Curated OER
Density
Students work with a partner to record observations on various materials. Working together, they calculate the mass and volume of each material and then combine them and shake them for a period of time. In their journals, they record...
Exploratorium
Hand-Held Heat Engine
See the direct relationship between pressure and temperature using these classic science toys. As individuals hold the glass bulb, the liquid inside reaches it's boiling temperature, which is just a bit above room temperature. As the...
Curated OER
What is Matter?
Students investigate what matter is and how it changes states. In this physical properties lesson, students examine the vocabulary database and identify the characteristics of the three phases of matter. Students perform a...
Curated OER
Motion in Fluids
Learners explore physical science by participating in a science activity. In this liquids lesson plan, students discuss how fluids can be affected by motion unlike solids. Learners define other scientific vocabulary terms and conduct a...
Curated OER
Hot Gas Or Cold Gas Lab
Pupils engage in a lab project to study chemical reactions. They use guided questions to help facilitate the lab experience and come to the correct outcomes. The instructional activity does not contain a true understandable objective....
Curated OER
Emulsions
Students identify the characteristics and composition of emulsions. For this chemistry lesson, students classify household products according to emulsion type. They explain how to make the best emulsion.
Curated OER
Diving Raisins
Students participate in a mini lab to explore density. In this density lesson students view a demonstration and answer questions.
Curated OER
Energy and Matter
A review of a full unit on energy and matter, this slide show starts with basic definitions of states of matter and their mass. It then develops the ideas of the forces that that matter can exert. Details about bonding within matter and...
Curated OER
Designing a Flotation Strategy for the Purification of Recycling
Twelfth graders work in teams to design a method of recycled plastics purification by flotation. They base their design on the concept that different kinds of plastics have different densities and keep overall costs and purification time...
Curated OER
Sink or Swim
Students define density and explain how to determine the density of an object. Students participate in a demonstration that shows the differences in the densities of different liquids and how they affect the liquid's physical properties.
Curated OER
Separation Before Plastic Recycling
Young scholars participate in a demonstration to test the different densities of plastics, and suggest a method that plastic waste can be separated and collected.
Curated OER
Hitler's Lost Sub
Students watch a video clip about German submarines lost during World War II. They work together to create their own submarine out of a plastic bottle. They test the buoyancy of the submarine in different activities.
Curated OER
Determining Acids and Bases
Middle schoolers test various liquids and identify as acids or bases. In this chemistry and pH lesson plan, the students use purple cabbage indicator to test a variety of teacher-provided substances, then bring in liquids from home to...
Curated OER
Icebergs Ahead!
Students examine icebergs and how they are suspended in water, why ice floats, the melting process of an iceberg, and the floating behavior of ice compared to that of a cork through a lab activity.
Curated OER
Measuring Magnetic Field Strengths Using Ferrofluids
Students explore the field of nanotechnology by examining magnetic field strength in ferrofluids. They use probes attached to a computer program to determine the relationship between magnetic field strength and magnetic field lines.
Curated OER
Buoyant Force
Students investigate the scientific concept of why some objects float when put in a liquid solution. They apply the laws of motion and force while conducting classroom activities. Students also take notes and answer target questions to...
Curated OER
Determining Acids and Bases
Students use purple cabbage indicator to test five know substances for acidic/alkaline balance. They discuss the safety precautions required both inside and outside a lab in handling acids and bases.
Curated OER
Not a Drop to Drink
Students design an experiment to determine which liquid is water. In this chemistry lesson plan, students perform the experiment as outlined in their design. They record observation and formulate conclusion.
Curated OER
Convection and Wind
Learners use water, beakers, hot plates, paper dots, and goggles to participate in a hands on activity where they see how a convection current creates wind. In this convection current lesson plan, students participate in a hands on...
Curated OER
The Solar System: Why do we Explore?
Third graders act as scientists. In this property discovery lesson, 3rd graders explore the substance "Oobleck" (cornstarch, water, food coloring). They work in groups to investigate the substance and make observations as a scientist...
Curated OER
Physical Difference and Classification
Students use a microscope and observation skills to compare and contrast several physical properties and develop a classification system.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Layering Liquids
A lab activity to show students how different densities of liquid layer on top of each other by using four different colored liquids that contain different levels of salinity. This activity can also be used in an ocean unit where...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Density Column Lab Part 2
Concluding a two-part lab activity, students use triple balance beams and graduated cylinders to take measurements and calculate densities of several household liquids and compare them to the densities of irregularly shaped objects (as...
Chemistry Collective
Chem Collective: Identifying an Unknown Liquid From Its Density
In this activity, students use the virtual lab to design an experiment to determine the identity of mislabeled bottles using the densities of the solutions inside.