Curated OER
Latex Helium Balloons: Any Alternatives?
Students discuss the latex balloon release controversy and review suggested alternatives to the latex balloon.
Curated OER
A Hair Raising Experience
Fifth graders conduct an investigation using glass, metal ,fur, latex balloon, plastic bag and hair to generate static electricity of varying amounts. They predict, observe, make comparisons, and draw conclusions about static electricity...
Curated OER
Fun Polymer Activity
Students add borax to a latex polymer and play with it to see the characteristics it now contains. In this polymer lesson plan, students see if it stretches, if it's durable, if the molecules break easily, and more.
Curated OER
What Is the Matter?
Students explore and identify phases of matter and compare the particle motion in solids, liquids, and gasses.
NOAA
Methane Hydrates – What's the Big Deal?
Have you ever tried to light ice on fire? With methane hydrate, you can do exactly that. The ice forms with methane inside so it looks like ice, but is able to burn. The lesson plan uses group research and a hands-on activity to help...
Curated OER
A Model of Three Faults - Part One
Students construct a fault model using the Fault Model Sheet imbedded in this plan. They create a 3 dimensional model of the Earth, and use dashed lines to illustrate where the fault lies. A discussion of faults follows the completion of...
Curated OER
Our Playground!
First graders observe and explore the playground's environment by walking around the playground, followed by a group discussion of what they observed. They then divide into groups and participate in centers, their brought back together...
DiscoverE
Launch It
Launch pupil interest in rockets. Scholars build rockets out of straws and balloons to learn about Newton's Third Law of Motion. Their task is to hit a target five feet away. It's not as easy as it seems!
LABScI
Circulation and Respiration: Vital Signs
What do your vital signs tell your doctor? An engaging hands-on lesson has your learners monitor their own lung capacity, blood pressure, and heart rate. They then connect the vital measures to the workings of the circulatory and...
Curated OER
Dissecting Owl Pellets
Students watch the teacher model the dissection then in pairs, they dissect an owl pellet and identify its contents. They record the data about its prey on a graph.
Virginia Department of Education
Modeling the Big Bang Theory
Young astronomers learn about the Big Bang Theory and redshift through a hands-on activity in the last installment of a three-part series. Participants draw dots on balloons and then inflate them to model how galaxies moved farther apart...
Adrian College
The Universe
Young scientists create a simulation of Hubble's law. Introducing the Big Bang Theory using balloons and a simple lab worksheet, scholars complete a data table and perform analysis.
NOAA
The Methane Circus
Step right up! An engaging research-centered lesson, the third in a series of six, has young archaeologists study the amazing animals of the Cambrian explosion. Working in groups, they profile a breathtaking and odd creature and learn...
NOAA
Animals of the Fire Ice
When the sun's rays can't reach the producers in a food web, where does all the energy come from? Extreme environments call for extreme food sources. Young scientists investigate creatures that appear to get their energy from methane...
Cornell University
Polymers: Making Silly Putty
Putty is proof that learning can be fun! Share the wonderful world of polymers with your class through an experiment. Young scientists create their own silly putty, then examine its properties.
Curated OER
Colds and Germs
Students determine how diseases are spread from one person to another. They investigate the importance of hand washing to reduce the spread of common colds and other diseases. They listen to teacher read alouds and complete an inquiry...
Curated OER
Homemade Barometer
To reinforce the action of air pressure, have your meteorology pupils construct a barometer. They place the barometer into a closed system, a miniature atmosphere if you will, and notice the movement of the needle on the homemade...
Curated OER
Environmental Concerns (1) Analysis of Lead in Paint (2) Analysis of Water
A scenario and background information are provided for two different open-ended experiments that experienced chemistry classes can perform toward the end of the school year. In the first, they design a method for testing flakes of paint...
Curated OER
Trapping CO2
Students investigate climate change and how the properties of carbon dioxide and methane play a part. In this climate activity students use a chemical reaction to trap CO2 and methane.
Curated OER
Surface to Volume Ratios
Students measure the rate of diffusion and to calculate the surface area to volume ratios of varying cell sizes. The lesson is very clearly organized with a useful student worksheet provided. They perform a lab experiment which is...
Curated OER
Back From the Future
Students pose as archaeologists, famous for their scholarly excavations, writing, and lectures about ancient cultures and are invited back to the 20thy century from the year 3000 to explore an archaeological sit, their classroom.
Curated OER
Color and Light Spectrum Demonstrations
Students explore the light spectrum. The teacher uses holographic diffraction grafting film on an overhead to demonstrate the true nature of color. After observing a vivid rainbow, students recognize that white light is composed of all...
Curated OER
Understanding pH, Alkalinity, and Hardness
High schoolers comprehend the interactions of pH, alkalinity, hardness, and carbon dioxide in aquaculture water. They read the SRAC fact sheet number 464 "Interactions of pH, Carbon Dioxide, Alkalintiy and Hardness in Fish Ponds." ...
Curated OER
Polymers: The Discovery
Students examine various polymers. In this polymers lesson, students perform three experiments with polymers to identify them and observe their interesting properties.