Lesson Plan
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Indoor Air Quality

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students make a work puzzle using air quality vocabulary. In this air quality vocabulary lesson, students design a word puzzle using a teacher designated number of vocabulary words. They peer edit the puzzles with their classmates.
Lesson Plan
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Understanding the Indoor Environment: Word Walls

For Teachers K - Higher Ed
Students study vocabulary words about indoor air quality. In this indoor environment lesson, students create a word wall with vocabulary words about indoor air quality and pollutants.
Lesson Plan
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Conserving Energy Resources

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders research on energy conversion. After they have researched several types of energy resources, teams of two to four create posters which depict how these resources can be conserved.
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Balance, Rhythmns and Stomp Rockets

For Teachers All
Students practice stepping and jumping, using specified foot action, in rhythm. In groups, they practice jumping onto stomp rocket launchers and demonstrate how to increase the distance by raising the angle of the launcher. After each...
Lesson Plan
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Matter & Subatomic Particles

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders divide into small groups to construct several models. Each group builds with an accompanying chart showing the colors of gumdrops used for the protons, electrons, and neutrons.)
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Catapults!

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students work together to discover the relationship between the angle of catapults and the flight of different objects. They discover the heavier the object the more force is needed. They examine how engineers use this information to...
Lesson Plan
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Looking Blue

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars participate in a research project that is exclusively using the internet. The author states that traditional labs are hard to conduct for a light lab. This one uses the internet with the intention that students can...
Lesson Plan
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Properties of Matter: "Sink or Swim"

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders recognize that different materials have different properties which can be observed such as texture and bouyancy, and compare and contrast, through observation, ability of some objects to float because of action of...
Lesson Plan
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Transformations of Energy

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders investigate the relationship between energy and matter, and measure the mass of various objects. They listen to a teacher-led lecture about potential energy, and in small groups measure the mass of various objects such...
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Combustion Reactions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students write a balanced chemical reaction. They articulate how burning fossil fuels increase the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Students incorporate all the environmental risks involved as well.
Lesson Plan
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To Spread or Not to Spread

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore the difference between the three types of contrails. In this contrails instructional activity, students make observations of contrails and record them. Students identify the three types of contrails and complete an...
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Current Thinking About Magnets

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students construct their own magnet and wire device. In this inquiry instructional activity, students investigate the factors affecting the strength of magnetic forces. They manipulate different variable to determine their effect.
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Using Mathematic Models to Investigate Planitary Habitablity

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students examine how the sun's intensity affects the temperature on various planets. They determine whether or not these planets could be habitable. Finally, they factor in the average albedo of the planets to determine whether or not...
Lesson Plan
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The effectiveness of Antacids

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers design and conduct a scientific experiment to test which of four antacids would be most effective for neutralizing acids. They rank the antacids in order from most effective to least effective and explain how they...
Lesson Plan
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How Can Sounds Be Different

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore energy and motion. They investigate how sound energy moves in waves. Students explore how sounds are varied and how the instruments that make those sounds are built. They observe sounds being produced and predict...
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Help Wanted: A Lighting Engineer For Popular Rock Group

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are assigned to groups, and determine each member's role in the group. They will design an experiment to determine a way to produce the three primary and five secondary colors. Students discuss color and mood. They listen to a...
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How Much Energy is a Kilowatt Hour?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the conservation of energy.  In this energy instructional activity students explain the differences between potential and kinetic energy.
Lesson Plan
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Fast Food: You Can Choose!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research the nutritional value of fast food. They assess which fast foods are best and worst to eat. They organize their data into tables and graphs and explain their findings to other students.
Lesson Plan
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Electricity Layered Curriculum

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students describe how electric charges exert forces on each other as well as compare the strengths of electric and gravitational forces. They distinguish between conductors and insulators. In addition, students examine voltage and...
Lesson Plan
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Catapults

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students are introduced to the concept of a catapult and how it is used with the help of a media presentation. They use catapults in a large, open area and record the distances objects travel. Students use the scientific method while...
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Capacitors

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students explain the concepts of charge storage and how a capacitor works. They construct a capacitor and measure the stored charge using the appropriate equipment and measurements. They also demonstrate capacitance and how it can be...
Lesson Plan
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Harvesting Oil from the Earth

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research sources of fossil fuels especially oil while determining how scientists take core samples from an Earth model. They look at oil consumption and production in the US and throughout the world.
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Strawkets and Thrust

For Teachers K - 5th
Students investigate the effect of thrust on rocket flight. They construct two paper rockets, one with a smaller exit nozzle, and compare/contrast the distances traveled by the rockets.
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Fuel Mystery Dis-Solved

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students describe how temperature and surface area exposure affect the rate at which fuel is consumed. They explain why engineers want to know about the properties of a fuel when designing rockets. They create a bar graph of result data.