Cornell University
Electroplating
Silver pennies and copper nickels are made possible by applying some chemistry. Learners use electrolysis to coat a penny with zinc sulfate and a nickel with copper sulfate. Their investigation builds an understanding of electroplating...
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Lake Strata and Internal Waves
Use the classic density demonstration of placing a cola, a clear soda, and a diet soda into a tank of water. Then let learners attempt to pour some of the soda into layers in a clear container. The procedure explains a thermocline, and...
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What Contains Carbon?
Students explore elements by analyzing everyday objects and materials in class. In this carbon lesson, students define several vocabulary terms such as carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon, and carbonate. Students view a group of items,...
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Photosynethsis....How do we know it's really happening? - Biology Teaching Thesis
Students think of one way to detect photosynthesis in plants besides those ways shown in class. They identify the reaction that occurs during photosynthesis. Students define the difference between an acid and a base. They identify acidic...
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Museum Practice for Students
Before any of us can learn to enjoy a trip to an art museum, we need to learn how to behave. This list of activities describe the behavior expected on a trip to an art museum. Each behavior comes with an activity intended to demonstrate...
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Toxicants and California Blackworms
High schoolers determine the normal behavior of California blackworms. They determine how various concentrations of assigned toxicants affect the worm's behavior. Students are introduced to testing of potential toxicants, an important...
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Powering a Green Earth
Students compare and contrast renewable and nonrenewable energy. In this environmental science lesson, students discuss the importance of going green. They identify the different components in a power grid system.
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An Introduction To Carbon Nanotubes
Young scholars engage in a study of nanotechnology that is meant to be an enrichment to the already established chemistry curriculum of high school. They are encouraged to make connections to daily life. The lesson plan includes...
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Tread Lightly: Where We Stand
Students explore the concept of ecological footprints. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students calculate their ecological footprints and consider how to reduce them.
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Build Your Own Atom
Young scholars build a model of an atom using an online program. For this chemistry lesson, students discuss the different parts of the atom. They complete an independent research about their chosen element.
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Graphing and Analysis of Water Quality Reports
Students practice making graphs and interpreting them. They compare and contrast different sets of data. They use Microsoft Excel to create different types of graphs.
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Specific Heat Capacity of a Metal
Eleventh graders investigate the relationship between heat and energy transfer. They review terms including heat, work, calorimetry and the procedures for an experiment. After assembling the materials for the experiment, they observe...
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pH Readings and Salinity Readings of Water From Three Locations Within the Neponset River Watershed
Sixth graders test the ph levels of water from three different water environments within the Neponset River Watershed. They discuss the three different water environments, take pH measurements of the three samples, and predict which...
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Mixing Oil and Water
Young scholars explore physical science by participating in a class experiment. In this chemistry instructional activity, students discuss what they predict will happen when cooking oil and water are blended together. Young scholars...
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Earth System Science
Students explore the Earth and its ability to support life. They discuss the geosphere and the water cycle and complete the Water Wonders activity. After completing the activity, they respond in their journals and reflect upon the...
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Physical and Chemical Changes
In this changes worksheet, students observe and record changes that occur in their every day life and classify these changes as either physical or chemical change. Students record their information in a graphic organizer.
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Crystal Growing
Students explore the different phases of a crystal. In this mineral lesson plan students grow their own sugar crystals using a sugar recipe.
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Strange Bugs
As individuals or in small groups, marine biologists research and discuss archaea and their unusual behavior as compared to bacteria. Teach them about the chemical makeup of the cell membrane of these strange organisms. This complex...
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How Does Your (Coral) Garden Grow?
Analyze and graph oxygen isotope ratios in coral samples in relation to the distance from the outer skeleton edge. Compare the data to the mean monthly water temperatures. Uncover whether or not there is any correlation. In addition to...
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Into the Pond
Seventh graders use a pond to explore macroinvertebrates and other organisms. They use a dichotomous key to classify the organisms and maintain a journal recording their findings.
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Losing An Island
Students examine carbon dioxide and determine the impact of greenhouse gases on the earths spheres. In this pollution lesson students complete a lab activity to see the impact of gases on the environment,
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Fallout!
Students plot the locations of fallout from two disasters that polluted much of the world's air. They plot the ash fallout from the 1980 Mt. St. Helen's eruption to see what the wind patterns in the United States look like overall. Next...
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Air Pollution Over Where?
Students predict the movement of an air borne pollutant using their understanding of air currents. They determine which governments and/or communities should be contacted to be forewarned. They also explore the properties of their...
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Water Quiz
Students use a digital atlas to explore the effects of water on landscapes. They view view pictures and complete worksheets to study the properties of water. Students study the water cycle and the chemical role it plays in living cells.