Curated OER
Forms of Energy
Fifth graders brainstorm what forms of energy are used in an energy bike listing them on the board with the description placed beside each form for reference. They work in pairs to diagram the energy transformations that occurred while...
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Isomers and Polymers
Young scholars create models of structural isomers, geometric isomers, and polymers. In this chemistry lesson, students are given definitions and molecular model kits to create a variety of different isomers and polymers.
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Polar Energy
Students define and read an article on polar energy. In this polar energy lesson, students answer questions about the article. Students participate in activities related to isotopes, half-life and radiocarbon. Students...
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Space: Our Star, the Sun, and Its Friends, the Planets
Students examine the solar system. In this space lesson, students identify the order of the planets and their relative size to the sun. Students create a scale model of our solar system using a variety of household objects.
NASA
Stellar Fingerprints and Doppler Red Shifts
Young scientists observe the spectra of elements and compare that to the Doppler effect. Hook scholars from the beginning all the way to the extension activities in this 5E-format lesson.
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Molecular Models Laboratory
Young scholars use models to visualize molecular structures. Students read about Lewis dot structures, hybridization, and formal charge. Then young scholars build and draw the molecules and ions given. Students complete 11 pre-lab...
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Molecular Modeling Activity
Students work together to explain the VSEPR theory and how it relates to molecules. They name electron pairs that can surround the central atom of an organism. They discuss the factors that determine the polarity of a molecule as well.
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How Are The Properties of Covalent Compounds Influenced By Chemical Bonding?
Students work together to observe the bond lengths of single, double and triple bonds. They make their own predictions about the strength of the bonds and chemical reactions. They answer discussion questions to complete the lesson.
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Atomic Structure - Drawing Atoms
Learners draw the model for each of their atoms on Microsoft Word. They go to the internet and search other pertinent information about their atoms. They place this information and their drawings on a PowerPoint presentation to present...
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Creating Biodiesel and Mitigating Waste
Biotechnology pros produce their own biofuel using waste oil and fresh vegetable oil. They test the quality of their product using titration techniques and pH analysis. They write their observations and report their findings. Be aware...
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Balancing Chemical Equations
Ninth graders explain how atoms and molecules form different substances during chemical reactions and how these processes require losing, gaining or sharing electrons. They correctly write chemical formulas and show how a balanced...
Santa Monica College
Lewis Structures and Molecular Shapes
Learners practice drawing Lewis dot structures, build molecules with model kits, and predict molecular shapes using VSEPR theory. The combination of written work and hands-on reinforcement benefits young scientists.
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Gases and Plasmas
Young scholars determine what plasma is and why the sun is made up of plasma. They recognize situations where plasmas are found in nature and made by man. They discuss why the sun is a huge ball of plasma and if there are different...
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A Helthy Diet
Students examine their eating habits and experience analyzing data and drawing conclusions. They construct models of the molecular backbone of saturated and unsaturated fats. In addition, they examine the labels of their food, record...
Virginia Department of Education
Elements and Electron Configuration
It's electronic! Pupils uncover elements and their electron configurations as they explore mass, groupings, correct charges, and sliding theory. Young scientists learn creative ways to remember various elements and correctly...
Curated OER
Earth's Age: The Dating Game
Learners conduct a simulation to determine radioactive decay and half-life. Using pennies, dice or sugar cubes as isotopes placed in shoe boxes simulating rocks, they hold five trials representing 1000 years each to find the theoretical...
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The Spectrum of a Star
Tenth graders identify stars based on their line spectra. In this astronomy activity, 10th graders analyze spectrograph and determine the elements present in the star. They explain the relationship between temperature and star classes.
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Physicists or Philosophers?
Trace the sequential process of the developing theories of atomic structure in the early 20th century, show, in historical development, how scientists "know" things, how experiments are set up and how interpretations are drawn from them,...
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Isotopes and Ions
Students examine the concepts of isotopes and atoms. For this powerpoint lesson, students see the balance in numbers of protons, neutrons, and electrons create isotopes and ions of certain atoms.
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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...
Curated OER
Crystals: What Are They and What Holds Them Together
Students are introduced to the characteristics of crystals and what keeps them together. Using the Periodic Table, they examine the various elements and develop a model of an atom. In groups, they place sugar and salt in petri dishes...
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The Physical Setting
Pupils study atoms and their protons and neutrons. In this physical setting lesson students work together to complete a lab activity.
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Classifying Matter Game
Learners identify the different states of matter. In this chemistry lesson, students differentiate the physical properties of the three states. They apply what they learned by playing a team game at the end of the lesson.
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Discovering the Structure of the Atom
Students investigate atomic and nuclear structure of matter by researching historical atomic theories. Students examine Rutherford's studies and discover that many scientific conclusions change over time as new data is collected.