Activity
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Biodiversity and Evolutionary Trees

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Compare what shells look like on the outside with what makes that happen on the inside. Scholars begin by sorting an various seashells by their physical characteristics into phylogenetic trees. They then conduct a DNA comparison of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Roller Coasters

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Twisting and turning through the sky, roller coasters are popular attractions at amusement parks around the world, but how exactly do they work? Explore the physics behind these thrilling rides with an engineering design activity....
Lab Resource
Colorado State University

How Can You Demonstrate the Different Efficiencies of Different Light Bulbs?

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Need a bright idea for an engaging lab? Watch your class light up as they explore the difference in efficiency between incandescent and LED bulbs! The resource makes use of simple materials and encourages learners to infer what's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Human Body Lessons

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners read "The Magic School Bus in the Human Body" and discuss the importance of maintaining a healthy body. They create a hinge and joint paper skeleton, follow the journey of a hamburger through the digestive tract, jump rope and...
Unit Plan
Department for Children, Schools and Families

Explaining Change Processes Using a Simple Particle Model of Matter

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
The more things change, the more they stay the same. This unit includes seven lessons starting with physical change and moving through to chemical change. Conservation of matter is explained clearly with multiple hands-on activities and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sciences Working Together

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research articles about science technology and society. In this science and technology lesson, students answer questions about an article they chose. They share what they learned with their peers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners study God's plan and how it works in the universe. This is a religious lesson plan where pupils divide into groups. Each person is assigned a job within the group, such as researcher, visual presenter, oral presenter, or writer....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering the Physical Geography of Washington

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students develop a mental map of the state of Washington and draw it on paper. Using the Virtual Atlas, they identify the physical features of the state and draw them on their map. They also examine the populations and diversity of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physical Changes of Matter

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students solve a mystery using evidence gathered during a science investigation.  In this physical changes lesson, students analyze a note written in marker to determine the physical changes the ink from the pen underwent....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hidden Science in Colonial Living

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders evaluate evidence that indicates a physical change has occurred. In this colonial living lesson plan, 5th graders explore the science involved in the making of items used in colonial life, such as, bread, butter, soap,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Temperature and Pressure

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers conduct an experiment to determine the relationship between pressure and temperature. In this physical science lesson, students collect data and graph them. They compare the results of Celsius and Fahrenheit...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physical and Chemical Changes in Matter

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students investigate chemical and physical changes. In this chemical and physical changes lesson plan, students distinguish between a chemical and physical change when observing baking bread and hot dogs and bagels cooking on a grill....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physical and Chemical Changes

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students examine the different changes in matter.  In this chemical change lesson students determine the amount of reactant made in a reaction using the law of conservation. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Calibrating a Thermometer

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students calibrate an alcohol thermometer using the boiling and freezing point of water. In this physical science lesson, students explain what happens to boiling point of water as altitude increases. They calculate their experimental...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Matter and Energy

For Teachers K - 5th
Students investigate the effects of air pressure on humans by utilizing the Internet.  In this physical science lesson, students research the Internet to discover altitude sickness and air pressure.  Students prepare against...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Motion in Fluids

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars explore physical science by participating in a science activity. In this liquids lesson, students discuss how fluids can be affected by motion unlike solids. Young scholars define other scientific vocabulary terms and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Surface Friction and Wear Characteristics of Common Materials

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars identify the factors affecting friction. In this physics lesson, students construct their own rocket car and race them. They graph the average speeds and discuss how lubricants affect friction between rubbing surfaces.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Density

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students determine the density of different substances. In this physical science lesson, students rank them according to their density. They discover the relationship between volume and density.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

States of Water

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students investigate the 3 states of matter. For this physical science "matter" lesson, students observe and participate in a number of demonstrations involving melting and freezing water. Students observe the effect heat has on changing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Concrete Research

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners explore concrete. In this physical science and computer research lesson, students work in groups to answer specific  questions about concrete. Each group of learners completes a different worksheet with a specific subtopic....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soapy Solids

For Teachers K - 4th
Students observe and explain how a change in temperature causes a physical change in a substance.  In this physical science lesson, students use a soap making kit to observe the effects of adding heat to the bar soap as they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gravity Launch

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Learners examine how gravity affects launching rockets into space. In this physical science lesson, students review the concept of gravity and use an interactive online site, "Gravity Launch," to simulate a rocket launch.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Properties of Water with a Splash of Color

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars explore the properties of water. In this cross curriculum art and physical science lesson plan, students experiment with a variety of materials to demonstrate the cohesive forces and adhesion of water. Young scholars...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hot and Cold Colors

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine how temperature effects changes in materials. In this physical science lesson, students use food coloring and cups of water of varying temperatures to observe the effects temperature has on matter. Students predict and...