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Buoyant Boats
Fourth graders explore the concept of mass and buoyancy. After building boats out of several materials, they predict whether each boat floats if certain objects are added. Students test their predictions and draw conclusions from their...
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Flour Beetle
Students observe the life cycle of the common flour beetle and make observations of its life stages. They also design and implement an investigation on food preference for the beetle and record data over a period of several months....
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Environmental Concerns (1) Analysis of Lead in Paint (2) Analysis of Water
A scenario and background information are provided for two different open-ended experiments that experienced chemistry classes can perform toward the end of the school year. In the first, they design a method for testing flakes of paint...
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Make a Windmill
Students explore Earth science by conducting an energy experiment in class. In this windmill lesson, students identify how wind has been used to pump water throughout history and the latest developments wind energy has produced. Students...
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Do You See What I See?
Students engage in a lesson that differentiates between right and wrong types of observations. In order to conduct the experiment they are provided with leaves and nameless objects with different designs. The two are compared and...
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Volcanoes in Space
Pupils research volcanoes on the Internet to compare/contrast the volcanoes on Earth to the ones found on Io, a moon of Jupiter. Students list the similarities and differences in science journals, and illustrate pictures of the volcanoes.
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Testing the Accuracy of a Rain Gauge
Students identify and test variables that may affect the accuracy of a rain gauge. They share findings of their research with the class in a 'mini-meteorology-convention'. They design an experiment with a control setup to test their...
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Human Fingerprints: No Two The Same
Students will be offered numerous opportunities to further enhance their observational skills as well as the integration of math with their continual exposure to the metric system, measurement, and graphing to represent their data....
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Global Oil Busters!
Young scholars design and implement an investigation of the impact of oil spills on the environment. They then identify and compare different methods in cleaning up oil spills. Students write letters to the Governor about why the...
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Cooler In The Shadows
Students investigate the concepts of shadows and how they are projected with objects different positions in relation to the sun. They conduct an experiment by observing objects in different positions. Then students record the observations.
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Jumpin' Pepper and Lazy Salt
Students examine the result of a negative charge. After rubbing a balloon with a wool cloth, students hold it over a mixture of salt and pepper. They observe the pepper "jumps" to the balloon. Students discuss their observations and then...
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Solar Car Races: Build and retrofit for speed
If you have solar car kits for your junior high schoolers, they can experiment with photovoltaic cell angle, light intensity, and aerodynamic design to discover what makes their car move more quickly. This is a classic activity to use...
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Old Made New
Learners explore recycling. In this science lesson, students sort everyday objects based on their properties. Learners view examples of items made from recycled paper. Students create recycled paper.
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Stacking Water
Students experiment with different salinities of water using straws and different colors of water. They collect and interpret data from the experiment.
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Who Polluted the River?
Study the impact of water pollution. A hands-on experiment and an interactive story about water pollution are the basis for the learning experience.
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One, Two, Three--Isaac Newton and Me
Students experiment to develop understanding of Newton's Laws and how they apply to space travel in this ten day lesson sequence.
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Take a Leap!
Eighth graders discuss the flight of the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk. They study artwork of various sculptors showing the concept of flight. They write a paragraph and design a papier-mache' sculpture that shows movement.
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Investigating Properties of Water: Temperature
Investigate how temperature affects the density of water and stratification that occurs in bodies of water when temperatures vary. Water of differing temperatures is given different colors to see the layers that form. The lesson is meant...
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Series or Parallel?
Physics classes that are studying electricity connect photovoltaic cells into both series and parallel circuits. Inquiry and critical thinking come into play as learners try to determine which circuit is more productive. They associate...
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Scientific Method Project
Students apply the scientific method and create a practical invention. For this science lesson, students design an original and practical invention and present the idea to the class. Class role plays the part of a CEO and vote on which...
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Sink or Float
Third graders sort objects into those they think will float and those that will sink and test their predictions. They experiment with clay molding it into shapes that float. They place pennies in them until they sink. They test other...
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Bernoulli's Principle Lab
Students are introduced Bernoulli's Principle and how it shows the relationship between fluid speed and pressure change. In groups, they participate in experiments in different processes in the industrial world. They share their...
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What If There's No Light?
students discuss the importance of light and the consequences of living without it. Using a plant as a demonstration, students predict and observe what happens to a plant when it does not receive enough light. In groups, they experiment...
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Testing Leaves for Starch: the Technique
Like good scientists, kids often want to see first-hand why things are as they are; they can do just that in the starch-testing photosynthesis activity found here. Depending on the age of your pupils, you may wish to do the investigation...