Curated OER
Shape Makes a Difference!
Students learn the difference between perimeter and area by watching a video and a hands on activity.
Curated OER
Air Pressure
Fourth graders observe a demonstration experiment showing air pressure. They explain air pressure by completing the worksheet.
Curated OER
How Can You Study Things You Can’t See Like: Atoms?
Students simulate how scientists studied things they can't see like atoms. In this chemistry lesson, students predict what is inside the numbered obsertainers. They design a way to investigate what's inside without opening it.
Curated OER
The Chinese Zodiac
Students create their own personalized Zodiac page on a word processing
document after researching and discussing the origins of Zodiak signs. This lesson does include resource links and may be controversial.
Curated OER
Angles and Parallel Lines
Sixth graders draw parallel and intersecting lines to observe and examine the characteristics of alternate interior angles, vertical angles, corresponding angles, and supplementary angles. Through observation, they discover the...
Curated OER
Converting Metric Units and Prefixes
Students investigate the length of various objects. In this measurement lesson, students convert one metric unit to another. They explain the importance of a uniform system of measurement.
Curated OER
Physics Post-Lab
Students explore physics. In this science lesson, students discuss physics in their everyday lives. Students complete a physics worksheet.
Curated OER
Conservation Station
Second graders, in groups, measure the volume of four containers that vary in shape and size.
NASA
Nasa: Light but Strong
Use these lessons from NASA to teach multiple Next Generation Science Standards for grades K-5. Properties of matter and engineering design are the focus of these lessons. Detailed plans and student handouts are included. [PDF]
American Chemical Society
Middle School Chemistry: Molecules Matter
Learners observe and discuss water on the molecular level using the idea that water is composed of tiny molecules that are attracted to one another.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Three States of Matter
Teachers can find an interactive lesson plan for introducing the three states of matter to the early elementary student using items that they are familiar with. This also includes gathering data and filling in a table, an important part...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Measuring and Comparing Matter
In this activity, students will measure a variety of different materials from the classroom to determine how much matter is found in these materials then determine the mass of these materials using the same volume for each. The data will...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Freezing Things: States of Matter
The class will go back over the Power Point presentation on chemical and physical properties. The teacher will then conduct numerous liquid nitrogen demos. This lesson is used early in the Chemistry course. The students love it. This...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Antimatter Matters
Antimatter, the charge reversed equivalent of matter, has captured the imaginations of science fiction fans for years as a perfectly efficient form of energy. While normal matter consists of atoms with negatively charged electrons...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Chemical Wonders
Students are introduced to chemical engineering and learn about its many different applications. They are provided with a basic introduction to matter and its different properties and states. An associated hands-on activity gives...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: The Ruff Ruffman Show: Teacher's Guide: Kitchen Chemistry
Learn about kitchen chemistry alongside Ruff Ruffman. Students can use the videos, games, and activities from The Ruff Ruffman Show to discover how by investigating solids and liquids and exploring heating and cooling, science can help...
American Chemical Society
Middle School Chemistry: What Is Density?
Calculate the density of cubes made of different materials to determine what type of material it contains. Using this information explain that the size, mass, and arrangement of the atoms or molecules of a substance determines its density.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Gases Lighter and Heavier That Air
Teachers, to demonstrate to the elementary student that some gases are heavier than others, this experiment uses Winnie the Pooh and balloons to do just that.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Viscous Fluids
Students are introduced to the similarities and differences in the behaviors of elastic solids and viscous fluids. Several types of fluid behaviors are described--Bingham plastic, Newtonian, shear thinning and shear thickening--along...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: How Sweet It Is
As part of the study of Matter, the young scholars will determine the density of standard percent sugar solutions through hands on experimentation. In laboratory groups, students will graph a standardized curve of the experimental data....
Utah STEM Foundation
Utah Stem Action Center: What's Up With Our Air?
Students will use modeling to understand inversions. Their models will evolve as they gather more information.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Flocculants: The First Step to Cleaner Water!
Learners experience firsthand one of the most common water treatment types in the industry today, flocculants. They learn how the amount of suspended solids in water is measured using the basic properties of matter and light. In...
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Spectroscope
This lesson guides students to build a spectroscope, use it as a tool, and interpret their observations by applying concepts of conservation of energy and properties of matter.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
National Academies Press: Small, Smaller, Smallest
View these slides to better understand that matter is made of smaller parts that are too small to be seen. These slides can be used to meet math, science, and literacy standards.