Curated OER
The Awful Eight
Students investigate the concept of a carpool and its contributions to either reducing or increasing air pollution. They conduct research using a variety of resources for background information. The information is used to write a play...
Curated OER
Density of a Sinker
Eighth graders determine the density of a sinker by first finding the mass and then the volume using a graduated cylinder. Students must write the procedure they use to find the volume of the sinker then apply their data to follow-up...
Curated OER
Birthdays
Pupils recognize that there are different birthday customs unique to many countries.
Curated OER
Ford's Revolution (Differentiated by Ability)
Students explore the effects of Ford's use of the assembly line, auto financing, and increased wages to make his fortune. They complete a worksheet using the internet.
Curated OER
More Than Tipis and Feathers
Fourth graders research Native American People of the plains, the forest, the northwest coast and the desert. They compare how their lives were similar and how they were different. They make a model of one type of dwelling.
Curated OER
Catch a Dream
Learners apply the concepts of air pressure, the Bernoulli Effect, and angle of attack to build their own model planes out of paper, plastic, wooden rods, and drinking straws.
Curated OER
Identifying Elements
Students use diffraction glasses to find similarities and differences between observed spectrum of fluorescent light and an incandescent light They work in groups of 4-6 for the experiment/activity part of this exercise.
Curated OER
History Repeats Itself
Learners read about an event that occurred 140 years ago to ascertain
information (who? what? when? where? why?) and to compare this event to Rosa Parks arrest almost 50 years ago. They retell the story from your point of view.
Curated OER
Dam-it? I Just Don't Know!?!
Eighth graders analyze two different large dams: The Hoover Dam and the Three Gorges Dam. They compare and contrast the two dams.
Curated OER
Acid Precipitation
Students test the acidity of unknown solutions. They use this information to make inferences from data given from recorded rainfall records to identify areas that receive the most acid rain.
Curated OER
Ride 'Em Cowboy (Buffalo Bill Cody and the Wild West Show)
Young scholars research the impact of Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show on the world's view of American western culture. They create a poster advertising the Wild West Show.
Curated OER
Can You Make A Penny Float?
Students explore the concept of density by trying to make a penny and other materials float.
Curated OER
Synthesizing Pigment and Dyeing Cloth
Young scholars create a synthetic dye and oxidize the dye and record the effects.
Curated OER
Paper Structures
Students demonstrate that material strength varies with shape and arrangement.
Curated OER
Menu Mania
Students explore the concept of estimating by watching a video, and discussing the strategies for estimation. They estimate the costs for various menu items, then calculate the exact amount spent.
Curated OER
Girls Speak Out
Pupils discuss "education" and gender equity. They examine primary sources (video clips) of women/girls who do not have the privilege of an education. They create a pamphlet that will be used to publicize the issue of girls' education...
Curated OER
What is the (No) Establishment Clause?
Students research and discuss the Establishment Clause.
Curated OER
Oxidation And Corrosion
Students sort tarnished metals by type and experiment with different cleaning solutions and techniques to restore them to their natural color and shine.
Curated OER
Acid and Base Testing
Students study descriptions of indicators and the way they are used to identify acids and bases. They use this information to determine if unknown solutions are acids or bases.
American Chemical Society
Middle School Chemistry: Changing State: Melting
Discover the concept that energy transfer and molecular motion cause the change in state from a solid to a liquid. Also compare state changes of water to the state changes of other substances.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Changing the State of Matter Using Heating and Cooling
In this lesson, young scholars will investigate how different materials changed when heated or cooled. The process in developing the investigation will be inquiry based. Students will have the liberty in choosing the materials and...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Observing the Effect of Temperature on Change of State and Gas Pressure
This lab serves as a short introduction to both changes in state and air pressure/the gas laws. The students will heat a small amount of water in an aluminum can. They will then invert it in a bucket of cold water and crush the can using...
ArtsNow
Arts Now Learning: States of Matter [Pdf]
In this instructional activity, students will move and generate choreography to understand different states of matter.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Exploring States of Matter Gases
In this series of chemistry labs, students learn about the three states of matter by observing how molecules contract or expand as they change state.