Activity
Exploratorium

Salty Pits

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Yuck, does my deodorant kill that? To test whether deodorant is anti-bacterial, class members use petri dishes to grow control bacteria and bacteria from sweat, and then compare them to see if deodorant effects the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Google Earth Geology Field Trip

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Students take a virtual field trip around California using Google Earth. In this geology field trip lesson, students explore landforms and a variety of rocks located in California.  Students compare environments where rocks are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Air a Fluid?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discuss the physical properties of fluids and then demonstrate that air carbon dioxide and oxygen) is a fluid by creating currents.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Math of Light

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Investigate light intensity, illuminance, and power consumption of different light source.Compare the efficiency of light bulbs then create a persuasive advertisement about it.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coil Pots

For Teachers 1st - 8th
Children learn by doing. Here, they discuss cultural uses of containers, coil and slab techniques, functional aesthetics, and the principles of art and design. The entire process for making a coil pot is fully described here to make the...
Handout
Penn Museum

Maya Ball

For Students 5th - 8th Standards
Sure the ancient Mayan civilization had an advanced calendar and mathematical system, but did you know that they also played a great team sport like basketball? Invite your learners to discover the great ballcourt at Chichen Itza and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify and define evaporation, condensation, precipitation and also, how these interact to complete the water cycle. They identify that water moves in a contimuous cycle, which is powered by the sun. Finally, students name...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Not Just For A Baby's Bottom

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate the presence of talc in the geologic record. The different characteristics of talc is covered. The lesson includes background information for the teacher.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Miracle Fish: Learning to Design an Experiment

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students develop procedures to explore the behavior of fish.  For this scientific experiment lesson students from a hypothesis, write a question, identify different variables and controls in their experiment. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vibrant Volcanoes

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore volcanoes. In this science lesson, students discuss the characteristics of volcanoes and view a video segment about a volcano. Students examine plate tectonics.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science Detectives

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine the differences between chemical and physical changes. As a class, they are read a scenerio and determine whether it was deliberate act or not. In groups, they observe the changes of an alka-seltzer tablet and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Check Out Lights and Shields with Beads

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore Ultraviolet detecting beads and conduct several investigations with them.  In this investigative instructional activity students participate in an experiment to see the harmful effects of UV light and discuss their...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

What Burns When a Candle Burns? an Introduction to Using the Scientific Method

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers use the scientific method to discover the role of a candle's wick and how radiation allows candle wax to change from solid to liquid to gas. They work in small groups to use the steps of the scientific method approach in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Convection Currents

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine how differences in the temperature and salinity of the water help create ocean currents. They perform an experiment which shows how temperature affects the circulation of ocean water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Boom and Fizz

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the differences between a physical and chemical change. They observe various demonstrations involving physical or chemical changes, make predictions, and record what they see, hear, and smell.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Back to the Past

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students label fossil imprints. In this Geology lesson, students view fossil imprints of several items. Students explain what a fossil is.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Crystal Growing

For Teachers 1st - 9th
Students grow crystals and document their observations by recording timeing and growth. Additional characteristics of crystals are observed under a black light, by growing under different conditions and mineral content is determined.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Sweet Drink

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students investigate reaction rates.  In this seventh or eighth grade mathematics lesson, students collect, record, and analyze data regarding how the temperature of water affects the dissolving time of a sugar cube. Studetns...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ziplock Chemistry

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate various chemical reactions when creating mixtures in ziplock baggies. In this chemistry lesson, students will recognize various chemical reactions and cite evidence. Safety and assessment strategies are included in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing States: Does it Matter

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students participate in experiments to visualize the differences between chemical and physical changes. They attempt to detect the five characteristics of a chemical change.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Hot Is Hot In Namib?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research and demonstrate the temperatures of the Namibian Desert. They watch and discuss a video, conduct an experiment to demonstrate the desert temperatures, record their results in the form of a graph, and compare/contrast...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Skin Temperature

For Students 9th - 12th
In this skin temperature worksheet, students read about the temperature of the core and the skin of the human body. They answer four critical thinking questions about regulating body temperature.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mystery Powders

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders evaluate the physical properties of 5 powders. Each powder is subject to different conditions. They describe each observation as with a chemical change or a physical change.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analysis of Atmospheric Conditions for a High Mountain Retreat

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the relationship between altitude, atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity at a particular location. They practice science and math in real world applications. They write reports detailing their scientific...