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Perimeter
Students study about perimeter and the units used to measure perimeter using a variety of materials including their hands, feet, rulers, and computer applets. They understand such attributes as length, area, weight, volume, and size of...
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Physical Changes and States of Matter
Fourth graders identify a physical change as one that results in a change in size, shape, or state of matter. After an initial teacher-led discussion and demonstration, groups of students get together to perform an experiment which...
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Water and Ice
Learners explore water and how it changes forms. In this investigative lesson students participate in an activity that shows them how water changes form and what it looks and feels like.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
DNA Extraction
What does your DNA actually look like? Use simple materials with this experiment to find out! Geneticists of all ages can follow these instructions to extract their own DNA. For learners who are hoping to extend the activity, there are...
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Demonstration of Ideal Gas Law
You know that liquid nitrogen turns into a gas at room temperature. Place some in a two-liter bottle for a physics demonstration of the ideal gas law. Beware, however; this is a dangerous demonstration! Not to mention that you may not...
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Matter, Matter, Everywhere!
Eighth graders make inquiry about the existence of matter. A definition of the word is needed before students can engage in various activities. The application of knowing about matter is done in the working of experiments.
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Ice Cream Lab
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Even high schoolers enjoy making ice cream. This laboratory exercise has them record the temperature changes throughout the process of liquid becoming solid, graph the results, and...
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Reading, Writing, and Math in Daily Living
Learners use reading, math, and writing skills to complete this activity in which they make chocolate chip cookies. This lesson seeks to tie real-life skills to classroom learning to make curriculum more meaningful. While this activity...
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Ice Cream in a Bag
Here is a good version of this classic chemistry activity. Learners are given a simple recipe for how to make home-made ice cream by putting all of the ingredients into a ziploc bag. Before doing the activity, I would recommend having a...
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Air, Air Everywhere! Lesson 2: Acid Rain
Middle school environmentalists record the pH of four different liquids, including two aerosol cleaning products. They liken the products to acid rain and speculate in writing which might affect the human respiratory system. Although...
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Water, Water Everywhere
Learners explore water. In this water cycle lesson, students conduct a scientific investigation that requires build a terrarium models of the earth. Learners record their observations of the changes regarding water in the terrarium.
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Water and Ice
Pupils explore the states of matter. In this physical science instructional activity, students observe what happens to water when it freezes and record observations. Pupils then observe ice when it melts and record observations.
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Water and Ice
Students explore water and ice. In this 3 states of matter lesson, students work with a partner to observe, illustrate, and describe the characteristics of an ice cube in a cup. The ice cube is observed again in 15 minutes and changes...
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Activity #6 'Nothing' Matters: A Demonstration
Learners observe the 'pouring' of a gas. They compare the masses (weights) and densities of two gases. Pupils define the following terms: matter, mass, and density. Students answer questions after watching the demonstration.
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Three Clouds Activity
Learners explore how clouds are produced through three different age-appropriate hands-on experiments.
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Matter
Young scholars complete a unit of activities to learn about states of matter and how to measure matter. In this matter lesson, students complete 8 lessons to learn about matter, its states, and how to measure matter.
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2nd Grade Physical Sciences
Second graders complete activities to measure motion and learn about the Earth's history. In this motion and Earth history lesson, 2nd graders discuss sound and complete a matching sound activity. Students then study the history of Earth...
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Warming by Freezing
Ninth graders discover the reasoning behind spraying water on fruit and seedlings in preparation for hard freezes. In this conceptual physics lesson, 9th graders conduct an experiment to measure the heat released when water goes from a...
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Experimentation With Plants
Fourth graders experiment with different varieties of plants and draw conclusions after performing a series of lab activities. A very helpful student worksheet is given. This is a nicely done introductory lesson for life science.
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Phase Change
Learners compare the freezing temperature of two substances by conducting an experiment to freeze liquid ice cream. They vary the amount of salt used in the ice cubes during the freezing procedure to determine the change in the...
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Beverage Tests
Students investigate the pH of a liquid. In this middle school mathematics/science lesson, students collect and analyze data regarding the pH of various liquids. Students display their data in various types of graphs as they...
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Chemquest: Physical Changes or Chemical Reactions
Students explore physical and chemical changes. In this chemistry lesson plan, students will go outside to observe changes seen in nature. Students will then work in the lab to identify changes at different stations prior to doing a...
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Rising Water!
Students observe water change from a liquid to a gas state when heated and then return to its liquid stage when cooled. They learn that gas molecules move faster than liquid molecules. They discover physical properties that describe how...
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Bubble Festival
Students practice scientific inquiry while learning about bubbles. In this instructional activity about bubbles, students explore characteristics of bubbles. Students move through nine different "bubble" stations following directions and...