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How Far...How Powerful
Young scholars explore the concept of gamma ray bursts. They examine basic physics concepts about light, measure the shifts of spectral lines, and utilize Hubble's Law to deduce the velocity of an astronomical object.
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Water and Ice
Learners examine water. In this chemistry lesson plan, student examine the physical properties of water and how it changes from a liquid to a solid or a gas. This lesson plan contains links to a second and third complimentary lesson plan...
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Fire Triangle in the Forest
Students investigate the physical properties of fire by creating storyboards. In this elements lesson, students view a video clip of forest fires and identify the cause. Students create large storyboards defining the three...
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Investigating the Earth-Moon-Sun System
Eighth graders research Native American legends involving the sun, moon, and stars and compare them to the origin of present day knowledge. They create a written report and make an oral presentation of their findings to the class.
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Electric Field Mapping / Equipotential Lines
Students determine the equipotential lines surrounding a charged object. In this physics lesson, students draw lines to identify areas. They relate the spacing of the field lines to the strength of the charge.
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Kinetic Molecular Theory
Students analyze and evaluate evidence that matter is made of tiny particles. They observe a series of phenomena involving solids, liquids, and gases to make inferences about the spacing, interactions and relative kinetic energies of the...
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Rising Water!
Students observe water change from a liquid to a gas state when heated and then return to its liquid stage when cooled. They learn that gas molecules move faster than liquid molecules. They discover physical properties that describe how...
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Principles Of Flight: Wings That Spin
Students discover how flight is possible. In this physics lesson, students investigate the properties of a blimp and gyro-copter, comparing rotating wings and fixed wings of aircraft. Students create their own model aircraft...
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Wow Waves (Waves on the Fly)
Students formulate hypotheses on wave behavior and test them. In this physics lesson, students compare and contrast transverse and compression waves. They determine the wavelength of transverse waves.
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The Flying Paperclip
Students investigate items that interrupt magnetic fields. In this physics lesson, students explain why the paper clip in the experiment seems to fly. They write a detailed explanation of what they did in this activity.
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The Mystery of the Missing Hummingbirds
Students record scientific observations in a science journal. In this season lesson, students make observations about each of the seasons and record in their journals. Students record organisms response to seasonal changes...
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Mixing and Stirring
Middle schoolers experience mixing through dancing. In this physical science lesson plan, students not only dance to show mixing but also demonstrate mixing and stirring by combining milk and chocolate milk.
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The Big Bang
Fifth graders relate the elements in the human body to those produced during a supernova. In this space science and chemistry lesson, 5th graders listen to a lecture and view visuals about the big bang. They relate the production of...
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Rocket Me into Space
Fourth graders study the concept of thrust and how it propels rockets into space. They discover why airplanes cannot travel into space while considering the engineering techniques use in designing rockets. They look at how space...
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Black Holes: The Ultimate Abyss
Students compare and contrast the characteristics of the three different types of black holes. In this space science lesson, students research black hole's lifetime, location and evidence of existence. They present their findings to class.
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Air Takes Space
Students examine how air takes space. They come up, push a deflated balloon into one of the bottles and stretch the open end of the balloon over the bottles mouth
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Air Takes Space
Learners discover that air takes up space by watching the teacher demonstrate a simple activity using a glass jar, styrofoam packing peanut, and a clear bowl of water.
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Air Takes Space
Students discover that air takes up space by watching the teacher demonstrate a simple activity using a glass, a piece of paper towel, and a sink full of water. They discuss their findings.
Science Matters
Thermal Energy Flow in Materials
The sun sends the earth 35,000 times the amount of energy required by all of us on the entire planet, every day. The fourth instructional activity in the 10-part series looks at how light energy from the sun transfers into thermal...
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Gravity - The Glue of the Universe
Students explore physics by conducting a class experiment. For this gravitational force lesson, students define several scientific terms associated with force. Students utilize a styrofoam cup and marbles to simulate a satellite crashing...
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Does the Distance Between the Earth and Sun Cause the seasons?
Students reflect upon the concepts of seasons. The concepts are taught using a variety of different teaching approaches. A activities lead to a reflection that will help students to make a cognitive transfer of information form...
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It Came from Outer Space! The AA Meteorite Connection
Students discover why Antarctica is the most fruitful place on earth for locating meteorites. They work in groups. Students are given a Museum or University Name for each group. They are explained that each group is allowed to comb...
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Earth Science: The Sun-Earth Relationship
Students examine the sun's impact on the Earth. They read online articles, explore various websites, and answer questions using information found on the Internet.
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Science-Unit on Matter-Gases
First graders understand that gases take up space even though you can't see or smell it. This is done through many experiments like trapping air in different sized bags, using balloons and plastic bottles, and blowing bubbles. They...