Curated OER
You Light Up My Life: Developing a Scientific Theory for What Fuels a Candle's Flame!
Students examine how candles work and how scientific theories are developed and tested. Students propose hypotheses about what is burning in a candle then perform tests in order to develop their scientific theory. After a teacher...
Curated OER
A Matter of State
Students explain that particle movement changes as a substance changes from one phase to another phase.
Virginia Department of Education
Soap, Slime, and Creative Chromatography
Do you think chromatography paper suffers from separation anxiety? Young chemists make soap, slime, silly putty, and experiment with chromatography in this lesson. The material includes clear instructions for each experiment along with...
Virginia Department of Education
Charles’ Law
Searching for a relatively interesting way to demonstrate Charles' Law? Here is a lesson in which pupils heat air inside a flask and then cool the flask to quickly cool the air. They make observations about what occurs during the...
Curated OER
11 - The Heat Is On
Students observe physical change of melting by observing substance in original state, melting substance, allowing substance to return to original temperature, determining if substance retained its original properties, and recording results.
Curated OER
Solid Water
Students turn solid water (ice) into liquid water. In this solid and liquid water lesson plan, students use water, ice, cups, and heat in order to change water from one state to another. They draw their findings as well.
Curated OER
The Interactive Periodic Table of the Elements
High schoolers study the different types of metals. In this investigative instructional activity students watch a demonstration on the effects of temperature on atoms and take a tour through baone matter.
Curated OER
The Effects of Temperature on Solids
Students explore the effects that extreme temperatures have on the material properties of solids. They investigate the properties of a material whose state depends on extreme temperatures and witness how it interacts with room...
Curated OER
Wipe Out
Learners examine the flow of water. They observe and test the properties of water by using sticks in flowing water. The lesson has streaming video, resource links to access, and a good hands-on activity that is clearly described in the...
NorthEast Ohio Geoscience Education Outreach
Density and Pressure of a Hot Air Balloon
Using a dry cleaner bag and a blow dryer, create a hot air balloon! The materials list suggests obtaining one dry cleaner bag per student, but since this is probably inconvenient, consider doing this as a demonstration during a lesson on...
Curated OER
Melting Ice is Hot Stuff!
Fourth graders determine the amount of energy required to melt ice using a calorimeter. They calculate the Molar Heat of Fusion of Ice.
Curated OER
Ice Cream: a Taste of Science!!
Students define the term solution. They explain conservation of energy and energy transfer as it relate to how the milk solution became ice cream. Students are able to explain freezing point depression.
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
T-Shirt Chromatography
Students study about chromatography, a process used to separate mixtures. They see that chromatography is used to detect, separate or purify different substances. This nice instructional activity results in a beautiful t-shirt for each...
Curated OER
Heating Curve Lab
Tenth graders examine the heating curve of water when head is added constantly over time. They input values into a calculator as they record water temperature every thirty seconds as it is heated on a hot plate. They complete the...
Curated OER
Survival Science: How Evaporation and Condensation Can Save Your Life!
Eighth graders demonstrate how scientific principles can be used to provide resources in an emergency situation. In this evaporation lesson students view a demonstration on a solar still and see a brief PowerPoint presentation.
Curated OER
Nuclear Reactions
In this nuclear reaction worksheet, students determine the missing particle from the reaction and then name that particle. This worksheet has 18 problems to solve.
Curated OER
Using Density to Identify Wood Types
Students identify different woods based on their density. In this density lesson plan, students use a triple beam balance to find the mass and a metric ruler for the volume. They look through various wood blocks and identify what type of...
Curated OER
Liquids and Solids
Students describe the properties of solids and liquids, and explain how a semiconductor works. In this atom lesson students demonstrate the bonding properties of carbon and silicon.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Freezing and Phase Change: How Do You Make Ice Cream?
Students will be expanding a study of phase changes after experiences with exploration of the three phases of matter. They apply what they have learned through freezing water and create a tasty ice cream treat.
American Chemical Society
Middle School Chemistry: Chapter 2: Changes of State
Five chemistry lessons about phase changes between the states of mattter complete with handouts and animations.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Exploring States of Matter Gases
In this series of chemistry labs, students learn about the three states of matter by observing how molecules contract or expand as they change state.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mystery Material: Is It a Solid or a Liquid?
Is it a solid or a liquid? In this activity, students will handle a mystery substance that has qualities of both a solid and a liquid while learning about phases. They will manipulate the substance, record any observations they...