Curated OER
Air can do work.
Students replicate the teacher demonstrations by changing the variables and predicting the outcomes.
Curated OER
Visualizing Density: Density is Non-obvious
Learners explore models of density; wooden balls and marbles discussing whether they think the volume and mass are the same or different. They then compare the density of a loaf of bread that is squished and one that is not compressed.
Curated OER
Potato Chips Fragility
Students investigate why some potato chips crumple faster than others. In this physics lessons, students relate the cooking time to potato's fragility. They write a lab report about their findings.
Curated OER
Strength of Water
Students perform experiments using flexible bottles of water and eyedroppers partially filled and placed in the bottle. They record what happens when they tighten the bottle lid and squeeze the bottle.
Curated OER
Chapter 16 Review- General Science
In this review of general science learning exercise, students classify examples of matter as mixtures or substances, homogeneous or heterogeneous mixtures, or elements or compounds. Students also convert several examples using the...
Curated OER
Relational Causality
Students explore volume and pressure. Through an activity, students discover what happens in situations when volume is increased but no additional air is able to enter the enclosed space. Students create models and explain their...
Curated OER
Robots
Students explore the two kinds of fluids: liquids and gases. They explain that liquids (water), unlike gases (air), cannot be compressed. This property makes them ideal for hydraulic work applications.
Curated OER
Elastic Racquet
Students discover the science behind a tennis racket by looking at a simple toy that works in a similar way. After looking at the related mathematical equations, students experiment with the simple toy to find the spring constant k by...
Curated OER
Earthquake Waves
Fourth graders pour three cups of sand on the top of a plastic table near the edge. They tap the table lightly with the rubber mallet. When they tap the table lightly they see the sand ump into the air.
Exploratorium
Straw Oboe
Trim the end of a straw to construct a vibrating wind instrument. Everyone in your class can make their own during a lesson on sound waves.
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Waves and Whistles
Wave goodbye to the same old demonstrations for alternative energy sources, and wave hello to this one investigating ocean waves! Using a water bottle to create an oscillating water column, learners see and possibly hear how the...
Curated OER
Take a Stab!
Your geology class practices taking core samples of a potato to examine the stratigraphy. This is a terrific modeling lesson that helps youngsters visualize strata that cannot be seen from the surface of the ground. The directions...
Curated OER
Ups and Downs of Diving
Students explore the science and sport of scuba diving. In this scuba diving lesson, students build Cartesian divers and observe their behavior under water pressure.
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Crank It Up!
Following this procedure, eager engineers construct a working model of a piston system, similar to that in an internal combustion engine. Perfect for STEM or automotive technology classes, the activity comes complete with analysis and...
Curated OER
Conductors and Insulators
In this conductors and insulators instructional activity, students answer 11 questions about electrical resistance, conductance, gauge scale, and breakdown voltage.
Curated OER
Specific Resistance of Conductors
In this conductors worksheet, students complete 15 problems about conductance, strain gauge, and electrical resistance of conductors.
Curated OER
Electrical Generators
Learners study what an electric generator does and its history. For this energy lesson students complete several experiments including building their own electric generator.
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Tour de Texas
Teams of Texas tourists gather into groups to analyze what they can do with $50 worth of an alternative fuel. They write checks, keep a balance sheet, and map out their sight-seeing route taking into consideration the location of...
Urbana School District
Sound
Beautiful music doesn't just write itself, but if you ever feel bad about procrastinating, remember that Mozart wrote the overture to Don Giovanni the morning it premiered. Introduce young scientists to the elements of sound including...
National Energy Education Development Project
Exploring Transportation
Did you know horsepower is actually based on the power of a horse? 60 horse power is the equivalent of being pulled by a team of 60 horses! Viewers will learn other interesting facts like this from a presentation that begins with the...
Curated OER
All About Matter
Twenty-four questions about matter, the states of matter and the properties of matter make up this interactive online worksheet. Your class will determine the volume of water, the shape of water and the shapes of matter.
DiscoverE
Safe Landing
Watch out below! Future engineers come up with methods to ensure that a ball in a cup stays in the cup even after dropped from a given height. It might be prudent to include some kind of shock absorber in the cup. Parachutes are a good...
Science Friday
Make a Model Eardrum to Detect Sound Waves
Make sound waves visible with an experiment that asks middle schoolers to build a model ear drum using plastic bottles, rubber bands, plastic wrap, and sand-like substances.
Chymist
Pressure-Volume Relationships: Experiments with 140-mL Syringe
Learners examine Boyle's Law by analyzing experimental results with a hands-on lesson that provides a set of four experiments that illustrate the relationship between pressure and volume of gases. Groups analyze results using...