concept.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building Bridges

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students identify the different types of bridges. Using the internet, they research information on how they are built by completing a scavenger hunt. Locating a specific area, they determine which type of bridge would be appropriate and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Environmental Concerns (1) Analysis of Lead in Paint (2) Analysis of Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th
A scenario and background information are provided for two different open-ended experiments that experienced chemistry classes can perform toward the end of the school year. In the first, they design a method for testing flakes of paint...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Estimation Task

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Upper graders practice their estimation skills by observing different objects then making their best guess without using measuring instruments. Students are asked to estimate mass, length, volume, and area.

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