Curated OER
Molecular Forces at Work: Creating Soap Bubbles
Students investigate adhesion, cohesion and surface tension. For this molecular forces lesson plan, students observe multiple demonstrations that show surface tension, the attraction of water molecules to each other and the ability of...
Curated OER
Wet Pennies
Students conduct a simple test to determine how many drops of water, rubbing alcohol and vegetable oil can be placed on a penny before spilling over. They consider how varying surface tensions allow for different amounts of each liquid...
American Chemical Society
Evaporation Sensation
Where did the water go? Learners conduct an experiment to see how the difference in temperature affects evaporation rates. Scholars continue to investigate evaporation by comparing water and alcohol evaporation rates. Pupils experiment...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
How Dry am I? Exploring Biomimicry and Nanotechnology
Help your classes feel like they can walk on water! An engaging inquiry-based instructional activity has young scholars experiment with different surface coatings. They make observations about their properties and how they relate to the...
Curated OER
Surface Tension of Water
First graders observe the surface tension of water. In this water properties lesson, the teacher defines surface tension, then guides students through eight experiment that illustrate surface tension.
Curated OER
Drops on a Penny
In this surface tension activity, students predict how many drops of water they can put on a coin. They test their hypothesis and repeat their experiment three times. They record their data and average their trials.
Curated OER
Surface Tension
Learners examine the concept of surface tension. In this surface tension instructional activity students complete several experiments to allow them to better understand surface tension.
Teach Engineering
Balancing Liquid on a Coin: How Intermolecular Forces Work
Let knowledge of chemistry flow like water. Future scientists conduct two different experiments to investigate the properties of water. They learn about surface tension and cohesion as they see how many drops of water they can place on a...
Curated OER
The Chemistry of Water
Students investigate the properties of water. In this chemistry of water lesson plan, students observe a demonstration of the properties of water using sand, sugar, oil, vinegar and salad dressing. Students experiment with water, pepper,...
Teach Engineering
Investigating Contact Angle
Discover the properties of water-loving and water-hating surfaces. In the seventh installment of a nine-part series, scholars explore hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces by conducting an experiment. They observe surface coatings,...
Reach Out!
Paper Clip Sailing
Young scholars explain that some things can float on top of water because of what we call "surface tension." They see that if something happens to disturb these water molecules from tugging on each other, the skin-like surface breaks up.
Curated OER
How Many Drops?
Seventh graders hypothesize about the number of drops of liquid that can be placed on a penny before it spills over. They examine both the concept of devising a hypothesis and the idea of surface tension. They determine the difference...
Curated OER
Water Unit
Students make boats and race them. For this physics lesson, students investigate surface tension, molecules, and cohesion by competing in a class race with their boats. Students experiment with liquid soap to see how much will make their...
Curated OER
Walking Magic
Students investigate surface tension using water striders. In this inquiry lesson, students develop a researchable question about the topic. They explain the environmental consequences of lowering water surface tension.
Curated OER
Pepper Scatter
Students discover the forces that affect the surface tension of water. In this surface tension lesson plan, students use pepper, soap, and liquid detergent to discover the forces.
Curated OER
Surface Water and Groundwater
Students examine distribution of water and minerals. In this surface and groundwater lesson, students conduct an experiment with fresh and salt water making hypothesis and drawing conclusions about minerals.
Curated OER
How Many Drops of H2o Can Fit on a Penny?
In this properties of water worksheet, students explore the surface tension and cohesion properties of water compared to other liquids in a 2 part experiment.
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Lab On A Slab
Capillary action is the frugal chemist's dream ... the less liquid used, the more tests they can run! Learners experiment with the best design to maximize the benefits of capillary action. Using a liquid sample, they design a capillary...
Teach Engineering
Exploring Capillary Action
Explore capillary action from different perspectives. In the fourth installment of a nine-part series, scholars perform several experiments to observe capillary action. They look at the meniscus of water in a glass, observe capillary...
Curated OER
Effects of Water Pollution on Aquatic Organisms
Young scholars investigate water pollution. They develop an understanding of the behavior of organisms, of the structure and properties of matter, and of natural and human induced hazards by conducting lab tests. They present their data...
Millennium Schools
Lifestyle Chemistry
My name is Bond, Hydrogen Bond. Written for distance scholars working on chemistry at the high school level, the lesson includes eight weeks worth of material divided into six parts: substances you use, mixing it up, your skin, what's...
Curated OER
Make An Egg Float!
Students analyze density. In this density lesson plan, students experiment with floating an egg. Students discover that salt added to water changes the density of the water allowing an egg to float.
Curated OER
Crazy Chemistry Lesson Plan
Young scholars study water molecules, cohesion and surface tension. In this molecule cohesion lesson students create chemical reactions that cause a balloon to inflate and another one that results in soap suds.
Teach Engineering
Exploring the Lotus Effect
The Lotus Effect ... is it not some kind of yoga pose. In the last installment of a nine-part series, young scientists observe the Lotus Effect on lotus leaves and water-repellent cloths. They observe how motion and damage affect the...