Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solubility and Chemical Changes in Groundwater

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students test pH of water before and after it travels through different substrates (igneous pebbles and limestone) to detemine how soluble materials can affect groundwater. They answer questions such as: What happended to the pH of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dishing the Dirt Part 3

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students collect and examine different soil samples. They test for specific types of soil elements and the pH level. They answer questions about optimum growing conditions as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality Monitoring

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the water quality of a stream in their area, by measuring the temperature, pH, alkalinity and conductivity. They integrate biology with earth science when using the microscope to study the living organisms in the water.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring Water Quality

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers are introduced to the various methods of measuring water quality. In groups, they test various water samples using the different methods, writing them down for pH, oxygen, salinity, and nitrate levels. They use their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Acid Rain Keeps Falling on My Head

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine the pH level of rain water in their local community. They locate each location on a map. They analyze the data and draw conclusions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Is In The Cup?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils investigate the mixtures of solutions. They utilize cups filled with bases and acids. Students test and determine the pH of each cup. The multiple cups are compared to each other in order to chart acids and bases according to pH...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Self Directed Inquiry into the Identification of Unknowns

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners gain experience in designing an experiment and use logic in selecting specific tests for unknowns. Students recognize the use of spreadsheets in helping one to make clear comparisons.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Your Water Clean?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners conduct tests of water samples from different sources, such as a local river, tap water, and an irrigation ditch. After determining which pollutants are present in each sample, students hypothesize the possible sources of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Drink or not to Drink

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders discuss water quality, water availability and water resources and how water is used in the world around them. They view a video on water quality then test for pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen to indicate water quality.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Quality

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine the YSI and the water properties that it measures. They identify the different properties of water pH, DO, temperature, turbidity, and salinity and determine why it is important for them to test these parameters.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Yogurt Production

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students work together to complete an experiment making yogurt. They test different temperatures and different amount of ingredients. They record and analyze their data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Acid Rain

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the causes and effects of acid rain. Using the internet, they research pollution sources in their local area and by collecting rain samples and testing the pH. In groups, they develop their own plan urging local...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Growing Plants with Worm Castings

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students test worm castings for content and use them to grow seeds. They hypothesize which castings best sustain seed growth. They observe growing plants to test their hypotheses. Later they graph their data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Analyze the Results

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Pupils conduct water tests and sample macroinvertebrates from a nearby source to make a general determination about the overall quality of water. They use worksheets and analyze data as part of a larger unit.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Underwater Picture of the Hudson River Estuary

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars identify important aspects of water quality such as slainity and turbidity. They test two of the water quality parameters and determine the quality of the water. In addition, they construct two sets of graphs based on data...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Block & Tackle

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners participate in a lab experiment in which they discover the need for so many blocks and tackles on sailing ships. In groups, they make and test their predictions and practice measuring objects in various units. They record and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Technology as a Tool of Science

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars monitor streams, take stream surveys, collect chemical and macro-invertebrate and stream discharge data. Using a digital camera, students observe the percentage of various types of vegetation on the flood plan, riparian...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Acid Precipitation

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students test the acidity of unknown solutions. They use this information to make inferences from data given from recorded rainfall records to identify areas that receive the most acid rain.
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Vapor Pressure and Colligative Properties

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Hate to vacuum, but enjoy using a vacuum pump? Explore a instructional activity that starts with a demonstration of boiling water at various temperatures by using a vacuum pump. Then scholars design their own experiments to measure vapor...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

States of Matter

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Scientists have been studying exothermic reactions before they were cool. The lesson begins with a discussion and a demonstration of heat curves. Scholars then determine the heat of fusion of ice and the heat needed to...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Moles Lab Activities

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Want my name and number? It's 6.0221415 times 10 to the 23rd, and my name is Avogadro. Providing nine different activities, experiments, and labs, this lesson keeps Avogadro relevant to your class all year long. 
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Finding the Formula and Percent Composition

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Do you have mole problems? If so, call Avogadro at 602-2140. The lesson starts with pupils working independently to solve for molar mass of ionic compounds. Then they learn to solve for percent composition and later perform an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Take a Dip: The Water in our Lives

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students collect water samples from local freshwater sources and test for pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, macroinvertebrates, phosphates, and coliform bacteria in order to determine water quality for each source.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Examine an Ecosystem

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pupils examine an ecosystem and record what they see.  For this ecosystem lesson students use a worksheet to help them identify the organisms in their ecosystem.