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Electric Circuits
Students model the flow of electrons in a circuit, draw diagrams of an electric circuit and build an electric circuit. Students explain how to tell when the path of an electric circuit is complete, and test the conductivity of a variety...
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Backpacking - Lesson 3 - How to Pack a Backpack
Young backpackers practice putting their supplies into their backpack according to a prescripted sequence on how to properly place their equipment. It is essential to follow the guidelines to have the correcet balance and ease of access...
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How Things Fly
Students explain basic principles of aeronautics such as gravity and lift. In this How Things Fly lesson, students visit the interactive, hands-on How Things Fly gallery at the Smithsonian. Students perform three experiments that...
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Dinosaurs Were Real!
Students investigate the history of dinosaurs, as real animals. In this dinosaur lesson plan, students examine basic concepts that help them understand the history of all life. Included in this article is information on the world of the...
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Response to Stimuli
Students study the process of detection, coordination and response. In this biology lesson, students design an experiment to test stimuli response. They participate in a game-show style quiz after the activity.
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An Uplifting Experience
Students examine the forces that affect the flight of airplanes through the use of paper airplanes. They conduct Internet research, conduct experiments demonstrating Bernoulli's Principle, and design and construct a paper airplane.
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Rocketry in Motion
Students investigate why a balloon flies in one direction as air escapes in the opposite direction, which helps them understand the nature of rockets and fireworks. Individually and in teams, students conduct research to create a...
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Measurement and Paper Airplanes
Sixth graders investigate physics by creating paper airplanes. In this flight experiment lesson, 6th graders utilize stationary tools to create elaborate paper airplanes which they fly on their school grounds. Students complete...
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Rocket Launch
High schoolers consider constraints which contribute to the design of a model rocket. They begin to analyze a model rocket's design and flight. They must be very specific in their thoughts and discussions.
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Up, Up, and Away
Middle schoolers study the concepts of speed and velocity and complete practice problems. In small groups, students fly airplanes and record time and distance traveled for each flight. They calculate the speed and velocity of their plane...
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Plants and Animals, Partners in Pollination
Students participate in multiple hands-on activities to explore reproduction and pollination. In groups, using a cotton swab and powder, students simulate being pollinators and plants. They name the parts of the flowers and the function...
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How Size Shapes Animals
Students investigate how size affects large and small animals differently. In this animal lesson plan, students determine how size affects different animals by constructing their own animal out of marshmallows. Once students create...
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Sonar Simulation
Students compare and contrast side-scan sonar to other methods used to find objects underwater. In this underwater search lesson plan, students describe side-scan sonar and make inferences about the topography of an unknown landscape....
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Water Resources
High schoolers study water resources that are important to the people of North American and Africa. They use satellite images and data to explore how human actions can degrade, improve, or maintain water resources. They analyze and...
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Forces in Fluids-Science Puzzlers, Twisters, & Teasers
In this physical science worksheet, students complete 7 questions in the form of puzzles, word problems, and brain teasers about forces in fluids.
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Reconstructing a Fossil Pterosaur
Students reconstruct the skeleton of the fossil Scaphognathus crassirostis. In this fossil lesson plan, students discuss the Kingdoms of life, geologic history and the history of the skeletons of species. Students are given 20 minutes to...
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What’s That, I Can’t Hear You?
Students investigate forms of energy as well as light and sound. In this science lesson, students participate in hands-on activities that require them to evaluate how sound affects astronauts in flight. A video of this lesson being...
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Airplanes
Fourth graders experiment with gravity and lift by building paper airplanes. In this physics lesson, 4th graders compare the falling rate of a crumpled vs. flat sheet of paper. Then after class discussion and demonstration of Bernoulli's...
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Learn to Build a Rocket in 5 Days
Students explore physics by participating in an engineering activity. In this rocket lesson, students define a list of scientific vocabulary terms such as "re-engineering" and "trade-off." Students identify the rocket creation process by...
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Turbojet Thrust
Pupils, after reading the Web page Turbojet Thrust and completing the activity, explain how jet engines use air to produce thrust. The educational software ""FoilSim" is used in this lesson to help students calculate thrust.
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Chemistry Basics Practice Exam
In this chemistry practice worksheet, learners solve sixteen problems including identifying chemical and physical changes, calculating numbers with significant figures, naming compounds and writing formulas and converting from one unit...
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Study of Projectile Motion using Straw Rockets
Students design and launch their own rockets. In this experimental activity students launch their own rockets and record the various angles and distance that they go. Each student has time to redesign their rocket and have a...
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Balloon Rocket
Students observe a balloon rocket and how it relates to Newton's Third Law of Motion. In this balloon rocket lesson plan, students make a balloon rocket out of balloons, clothespins, straw, fishing line, and duct tape.
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Energy Problem Set
Students calculate the potential energy of a glider, the kinetic energy of a moving glider and the change in velocity when potential energy changes to kinetic energy.