Curated OER
Building A Sturdy Car
Students build a sturdy Lego car using a motor and a pulley. They determine how sturdy the car is by dropping it from the height of the teacher's knee.
Curated OER
Learning About Our Five Senses
Young scholars study the sense of touch and various degrees of heat. They design a model that displays how the human hand reacts to heat using a touch sensor.
Curated OER
From the Rise of the Absolute Monarchy to Democracy on the American Frontier
Students use a teacher-made museum guide with questions that allow them to analyze and compare the patron art of seventeenth-century France with portraits of later periods at the Joslyn Art Museum. Students also read The Little Prince...
Curated OER
Ice Core Research
Students study the work of Dr. Hajo Eicken through an audio conference. They engage in a conference call with Dr. Eicken to identify how ice core research is designed and conducted. After asking Dr. Eicken questions, they record their...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Matter's Physical Properties: Interactive Lesson
In this interactive lesson, learn what the "physical properties" of matter are and how can they be measured and observed.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Observing Physical and Cultural Landscapes
In this lesson, students examine photographs of Europe as they learn to distinguish between physical and cultural characteristics of a landscape, and make observations and inferences about the places and people in the photographs. They...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fifth Grade Science: Physical Science: Physical Properties of Matter
A module reviewing over the definition of a physical property and examples of the physical properties of matter. Module includes explanations, pictures, a video, and review questions.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Observing,describing, Measuring Changing Physical Prop: Making Ice Cream
Students will create an endothermic chemical reaction by making ice cream. They will observe, describe, and measure the ingredients. After making ice cream, students will measure the temperature of the ice cream and the ice/salt mixture....
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Recycling: Old Made New [Pdf]
Students will observe the physical properties of items through an activity where they sort objects for recycling. This lesson plan also includes a recycle papermaking process.
Other
Science4 Us: Observing Matter
Students begin to learn the words to describe matter correctly and accurately, learning important skills for communicating scientific information. They will also observe using their senses and scientific tools to measure numerical...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Crumbling Rocks: Observing and Describing Rocks
Introduce geological terminology used in describing rocks to young students by having them observe and describe something they are familiar with to help them observe and describe the physical characteristics of something unfamiliar like...
American Chemical Society
Middle School Chemistry: Lesson Plans: Surface Tension
Students observe and investigate why water has a strong surface tension.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: How Cold Can You Go?
Students explore materials engineering by modifying the material properties of water. Specifically, they use salt to lower the freezing point of water and test it by making ice cream. Using either a simple thermometer or a mechatronic...
American Association of Physics Teachers
Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Equatorial Coordinates Model
Using equatorial coordinates, observers will examine the position of a star over the course of the night sky in this simulation.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: A River Runs Through It
This two-month project requires a nearby stream or river to use for testing. Students use river monitoring equipment to conduct water tests, fish observation, insect identification and to collect data related to physical properties of...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mystery Powders: An Introduction to Physical and Chemical Properties
Students will complete various tests of five mystery powders to develop an understanding of physical and chemical properties. They will record their observations and develop hypotheses as to what they think each mystery powder is and...
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Stem Resources: Baggie Chemistry
Observe chemical and physical changes with this lab using everyday household items. Lab includes procedure and online data collection tool where answers can be saved and graded by teacher.
American Association of Physics Teachers
Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Doppler Effect Model
A simulation of the Doppler Effect, where a change in wave frequency can be observed from the reference frame of the wave source, an observer, or the medium.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fifth Grade Science: Physical Science: Separating Mixtures
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses how mixtures of solids can be separated based on observable properties of their parts such as particle size, shape, color, and magnetic attraction.
American Chemical Society
Middle School Chemistry: Lesson Plans: Using Chemical Change to Identify Unknown
Students observe reactions of liquids with different known powders in this lesson. Unknown powders are then identified using characteristic chemical changes.Site includes a procedure, teacher instructions, and video instruction.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Functional Feet: How Foot Structure Connects to Bird Survival
Students study and observe differences in the foot structure of various birds by studying pictures, and then observing the birds themselves. After observing birds in their natural habitat, students then relate the differences in foot...
Other
Who Zoo: Bongo Antelope
The Fort Worth Zoo provides a general overview of the Bongo Antelope. Content includes a focus on the antelope's physical description, behavior, and personal observations.
McREL International
Mc Rel: Glue Polymer (Whelmer #15 Learning Activity)
An easy to do activity that investigates the basic principles behind chemical bonding. The activity is written in lesson plan format that meets NSES standards.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Trends on the Periodic Table: Metals, Non Metals, and Metalloids
In this lab activity, students will be asked to observe and then test the physical and chemical properties of several different elements.