Curated OER
Potato Launcher Energy Lab
Learners investigate conservation laws using a potato launcher. In this physics lesson, students measure angles, time and distance of the potato. They discuss applications of experiments like this.
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Investigation of Timbre
Students design an experiment to analyze the timbre of different instruments. In this physics lesson, students analyze the missing quality in sound. They discuss their results in class.
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Density
Students, in groups, design a procedure to calculate the mass of gas molecules in the classroom by measuring the volume of the classroom and researching the density of air. They apply changes in air density with altitude and effects on a...
Curated OER
Vectors in Relative Velocities Problem Set
Young scholars, after reading an explanation from a NASA Web-based textbook, demonstrate an understanding of vector addition and the text by applying them to the determination of vector components and relative velocities.
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Laboratory - Density of a Material
Students conduct a lab (with water, guar gum and sodium borate) and carefully record physical and chemical properties and changes throughout the session, and experiment with weighing by difference.
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Stratigraphy and Cross-Dating
Students interpret archaeological strata using the law of superposition. They apply cross-dating to determine the age of other artifacts.
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Coefficient of Kinetic Friction and Surface Area
Students investigate coefficient of friction with respect to surface area and applied force in contact with the sliding force.
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Critter Characteristics
Young scholars explore the adaptations of deep sea life forms. In this science lesson, students watch a video to observe characteristics which allow for the sea creature to thrive in it's environment. Young scholars determine the...
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The Quest For Power
High schoolers investigate and apply properties of math. In this algebra and physics lesson, students define important vocabulary words to create a basic understanding of keywords. They perform experiments using concepts of electricity...
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Wind Effects on Model Building: Building Project Overview
Young scholars design their own building according to certain criteria. In this semester long physics activity, students calculate forces, compression and tension. They present their finished model in class.
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Phases of Matter
Students describe the motion of solids, liquids and gases. In this chemistry lesson, students describe how temperature affect motion of the particles. They determine the physical properties of each phase.
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Animal Life Histories Derived From Morphology
Young scholars learn the mechanisms of natural selection by deducing information from the physical appearance of the animal.
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Mussel Identification Activity
Students identify given species of animals, such as various
mussels, by sets of physical characteristics as they use a key. They also read about mussels on the Illinois River and look at mussel species in the online database. Finally,...
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Up, Up, and Away
Second graders observe the changes that water has when there is a change in a state of matter. In this lesson they observe the results of applying heat to water with the end result of conversion to a gas.
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Creating a Salad Dressing
Students investigate how the scientific process can be applied to making a new salad dressing recipe.
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Hang Time
Students discuss how all objects fall at the same rate and vertical motion is independent of the horizontal motion. Students apply this information to center of mass activities before solving equations.
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Determining Momentum and Energy Loss of Balls Colliding Against Different Surfaces
Students experiment with the bounce of balls on various surfaces. In this physics lesson, students use various surfaces to bounce balls to study the momentum. This hands-on activity with the concepts of elasticity of surfaces which is...
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Accelerated Frames of Reference: Inertial Forces
Learners examine how when applying the laws of motion to an object in an accelerating frame, using coordinates defined in such frame, one must always add an "inertial force", representing forces caused by the frame's acceleration.
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Principles of Flight: Bernoulli's Lift
Students discover how air pressure effects flight. In this physics activity, students create two types of airplane wings so they can observe the way air pressure creates lift. Students utilize a printout to create the...
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Balloons: Math with the Montgolfier Balloon
Young scholars discover the history of hot air balloons by watching one ascent. In this physics lesson, students utilize a Montgolfier Hot Air Balloon from an earlier lesson and record the temperature, rate of ascent and the...
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Staying Up
Young scholars will explain the Archimedes's Principle. In this lesson on plankton, students will describe three factors that can affect the buoyancy of plankton. This lesson contains extensive background information, extensions, and...
Center of Excellence for Science and Mathematics Education
A Sick Astronaut
Aspiring astronauts graph, interpret, and analyze data. They investigate the relationship between two variables in a problem situation. Using both graphic and symbolic representations they will grasp the concept of line of best fit to...
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Attributes of Renewable Energy: From Nanopossibilities to Solar Power
Young scholars explore solar energy, why we use it and how we use it. In this renewable energy lesson students compare active and solar techniques.
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You Are Here
Students determine the relative size and distance of the planets in the solar system. They use ratios in their mathematical calculations to make models of the planets after discussing the relative sizes of the planets. They keep a...