Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hydrologic Cycle Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the water cycle using educational resources. In this water cycle lesson, students use a global climate DVD to complete a scavenger hunt on the hydrologic (water) cycle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing States of Matter - Making Ice Cream

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students make ice cream as a result of viewing changes of states of matter. In this matter lesson plan, students learn how heating and cooling can effect a state of matter to change.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Matter

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders conduct an experiment.  In this changing matter lesson, 5th graders receive a cup of crystals, record their observations, add water to the crystals and record new observations. Students then discuss the differences...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changes of State

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine molecules and the changes in energy of a system.  In this energy systems instructional activity students complete a lab activity and describe changes of state.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Happenings

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders observe how water changes phase through a teacher-led demo. In this earth science lesson, 5th graders relate the demo to the water cycle. They draw and label each stage of the cycle.
Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Heart of the Matter

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Hands-on experience with valves and water flow supports young researchers' understanding of valve operation. Attached resources for learners are text-dense; I'd break up the text into smaller pieces for groups to read and present...
Lesson Plan
NASA

Melting Ice: Designing an Experiment

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Sometimes, despite the best laid plans, the unexpected will occur. Learners witness this firsthand as they carefully design an experiment to determine the time needed for ice to melt in salt water or pure water. They uncover facts not...
Lesson Plan
Polar Trec

Down to the Deep Virtual Lab

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
At a depth of 3,000 m in the ocean, the pressure is 300 times that at sea level! In the activity, individuals predict what will happen to Styrofoam cups submerged 3,000 meters into the ocean. They then convert these units to soccer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Changes Occur When Water Freezes?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners investigate the changes that occur at the molecular level when a liquid becomes a solid. They freeze water in baby jars and observe the changes that occur in the process.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constancy and Change

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders identify three forms of matter- solids, liquids, and gases with 100% accuracy. They observe what happens when they try to put two kinds of matter into the same space and conclude that solids, liquids, and gases occupy space.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rising Water!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe water change from a liquid to a gas state when heated and then return to its liquid stage when cooled. They learn that gas molecules move faster than liquid molecules. They discover physical properties that describe how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Non-Newtonian Fluids

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students will use water, cornstarch, eggs, and more to explore the different states of matter. They will make observations of an unknown substance called "Oobleck" and test its liquid and solid properties. This would be a great lesson to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

As a Matter of Fact

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students rotate through various hands-on experiment stations to explore the concept and properties of different types of matter. They compare some properties of solids, liquids and gases and describe how matter changes from one state to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's the Matter? Where Did it Go?

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders analyze questions posted on a large poster in the room and work in groups to record their response to the question on paper, rotating to the next question after two minutes have passed. They review the characteristics of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water and Ice

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students conduct an experiment. In this forms of water instructional activity, students observe ice to see what changes take place and then write in their journal about what they observed.
Lesson Plan
Michigan Sea Grant

Water Quality

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners observe water samples and measure the samples' water quality. Students develop their own criteria for measuring water quality and test for temperature, acidity, oxygen levels, turbidity, conductance, sediment and hardness.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It Matters

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students use descriptive vocabulary to discuss the attributes of matter. Then, they sort objects or pictures by the type of matter they are comprised of. Finally, students match objects of matter with similar attributes and create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nature of Chemical Change: Acting Out An Example

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students illustrate the molecular nature of matter and show that chemical change involves alteration of molecules.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

STATES OF WATER

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify the various states of water. They use hypothesizing and hands-on experimenting on changing the states of water, the properties of water, and the role of heating and cooling in the changes of state.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Activit #2 Matter: Is It Conserved?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students support the law of conservation of matter with evidence. They discuss the changes observed from the burning of the candle, and the differences in mass which are observed when the same reaction is carried out in an open or...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Phases of Matter

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students discuss and experiment with the phases of water.  In this phases of matter lesson, students recognize the different states of matter.  Students measure and record changes and understand when the state changes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is the Matter with Water?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders observe matter in all 3 states : liquid, solid and gas, in an ice cream soda. In teams, they are given ice and teams compete to be the first to melt their ice. Winner gets the ice cream soda. They draw examples of 3 states...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chemical Changes

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders observe two types of interactions in a sealed plastic bag. One bag contains baking soda and water, and the other baking soda and vinegar. They determine what evidence indicates that a chemical change is occurring.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water and Ice

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore water and ice. In this 3 states of matter lesson, students work with a partner to observe, illustrate, and describe the characteristics of an ice cube in a cup. The ice cube is observed again in 15 minutes and changes...