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Three States of Matter
Third graders investigate the three states of matter and the properties of materials as they undergo physical changes. They identify examples of each type of matter, role-play atoms in solids, liquids, and gases, and conduct an...
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Periodic Table of the Elements: Transition Metals
Students conduct an exothermic reaction to investigate the properties of a transition metal. In this periodic table lesson plan, students identify the transition elements and discuss their properties after watching a video. They conduct...
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Hot Cans and Cold Cans
Students investigate the physics of heating and cooling through conduction, convection, and radiation. Working in groups, they determine the best way to cool a can of water and warm a can of water. Temperature is taken at five minute...
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Let's Take a Rock Apart!
Students examine a crushed rock and sort the minerals they find in that rock by color and other properties.
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Kitchen Paraboloids
Students solve quadratic equations and identify functions. In this algebra lesson, students graph parabolas and identify properties describing the shape of the parabola. They find the vertex and rewrite the equation in standard form.
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States of Matter
Student explore states of matter. In this science lesson plan, students define matter, identify the states of matter, tell about the properties of each state of matter, and demonstrate an understanding of the difference between a...
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Have a Ball with Bernoulli II
Third graders explore the work of Daniel Bernoulli through experiment and background information. In this Bernoulli lesson plan, 3rd graders participate in air pressure experiments. Students record their observations of...
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The Tell-Tale Plume
High schoolers examine hydrothermal vents. In this ocean lesson, students identify changes in physical and chemical properties of sea water caused by hydrothermal vents.
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Warming by Freezing
Ninth graders discover the reasoning behind spraying water on fruit and seedlings in preparation for hard freezes. For this conceptual physics lesson, 9th graders conduct an experiment to measure the heat released when water goes from a...
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Fun With Adhesives
Students observe, measure, and record the properties in making objects stick together using science tools. In this science lesson plan, students explore with their senses while mixing flour and water. Additionally, students share their...
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Creating the Ideal Cargo Boat
Students build boats out of clay to test the buoyancy of the boat in water. Students break into pairs and construct their boat to specific guide lines, then experiment with their boat in the water.
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Floodplain Modeling
Young scholars simulate the impact of fluctuating river volumes on structures and landforms. They experiment with table top-sized riverbed models and water. Students consider how human design can help mitigate the effects of a flood.
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What is the Best Insulator: Air, Styrofoam, Foil, or Cotton?
Students investigate the properties of insulators by attempting to keep a cup of water from freezing, and once it is frozen, to keep it from melting. They conduct the experiment, record and analyze the results, and answer discussion...
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Snack Attack: Food Packaging Activity
Students design and create packaging material for food. For this snack attack lesson, students design a package to protect a food item from heat and water. Students consider costs of materials, design, and test the package to see if it...
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PV=nRT=Bang!
In this ideal gas law learning exercise, students watch a demonstration using liquid nitrogen, a plastic 2 liter bottle and a garbage can of water that excites students to use the ideal gas law to solve problems. Students analyze the...
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Volume of Gas
Eighth graders investigate the effect of temperature on the volume of a gas in a closed container. They measure the height of the water in their beaker/container, conduct their experiment, and create a graph to illustrate their data.
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Transition Metals (III)
High schoolers discuss transition metals, where they are located on the periodic table, some of the element in the group, and some characteristics of the group. They work in groups to conduct an experiment in which they mix transition...
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Periodic Table
High schoolers investigate the structure and development of the periodic table. In this periodic table lesson plan, students are given colored strips of paper that represent different atoms. They classify the atoms based on the paper's...
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Transition Metals (II)
Students discuss transition metals, their properties, and where they are located on the periodic table as well as why transition metals are ideal for coins. After discussion, they conduct an experiment using copper in the form of old...
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Aqua-Thrusters!
Students construct their own rocket-powered boat called an "aqua-thruster." These aqua-thrusters will be made from a film canister and will use carbon dioxide gas - produced from a chemical reaction between an antacid tablet and water -...
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Somethin' Sweet
Students make their own candy. In this science lesson plan, students observe how molecules interact with each other in physical changes and observe how the addition of heat can cause molecules to interact and form new molecules in...
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The Nature of Chemical Change: Acting Out an Example
Learners identify the signs that a chemical reaction took place. In this chemistry instructional activity, students role play the movement of different molecules of matter. They classify matter according to their properties.
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Navajo Pottery
In this Navajo pottery worksheet, students conduct an experiment using various samples of earthen material. Students are required to collect at least three samples of dirt. Students can make observations about the texture of the sample...
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Strange States of Matter
Fourth graders explore objects that do not fit into the categories given by three states of matter. They explore why an object doesn't fit perfectly into one of the three categories. Students observe the properties of Oobleck. They...