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Get the Point!
First graders, after reading about cattle drives, measure the width of the horns on drawings of longhorn cattle and then convert the measurements from inches to centimeters and from inches to feet. Ranching and the American cattle...
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Our Daily Five
Students explore the food pyramid through a class discussion, hands-on experience with food items, and a floor game that helps them to identify the food group involved. Lesson extensions include the use of play money, art, and dance.
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Sliding and Stuttering
Students measure frictional force existing between a moving cup and the surface it slides on. They conduct the experiment and answer discussion questions.
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Hardwood Veneer
Middle schoolers explore uses of hardwood veneer and the manufacturing process. They view veneer samples and work in groups to answer questions about the process of making veneer. After touring the school to create a list of products...
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Atlatl Lessons Grades 4-12
Students examine motion and how to describe it qualitatively. In this investigative lesson students see how aboriginal people were environmentally responsible.
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Pi Mathematics
Learners will measure common everyday objects in order to calculate pi. In this measurement lesson plan, students measure the circumference and diameters of objects and fill them into a chart which helps them calculate pi.
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Scavenger Hunt
Second graders participate in a Scavenger Hunt to find out how long 1 cm is. They then find 10 objects that estimate to be 1 cm in length and record their findings on the table provided and check their estimates using a ruler.
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Classroom Triangles
Students use bearing measurements to triangulate and determine objects' locations. Working in teams of two or three, students must put on their investigative hats as they take bearing measurements to specified landmarks in their...
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Solar System Distance Activity
Students examine the distances between the Sun, planets, and smaller objects in the Solar System. They design a model using beads that shows the scale distances of the Solar System using astronomical units converted into a 10 centimeter...
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What's Under There?
Students determine ways to make "observations" about unknowns, such as the land beneath an ice sheet or the interior of the Earth, using tools other than sight. They build "mystery boxes" and exchange them with other groups to "map"...
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Frozen Film
Students are introduced to the topic of light interference through this hands-on activity. They observe how light reflects off two surfaces and then meets to form an interesting variation of color on a film surface.
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How Do Things Fall?
Students observe falling objects. They discover the rate of falling is based on air resistance and not the weight of the objects. They discuss how engineers use this type of information to design aerodynamic shapes.
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Shape Makes a Difference!
Students learn the difference between perimeter and area by watching a video and a hands on activity.
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Newton's Second Law: Mass-Acceleration Relationship with Dynamics Carts
Students form their own hypothesis about the relationships between force, mass, and acceleration for their dynamics cart system. They collect data and express it in a graphical format to visualize the relationships.
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Matter in Motion
In this matter in motion worksheet, students answer the provided questions as it relates to motion, speed, velocity, and acceleration. Students mark given statements as either true or false.
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Runaway Universe
Students complete a hands on activity to determine how scientists use indirect observations to define problems that are not directly measurable. They complete an associate student handout.
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Checking County Numbers
Students use their county's information page to gather information about their community. Using the information, they create graphs from the tables provided and interpret the data. They write a paragraph showing their interpretation of...
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2D Kinematics w/ String Racers
Students calculate the speed of string racers. In this physics activity, students measure the time in several trials and get the average. They graph their results using a spreadsheet.
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i-Density Crisis
Eighth graders determine the density using mass and volume. For this science lesson, 8th graders explain why some materials float or sink. They estimate the density of objects based on whether it floats or sinks in a liquid of known...
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Potato Launcher Energy Lab
Students investigate conservation laws using a potato launcher. In this physics lesson, students measure angles, time and distance of the potato. They discuss applications of experiments like this.
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Similar or Not?
Fifth graders define the meaning of similar and congruent using concrete objects. They make similar and congruent figures using geoboards. They draw their figures on dot paper, and color their designs.
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One Person's Garbage, Another Person's . . .?
High schoolers list many, different and unusual items that could be constructed out of refuse and found objects.
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Is It Hot in the Light?
Third graders make observations about the temperature of items in direct sunlight. In groups, they discuss why asphalt, brick and cement are warmer than items surrounding them. To end the lesson, they examine how heat transfers energy...