Curated OER
Carbon Dioxide - Sources and Sinks
Where does all of the carbon dioxide come from that is supposedly leading to climate change? Earth science pupils test animal, plant, and fossil fuels as sources in this investigation. Using an indicator, BTB, they are able to detect the...
Curated OER
Changing Planet: Ocean Acidification - the Chemistry is Less than Basic!
A video and laboratory investigation are highlights to this lesson on acidification of ocean water due to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. Using bromothymol blue (BTB) as an indicator, pupils analyze the amount of carbon dioxide...
Curated OER
Exhaust, Gas and Pollution
Students watch a demonstration of how bromthymol blue is used to indicate the presence of carbon dioxide in a gas. They design their own experiments to test gasses which are suspected of containing carbon dioxide.
Polar Trec
Polar Detectives: Using Ice Core Data to Decode Past Climate Mysteries
How does examining an ice core tell us about weather? Learners set up and explore fake ice cores made of sugar, salt, and ash to represent historical snowfall and volcanic eruptions. From their setups, scholars determine what caused the...
Curated OER
What Makes a Seed Breathe Faster?
Here's a five-star lesson plan in which inquisitors conduct sophisticated experimentation with cellular respiration in plant seeds. Placing seeds in a closed system they measure the amount carbon dioxide produced and relate it to...
Curated OER
I Need Room to Breathe
Seventh graders explore how exercise affects carbon dioxide levels in exhaled air.
Curated OER
Where in the World is Carbon Dixoide?
Students conduct experiments designed to detect the presence of CO2 by using a BTB that changes color (blue to yellow) in the presence of CO2. First, students experiment with the CO2 from combining vinegar and baking soda. In part two,...
Curated OER
Photosynethsis....How do we know it's really happening? - Biology Teaching Thesis
Students think of one way to detect photosynthesis in plants besides those ways shown in class. They identify the reaction that occurs during photosynthesis. Students define the difference between an acid and a base. They identify acidic...
Curated OER
NASA's Mars Gamble Pays Off Part 2
Tenth graders explore the planet of Mars. In this Earth Science instructional activity, 10th graders read articles on the make up of Mars. Students complete a worksheet on their reading.
Curated OER
Elodea Lab
Students observe the changes between elodea leaves placed in darkness and light. For this life science lesson, students experiment to find evidence of photosynthesis in elodea leaves. Students use indicators to detect the presences of...
Curated OER
Phytoplankton and Ocean Color
Fifth graders identify function of phytoplankton in the biospere by conducting experiments and simulations and reading for information. They detect the presence of phytoplankton in bodies of water by examining ocean in satellite images...
Curated OER
Images of Our Changing Earth
Middle schoolers identify and explain that remote sensing can detect changes on the Earth's surface that occur over time, and name at least three: urbanization, deforestation, and succession. They select a global change issue to...
Curated OER
The Air We Breathe
Young scholars discover the cuases of pollution. They investigate different pollutants that exist. Stsudents research technologies developed by engineers to reduce the amounts of air pollution. Upon completion of assigned activities,...
California Academy of Science
Fish Prints
What do a dead fish, conservation, and paint have in common? The answer is a great lesson about fish anatomy, fun print making techniques, and unsustainable fishing practices. The class will start by making fish prints with a...
Cornell University
Predicting Chemical Reactions
Prove the Law of Conservation of Mass through a lab investigation. A well-designed lesson asks groups to combine materials and monitor indicators for chemical reactions. Measuring the mass of the reactants and products allows individuals...
Curated OER
Fish Anatomy
Add a handy reference sheet about fish anatomy and functioning to your learners' biology or animal notebooks. Though this resource doesn't provide any practice, it makes a useful addition to any study of anatomy, biology, species, fish,...
Curated OER
The Rubber Band Air Test
Students complete an experiment to determine how dirty the air is in their local community. They analyze images and discuss the varying degrees of air pollution. They discuss the results of the experiment.
Curated OER
pH
Learners use a Colorimetric test to measure pH and gain the importance to life in an aquatic ecosystem pH is. They explore the dramatic effect pH level can have on a water body. Students test the pH level of many water samples.
Curated OER
Kernel Power" Ethanol Fuel from Corn
Students study why corn is a biodegradable, renewable resource. For this ethanol lesson students build models and observe a chemical reaction.
Curated OER
Devising a Set of Experiments to Test Water for Dissolved Substances
Students work together to test water samples for pollutants. They design data tables to collect and record their observations. They complete discussion questions to end the lesson.
Curated OER
Dusty Air
Students discover the types and amounts of particulate matter found in the air. They collect particulates using a Petri dish coated with Vaseline then classify and count the collection under a stereoscope.
Curated OER
Particulate Matter in the Air
Learners conduct an inquiry exploring the different kinds of particulate matter in the air. They name three different types of particulate matter found in the air and identify different types of solid particulate matter found in the air...