Curated OER
Heavy Ice: Day Five
Students explore physics by conducting a class experiment. In this density lesson, students examine a list of items and discuss whether they will sink or float and then determine their density. Students examine the objects over five days...
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Water and Ice
Students observe what happens to water as it goes from a solid to a liquid. In this exploratory lesson students gain an understanding for the water cycle while working in groups observing what happens to water as it changes state.
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Sink It
Introduce your class to the concept of sinking and floating. In groups, they classify objects after making predictions about which materials will sink or float. They record their results and create graphs and charts to share with the class.
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Volumw Measurement, English System
Eighth graders biew each volume container and discuss where they have seen them in their home, and how they have seen them used. They explore the different names of volume sizes and their equivalents towards one another. Students...
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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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It Matters
Learners use descriptive vocabulary to discuss the attributes of matter. Then, they sort objects or pictures by the type of matter they are comprised of. Finally, students match objects of matter with similar attributes and create a...
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Activity #6 'Nothing' Matters: A Demonstration
Students 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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Float or Sink?
Students examine why some objects float while others do not. They place various objects in water to observe their floating capability. Students record the object, its weight, and if the object floated. They construct a graph plotting...
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Regular Coke versus Diet Coke, Which is Denser?
Students investigate the density of liquids. In this geometry lesson, students calculate the volume and differentiate between volume, mass and density. They observe similarity and differences between coke and diet coke.
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Density Columns
Eighth graders create solutions with 5 different densities. In this chemistry instructional activity, 8th graders analyze the density of solutions stacked on top of each other. They document their data through graphing. This assignment...
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Fundamentals of Matter
Seventh graders explore the the constituents and properties of matter. They use the scientific process while exploring solids, liquids, gases, the mass, volume and density of matter. Students plan and conduct an investigation to measure...
Cornell University
Buoyancy
Swimmers know to float by turning their bodies horizontally rather than vertically, but why does that make a difference? In an interesting lesson, scholars explore buoyancy and the properties of air and water. They test cups to see which...
Virginia Department of Education
The Particle Theory of Matter
Demonstrate the particle theory of matter to high school scientists with an engaging experiment that allows them to visually see the results as substances change from one state to another. The class concludes with a discussion about how...
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Water and Ice
Students explore the states of matter. For this physical science lesson, students observe what happens to water when it freezes and record observations. Students then observe ice when it melts and record observations.
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Measuring Magnetic Field Strengths Using Ferrofluids
High schoolers explore the field of nanotechnology by examining magnetic field strength in ferrofluids. They use probes attached to a computer program to determine the relationship between magnetic field strength and magnetic field lines.
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Chemistry: The Case of the Sunken Ice Cube
Students examine a density demonstration involving ice cubes and beakers of water and alcohol. After observing how one ice cube floats in water and sinks in alcohol, they determine which mixture of the two would suspend the ice cube in...
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Helium Balloon Race
Students determine the force of a helium balloon that allows it to rise a specific distance. In this helium instructional activity students calculate the amount of paper needed to construct a weight and determine the density of a piece...
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What's In Crude Oil?
Students investigate crude oil. In this crude oil lesson, students investigate fractional distillation and use this technique to separate two liquids.
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Buoyant Force
Students investigate the scientific concept of why some objects float when put in a liquid solution. They apply the laws of motion and force while conducting classroom activities. Students also take notes and answer target questions to...
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Test Tube and Water
Students convert measurements from one unit to another. In this technology lesson plan, students create their own test tubes using a computer program. They calculate mass based on density information.
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Wet Weather, Wet Climate
Young scholars discover the differences between weather and climate in this long-term lesson introduction. They create rain gauges and practice reading rainfall measurements, view a website showing the cloud cover in their location and...
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Designing a Flotation Strategy for the Purification of Recycling
Twelfth graders work in teams to design a method of recycled plastics purification by flotation. They base their design on the concept that different kinds of plastics have different densities and keep overall costs and purification time...
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Water Olympics
A fascinating and engaging lesson on the properties of water awaits you. In it, learners engage in four activities that are designed to teach about the properties of water. This exciting plan has worksheets embedded in it which make the...
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Ships 2: What Floats Your Boat?
Students design, build, and test the specifications (water displacement and load line) for a model boat. The lesson focuses especially on integrating design principles with inquiry-based experimental skills.