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Plate Tectonic - Volcanoes
Students watch and learn the different levels of "viscosity" in liquids to explain molten lava after viewing a video of a Hawaiian volcano.
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Survival Science: How Evaporation and Condensation Can Save Your Life!
Eighth graders demonstrate how scientific principles can be used to provide resources in an emergency situation. In this evaporation lesson students view a demonstration on a solar still and see a brief PowerPoint presentation.
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EGG-cellent POLYMER PACKAGING DESIGN
Learners investigate the concept of a polymer using an experimental design of protecting an egg in a bookbag. They test the properties of polymers and form an educated solution to the proposed problem. Then they describe the steps used...
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Melting Ice
Students observe the melting of ice and explore the basic physical changes that occur. They gain information of how different substances change the rate of melting. Students discuss the properties of water and ice, the definition of...
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Physical Principles in Living Systems
Seventh graders experiment with white light, plane mirrors, and curved mirrors in order to demonstrate the physical principles of living systems. In this physical principles lesson plan, 7th graders take 3 days to discover what happens...
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Reaction Rates and Catalysis in Ethanol Production
Students investigate alternative catalysts for the degradation of hydrogen peroxide. In this fermentation lesson students complete an activity that breaks down cellulose into sugar.
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Chemistry Unit on Compounds, Formulas, and Equations
Students perform a review assignment in 3 portions to review chemistry compounds, formulas, and equations. The assignment consists of several different portions that can be used as assessments. The majority of the lesson plan is composed...
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World Wide Winds
Students recognize that global winds move in specific directions in specific latitudes and describe that in a written form. They relate the motion of the wind belts to historical navigation.
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Winds Go Spinning Around
High schoolers simulate the Coriolis Effect to comprehend why winds in the Westerlies are prone to cyclonic and anti-cyclonic motion. They arrive at an explanation of processes that drive world wind patterns
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Tanker Spills
Students predict the flow of an oil spill and depict it on a map. They explain the predicted route of the oil spill using knowledge of ocean currents in a short presentation to their peers.
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A QUESTION
Young scholars engage in scientifically oriented questions. They give priority to evidence, draw conclusions/formulate explanations and connect/evaluate explanations with scientific knowledge. Students communicate and justify proposed...
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Elements and the Periodic Table
Students are introduced to the elements on the Periodic Table and what is meant by element. Using the Table, they identify the name, atomic mass, number and symbol of each element. To end the instructional activity, they discover the...
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Let the Sunshine in
Students collect and analyze data to study wavelengths of visible light. They cover Styrofoam cups with three different colors of sun filtering products and shine a lamp directly on the cups. They determine the most effective filtering...
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Static Electricity 4: Static Electricity and Lightning
Students explain concepts related to static electricity, based on a single example: lightning.
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Static Electricity 3: More About Static Electricity
Students reinforce the concept that static electricity is a phenomenon that involves positive and negative charges.
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Pyrotechnics for Pyromaniacs
Students explore how chemistry is associated with the annual celebration of America's independence. They learn what gunpowder is made of, the anatomy of a firework, how noise is made in fireworks and the safety issues.
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Stellar Fingerprints: the Spectra of Stars
Students explain how an element can be identified using emission spectra. They relate the emission spectrum of hydrogen to its absorption spectrum and identify hydrogen absorption lines in the spectrum of stars.
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Catch a Dream
Learners apply the concepts of air pressure, the Bernoulli Effect, and angle of attack to build their own model planes out of paper, plastic, wooden rods, and drinking straws.
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Crystals: Geometry and Groups
Learners discuss the importance of examining crystals and experiment growing them. In groups, they complete a project in which they use groups in geometry just like crystallographers. They practice solving the groups and proofs and...
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Causal Patterns in Density Phenomena
Students investigate the relationship between volume and mass in different liquids such as vegetable oil, rubbing alcohol and water. They measure the mass of several different volumes of each liquid and then graph the results as well as...
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Water 3: Melting and Freezing
Learners understand that most substances may exist as solids, liquids, or gases depending on the temperature, pressure, and nature of that substance. This knowledge is critical to understanding that water in our world is constantly...
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Toxicology and Living Systems
Young scholars investigate how toxic chemicals affect biological systems. They determine the toxic dose of a chemical that inhibits seed germination in a Brassica rapa. They investigate the effect of environmental tobacco smoke on human...
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Chemical Formulas and Naming
Students practice naming and writing formulas for simple chemicals. After a review of vocabulary, they create ion flash cards and discuss the rules for writing chemical compounds. They practice naming and writing the formulas based on...
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Effects of Acid Rain
Third graders explore the concept of acid rain and its effects on ecosystems. They are placed in groups and using a graphic organizer they brainstorm their ideas about what would happen to the ecosystems living within these environments...