Curated OER
Using Chromatography to Identify Unknowns
Young scholars are introduced to the concept of chromatography. They practice using new vocabular and observing experiments. They answer discussion questions to end the lesson.
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Pendulum Activity
Fourth graders conduct a lab activity that measures the factors that change the swing rate of a pendulum. They create a hypothesis and test it during the experiment. They record their observations using the recording sheets and journal...
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Centrifugal Force and Mandy Sue Day
Fourth graders explore the story Mandy Sue Day and investigate centrifugal force. They demonstrate the concept of centrifugal force, use analytical thinking and they conduct an experiment using centrifugal force. Students discuss the...
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Defining Density as a Relationship
Pupils investigate density and its relationship to air and gas. Students perform experiments to determine if gases have mass. They explore possible ways to figure out the density of gases.
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Physicists or Philosophers?
Trace the sequential process of the developing theories of atomic structure in the early 20th century, show, in historical development, how scientists "know" things, how experiments are set up and how interpretations are drawn from them,...
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Introduction to Electricity
Students experiment with static electricity and make their own electrical circuits. Students experiment with their circuits to explore conductors and insulators. Students identify Thomas Edison as the person who invented the electric bulb.
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Air Pollution: Visible and Invisible
Fourth graders work together to complete an experiment on air pollution. They identify visible and invisible forms of pollution. They gather their data in notebooks and analyze their results to end the lesson plan.
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Molar Mass
Students apply the ideal gas law and Dalton's Law of Partial Pressure to develop an experiment which determine the molar mass of butane from disposable lighters. In small groups, they develop a procedure and have it approved before...
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Electrical Energy
Students conduct an experiment to find out how well different wires radiate heat when voltage is applied across the wire. They use the results of their experiments to consider how the gauge of the wire and the type of wire affect the...
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Root, Root, Root for the Nutrients
Pupils observe the growth of a seed, predict what will happen when seeds are planted without soil, and conduct an experiment using a hydroponics system.
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Out of the Deep
Students observe, describe, and record characteristics of ocean animals (mammals and fish) and sea shells. They conduct an experiment comparing and contrasting sugar water, salt water and fresh water and create a mural of coral reef...
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Exploring the Interstellar Medium
Students investigate the Interstellar Medium and the Local Bubble that the Sun is inside. They read and discuss a handout, answer discussion questions, observe a demonstration of light scattering, and conduct an experiment on the...
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Earth: The Water Planet
Students elicit data on the water cycle, ocean topography, and island formation in this six lesson unit. The ocean floor and the properties of water are examined through a variety of discussions and hands-on experiments.
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Everything's Under Control
Fifth graders prepare for a "Mad Scientists Fair" by creating a controlled study and by conducting experiments. They make and record observations and classify specimens according to characteristics. They compare results to their original...
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To See or Not to See: The Colors of Light
Seventh graders describe and conduct an experiment that identifies the physical properties of light. They explore sources of visible light and an electromagnetic spectrum. Students explain the conversion of one form of energy to another.
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Mixtures
Sixth graders experiment with mixtures. In this chemistry lesson plan, 6th graders determine which mixtures are considered heterogeneous, a suspension, a solution or a colloid. Students create a data sheet of what they discover.
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Soggy Seeds
Pupils conduct experiments to learn about seed germination. In this seed germination lesson, students write a hypothesis for the seed experiment. pupils complete the experiment for seed germination and graph the data obtained from the...
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Yeast Power!
Students examine how not all microorganisms are bad and that some can actually be beneficial. In this yeast lesson students complete an experiment with yeast and answer questions.
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Reaction Rates
Students work in groups of 4-6 for the experiment/activity part of this exercise. They base their explanation on what they observed. Students observe how substances react chemically in characteristic ways with other substances to form...
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Blue
Students follow directions for a simple chemical experiment. They use the appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data. Students identify a substance that has characteristic properties, such as density, a...
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Scale Model of the Solar System
Young scholars work in groups of 4-6 for the experiment/activity part of this exercise. Students know that earth is the third planet from the sun in a system that includes the moon, the sun, eight other planets and their moons, and...
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Heating Crystals
Young scholars examine the effects of heating on various crystals. They formulate and revise scientific explanations and models using logic and evidence. Students work individually during this experiment.
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Sound: Are All Sounds Loud?
First graders explore physics by utilizing education software. In this sound properties activity, 1st graders discuss the different sounds associated with different materials and perform an object dropping experiment in class....
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Generate a Calibration Curve for Chlorophyll a
Young scholars measure and graph the absorbance of light by chlorophyll at a specific wavelength versus chlorophyll concentration. They are given an unknown and determine its concentration from their calibration curve. Students become...