Curated OER
Effects of the Southern Pacific Railroad Causeway
Fifth graders describe the appearance of a substance before and after a physical change. They re-create the Southern Pacific Railroad Causeway across the Great Salt Lake. They determine for themselves how the water is exchanged...
Curated OER
Energy and Matter
A review of a full unit on energy and matter, this slide show starts with basic definitions of states of matter and their mass. It then develops the ideas of the forces that that matter can exert. Details about bonding within matter and...
Foundation for Water & Energy Education
What is the Water Cycle? Activity B
Curious physical scientists follow a lesson on the properties of water with this lesson on distillation. They observe a miniature water cycle model that filters dirty water into clean water. These two lessons combined are an enriching...
Curated OER
Melting Ice
Students observe the melting of ice and explore the basic physical changes that occur. They gain information of how different substances change the rate of melting. Students discuss the properties of water and ice, the definition of...
Curated OER
Thesis Statements
At 32 slides, one would think this presentation on thesis statements is a bit too long, but it is the most important component of a well-written essay! Help your developing writers craft concise, interesting theses with this PowerPoint....
Colorado State University
Why Do Clouds Form in the Afternoon?
The stability of the atmosphere changes on a daily basis. A kinesthetic lesson models how the stability of the air changes as it's warmed by the sun. Learners connect their models to the changing air currents and movement of warm and...
Colorado State University
If Hot Air Rises, Why Is it Cold in the Mountains?
Investigate the relationship between temperature and pressure. Learners change the pressure of a sample of air and monitor its temperature. They learn that as air decreases its pressure, its thermal energy converts to kinetic energy.
Colorado State University
How Can Clouds Keep the Air Warmer?
Condensing water warms the air around it. Young scholars consider this concept as they experiment with air temperature around evaporating and condensing water vapor. They simulate the formation of clouds to experience the associated...
Curated OER
Water in the Atmosphere
A slide show serves as the backdrop for a lesson on the moisture in Earth's atmosphere. Through it, mini meteorologists learn about the attributes of the atmosphere and actually use data-collecting weather tools to make observations and...
Colorado State University
If You Can't Predict the Weather, How Can You Predict the Climate?
Why is the weather man wrong so often? Young climatologists discover how chaos rules both weather and climate through a math-based activity. Using an iterative equation, the class examines how small day-to-day weather events total up to...
Colorado State University
Can Energy Be Created or Destroyed?
Energy doesn't come out of nowhere! An engaging lesson has learners investigate energy as it transforms from one type to another. They collect data to prove that energy is not lost as it changes.
Curated OER
Constancy and Change
Second graders identify three forms of matter- solids, liquids, and gases with 100% accuracy. They observe what happens when they try to put two kinds of matter into the same space and conclude that solids, liquids, and gases occupy space.
Curated OER
Wheelchair Obstacle Course
Learners complete an obstacle course while in a wheelchair in order to increase disabilities awareness.
Curated OER
Survivor!
Students play a game in physical education class to examine how a deer survives. Using nature as a guide, they discover how it is constantly changing due to weather, food, water, pollution and predators. They discuss the characteristics...
Curated OER
Drought Threatens Huge Man-Made Lake
Students locate Lake Mead, then read a news article about Lake Mead drying up and how that would effect water and power supplies to the region. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a map and vocabulary...
Curated OER
The Structure of Matter and the Chemical Elements
In this chemistry worksheet, students answer 73 fill in the blanks and multiple choice questions on the structure of matter and properties of elements in the periodic table.
Curated OER
Nuclear Reactions: Fission and Fusion
These nicely designed slides work through the processes of nucelar fission and fusion with very clear, labeled diagrams that almost act as animations when you progress from slide to slide. Facts behind the process are summarized well....
Curated OER
Migration Activation
Students play the role of migrating birds. As a class, they simulate a migration of birds to one place and back again. They relate their habitat size and changes to their current population numbers. They discover the many dangers of...
Curated OER
Making Ice Cream
Student examine the physical changes of matter and are able to describe them. They make ice cream in plastic bags to observe the changes in matter. They describe and record the changes in the ice cream mixture as it freezes.
Curated OER
Teaching Human Sexuality in the Social Studies Classroom
Ninth graders examine the social problem of teenage mothers. In groups, they examine the consequences of a teenage pregnancy and how it can be considered a breakdown in family structure. They discuss the physical changes during...
Curated OER
Matter
Young scholars complete a unit of activities to learn about states of matter and how to measure matter. In this matter lesson, students complete 8 lessons to learn about matter, its states, and how to measure matter.
Curated OER
Resources - A Reading Guide
In this resources activity, students compare and contrast physical and chemical properties and changes. Students review the periodic table, pattern of atomic numbers and chemical reactivity. This activity has 56 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Changes in the Community
Young scholars research the history of the ethnic diversity of Ohio when exploring the changes in the community. They analyze the history of Native Americans in the region as well. The role of school is analyzed as well within this lesson.
Curated OER
As a Matter of Fact...
In this science instructional activity, students keep a running list of everything surrounding them that is matter and then categorize each item by listing what state of matter each one is in.