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The Drinking Bird
High schoolers discover how toys often illustrate fundamental physical principles. The toy drinking bird is an example. The challenge for you in the lab is to discover why the drinking bird functions.
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An Introduction to Thermal Spray Technology
Students discuss difference between kinetic and thermal energy, develop and demonstrate understanding of key concepts and characteristics underlying thermal spray techniques, list items used in their daily lives that are coated, examine...
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Flow Rates of Faucets and Rivers
Students work together to discover the flow rates of faucets and rivers. They relate their results to engineering and applied science concepts. They make predictions on the flow rate of a nearby river in their local community.
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World Geography: Postcard from the Rim
Students are able to identify the areas of the world that are affected by arsenic contamination of the water supply. They are able to describe the ways in which various societies deal with the problem of arsenic contamination. ...
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Wind Effects on Model Building: Building Project Overview
Young scholars design their own building according to certain criteria. In this semester long physics activity, students calculate forces, compression and tension. They present their finished model in class.
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Global Water Cycle & Heat Flow
Students experiment to discover how different variables affect the water cycle. They do hat flow experiments and construct a computer heat flow model.
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Life in Extreme Environments - Lakes Under Ice
Students collect chemical, physical, and biological data from a local lake throughout the year. In addition, students discuss the design of an experimental structure for water collection at several specific depths as well as assess the...
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Calculating & Graphing Using a Spreadsheet
Students use the lab apparatus to calculate the average velocity and average acceleration at several points and record the data. They use the spreadsheets to plot distance vs. time, velocity vs. time and acceleration vs. time graphs.
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Herb is the Word
Pupils conduct an experiment to determine how different soils affect plant growth over a six-week period. After determining the physical properties of different types of soil, students plant various types of seeds into the soil samples....
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Vectors
Students describe motion by the use of adding vectors. They identify the difference between the x and y components of vector quantities. Students are given the Paper Bridge Building handout and the instructions as to where to perform...
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Where's the Evidence?
Eighth graders observe evidence of chemical reactions. In this chemical reactions instructional activity students study chemical processes and complete a lab activity.
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Radiation In Our World
Students identify the different sources of radiation around us. In this physics lesson, students calculate their estimated radiation exposure per year. They research a current issue about radiation.
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Grating Spectrometer
Young scholars calculate the Balmer series. In this physics instructional activity, students observe hydrogen lamp spectra using spectrometers. They calculate wavelength and compare them with their theoretical calculations.
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The Guest Investigator Puzzle
Students conduct a brief astrophysics lab matching the EUVE spectra of various kinds of "mystery" stars with the spectra of known stars taken at Extreme Ultraviolet and optical wavelengths to determine their type.
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Which Wrap Is Wrapped Right?
Students investigate the integrity and strength of different types of food wraps. They test the wraps and create a graphic organizer for the data. Once it is organized then a lab report can be written. The lesson contains background...
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Scientific Inquiry: Periodic Motion
Young scholars construct their own pendulum. In this physics lesson, students design an experiment to find the factors affecting its period. They formulate a conclusion based on experimental data.
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The Differences Between the Earth and the Moon
Fifth graders identify the physical characteristics of the Earth and compare them to the physical characteristics of the moon. They produce a chart with Microsoft Excel to record the physical characteristics of both the Earth and the moon.
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Density of a Gas
Eighth graders investigate the mass, volume, and density of a gas by producing it in a chemical reaction. The entire Density of a Gas Lab and L section of the K W L chart be formatively assessed.
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Water You Can Use from the Air Conditioner
Students work together to research water quantity, quality and safety standards. They complete a lab to discover how to use the water from an air conditioner. They write a paper to show their findings.
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Determination of Phosphates
Young scholars engage in a laboratory lesson in order to increase understanding of the impact of phosphates at the chemical and ecological levels. The lab exercise is completed with the goal of getting them to predict the outcomes and...
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Mystery Polymers
Students examine how some natural substances are polymers. In this polymer lesson students complete a lab and give examples of a physical change.
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Mixing Colors
Fifth graders perform experiments with color mixing and color changing. They observe the differences between physical and chemical changes and record their observations in journals.
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Forces on the Human Molecule
Students conduct several simple lab activities to explore the five fundamental load types that can act on structures: tension, compression, shear, bending, and torsion. In this activity, students play the role of molecules in a beam...
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Polymers
Students explore online tutorial on polymers. In this chemistry lesson plan, they create two polymers in the lab and compare their properties. They write a sales letter about their new and improved polymer product.