Lesson Plan
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Simulating the Greenhouse Effect in a Terrarium

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify what factors effect global warming and how the greenhouse effect occurs.  In this environmental lesson students view videos then complete an experiment using a terrarium to observe greenhouse gas.
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Plant Nutrition and Nutrients

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe seeds growth and examine the different parts of the seedling. In this biology lesson, students compare the growth of seeds planted in soil and in hydroponics. They record their observations in their science journal and...
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Change It

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders expand their knowledge about how the physical properties of a substances can be changed. They are given multiple opportunities, using first-hand experiences and familiar objects in different contexts, to identify...
Lesson Plan
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Electromagnetic Radiation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the nature of electromagnetic spectrum through a series of experiments. For this physics lesson, students determine how light behaves under certain circumstances. They explain how humans perceive colors.
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The Miracle Fish: Learning to Design an Experiment

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students develop procedures to explore the behavior of fish.  For this scientific experiment lesson students from a hypothesis, write a question, identify different variables and controls in their experiment. 
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Waves

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the different parts of a wave. In this physics lesson, students explain how animals communicate using sound waves. They discuss the effect of Navy's sonar on dolphins and whales.
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Evaporation

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study the evaporation stage of the water cycle. In this water cycle lesson, students participate in an experiment to study the process of evaporation that uses jars and water. Students complete an observation worksheet for...
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Torque Me Off

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students investigate the lever and the mathematics associated with levers. They determine the conditions necessary to balance a system of forces around a fulcrum.
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How Much Energy is a Kilowatt Hour?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the conservation of energy.  In this energy instructional activity students explain the differences between potential and kinetic energy.
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Salinity in Mill Creek

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use water samples collected at three different locations of Utah's Mill Creek to test salinity of water, hypothesize about salinity levels at each location, record results, and discuss their findings with classmates. ...
Worksheet
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Gravity, Seasons, and Time

For Students 7th - 10th
In this Earth activity, students read about Earth's gravity, the reason the Earth has seasons, and time zones. Then students complete 21 multiple choice, 2 true or false, and 1 short answer question.
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Mixtures

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders experiment with mixtures. In this chemistry lesson, 6th graders determine which mixtures are considered heterogeneous, a suspension, a solution or a colloid. Students create a data sheet of what they discover.
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Magnetic Discovery Bottle

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine how to conduct simple investigations and use simple equipment to gather data.  For this magnet lesson students decide what types of objects are attracted to magnets. 
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Buoyant Force

For Teachers 10th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
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Project Geode

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students predict the appearance of a geode's internal structure based on its mass and density. They form a hypothesis based on the data they collect. They also identify common minerals found in Illinois.
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Lenses and Telescopes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine telescope construction. In this telescope lesson, students examine the lenses used in telescopes by exploring with convex and concave lenses.
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Why Are Cells So Small?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the relationship between cell surface area and the ability of materials to diffuse through a cell. They participate in an experiment in which they determine which materials diffuse easier than others. They complete...
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Chemical or Physical?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders make observations of the reactions that happens between calcium carbonate and various liquids. During the experiment the students determine if there is a chemical change, a physical reaction, or no reaction when they mix...
Lesson Plan
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Determining pH

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Young scholars evaluate pH levels through a solubility experiment. In this pH levels lesson, students list characteristics of acids and bases. Young scholars complete their own pH level experiment. Students go to the GEMS Alien Juice Bar...
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Reaction Rates

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students work in groups of 4-6 for the experiment/activity part of this exercise. They base their explanation on what they observed. Students observe how substances react chemically in characteristic ways with other substances to form...
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Get Down With Density

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students define density and observe that things that are less dense than water will float. Students find the density of copper, iron and aluminum
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Grating Spectrometer

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students calculate the Balmer series. In this physics lesson, students observe hydrogen lamp spectra using spectrometers. They calculate wavelength and compare them with their theoretical calculations.
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Attenuation of Light in Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore what happens to light intensity as depth increases using a light intensity logger. They construct a PVC model to hold water and identify what factors could influence the amount of light attenuation.
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Taking In The Heat

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students discover that different textured materials can absorb more heat than others. Students work with thermometers, clocks, and graphs.