Lesson Plan
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Orbital Bliss

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Most young mathematicians are aware that the planets don’t orbit the sun in a circle but rather as an ellipse, but have never studied this interesting feature. This resource looks at the planetary orbits in more detail and helps learners...
Lesson Plan
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Numbers, Numbers Everywhere!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Explore properties of integers! In this algebra lesson plan, pupils add, subtract, divide and multiply using integers correctly. They differentiate between rational and irrational numbers.
PPT
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Essential Elements

For Teachers 9th - 12th
A color-coded periodic table identifies organic elements, major minerals, and trace elements. Oxidation states are highlighted and types of chemical bonding are annotated. The electron energy level chart is explained. Though not all of...
Lesson Plan
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Our Earth Crossword Puzzle

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this earth's environment worksheet, students use the 20 clues and their problem solving skills to correctly complete the crossword puzzle.
Lesson Plan
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Environmental Studies: The Environment Rocks!

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Rock exploration, so exciting! After reading the book Everybody Needs a Rock, the class makes sandwiches to better understand that the Earth is made in layers. They then use a description of the 3 types of rock to conduct an observation...
Lesson Plan
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The Day the Atom Died (Grade K-1)

For Teachers K - 1st
Students investigate what is wrong with the Rutherford atomic model. In this chemistry lesson, students answer questions about the atomic model after watching a video. They draw conclusions from the video and discuss how the atomic model...
Lesson Plan
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Melt the Ice

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine and discuss how water changes from a liquid to a solid to a gas. They explore this concept by having an ice cube race, competing to see which group can change the solid water back into liquid water first.
Lesson Plan
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Project Geode

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students predict the appearance of a geode's internal structure based on its mass and density. They form a hypothesis based on the data they collect. They also identify common minerals found in Illinois.
Lesson Plan
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What's the Matter with that Cup?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders measure volume, circumference, and height of fast food cups, find which one has the greatest volume, and compare/contrast those measurements to discover any correlations between them.
Lesson Plan
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Locating Vent Fields Using CTD Data

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students describe the way hydrothermal vents work. Students work on locating vent regions through remote collection of data about water temperature and density. Comparing density and temperatures graphs, students search for indicators...
Lesson Plan
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Investigating and Using Biomass Gases

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the definitions of biomas gasification and generate their own biomass gas.  In this renewable energy lesson plan students collect gases and roast a marshmallow. 
Lesson Plan
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Why is My Honey Runny?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the factors that affect viscosity of substances. For this chemistry lesson, students define what viscosity is in their own words. They give real world applications of viscosity.
Lesson Plan
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My Science Box

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students investigate snails and their physical and behavioral characteristics.  In this investigative lesson students create a pie chart to show the results of their findings.
Lesson Plan
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A Pre-Treatment Model for Ethanol Production Using a Colorimetric Analysis of Starch Solutions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners recognize the benefits of ethanol and study photosynthesis.  In this ethanol lesson plan students complete an experiment that shows the procedure that starch can be hydrolyzed by salivary amylase. 
Lesson Plan
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What Are Alternative Fuels? Concept Mapping Alternative Fuels Investigation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers compare and contrast the different types of alternative fuels. They create a concept map to understand their classification. They examine the properties of matter and energy as well.
Lesson Plan
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Let's Do the Wave!

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Learners distinguish waves from matter, differentiate between transverse and longitudinal waves, use sine curves as representations of transverse waves, label characteristic properties of waves, diagram transverse waves having specific...
Lesson Plan
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Rising Water!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe water change from a liquid to a gas state when heated and then return to its liquid stage when cooled. They learn that gas molecules move faster than liquid molecules. They discover physical properties that describe how...
Lesson Plan
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Funny Putty

For Teachers 1st - 8th
Students are introduced to the properties of solids, liquids and gases. They see that colloids are mixtures which display the properties of more than one of these states. They engage in an excellent experiment which demonstrates this fact.
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Touch and Discover

For Teachers K - 4th
Young scholars identify the physical properties of items using the sense of touch. In this touch and discover lesson, students describe items.  Young scholars sort items using a Venn diagram.
Lesson Plan
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Hot Air Balloon Design Lesson Plan

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders discuss what they know and what they want to know about hot air balloon using a KWL chart. They then use a wide array of materials to design a hot air balloon that will lift successfully in cooperative groups referring to...
Lesson Plan
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See Spot Run

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students identify several properties of water as a universal substance, describe the composition of several complex color mixtures and separate the components of dye using chromatographic technique.
Lesson Plan
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The Colors of Chemistry

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students investigate the acidity and alkalinity of common household products in an experiment. They use red cabbage juice and litmus paper to show the difference between strong acids and bases as they work with vinegar, dish washing...
Lesson Plan
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Beads, Balls, and Beakers

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Learners analyze the amount of space required to pack round objects. For this geometry lesson, students practice using space economically by practicing packing spheres into beakers. They then translate this concept to molecules being...
Lesson Plan
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T-Shirt Chromatography

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study about chromatography, a process used to separate mixtures. They see that chromatography is used to detect, separate or purify different substances. This nice lesson plan results in a beautiful t-shirt for each student!