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Mass vs. Weight
Students explore physical science by conducting a measurement experiment. In this mass lesson, students identify the differences between mass and weight and define a list of other vocabulary terms. Students utilize electronic scales and...
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Denser Sensor
Fourth graders calculate density, compare densities of solids and liquids, measure liquids using a balance, and investigate the significance of density. They conduct an experiment to determine an order of densities, and complete a...
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Mass
Young scholars determine how mass is a property of an object that can be measured, and examine how size affects mass. They work with balances and determine what units of measurement are associated with mass. Finally, they determine the...
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Transformations of Energy
Seventh graders investigate the relationship between energy and matter, and measure the mass of various objects. They listen to a teacher-led lecture about potential energy, and in small groups measure the mass of various objects such...
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Aluminum Foil Boats
Students design a boat of aluminum foil and calculate the density of the boat. Washers are added to the boat until it sinks. Students then redesign boat to hold more washers and recalculate the new density.
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Boat Design
Students build a boat and make predictions. In this geometry lesson, students design a cargo boat. They must show that the boat they designed can carry the cargo.
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Bathtub Physics - Density, Buoyancy and Flotation
Students study Archimedes' Principle, flotation and the reaction of buoyant forces and explain the relationship between density and flotation.
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Testing Density of Various Soap Products
Learners have the opportunity to observe, measure and analyze the density of aerosol shaving creams and foams generated from shampoo and dishwashing liquids or detergents.
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Project Geode
Young scholars 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.
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Heavy Ice: Day Five
Students explore physics by conducting a class experiment. In this density lesson, students examine a list of items and discuss whether they will sink or float and then determine their density. Students examine the objects over five days...
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Science Lesson Plans
Learners conduct a variety of exploration activities on various science topics. For this science lesson outline, students design a cell encapsulation to hold a specific type of medicine. They give examples of physical and chemical...
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Physical/Chemical Properties of a Burning Candle
Learners investigate the physical and chemical properties of a candle before and after it is lit. They conduct a burning candle experiment, and complete a KWL chart and worksheet, recording the results of the investigation.
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Mining for Natural Resources
Students discover that mining for nonrenewable natural resources has a dramatic effect on our environment. They gain an understanding of the processes involved in harvesting a natural resource and the impact it has on the earth.
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To Float or Not to Float - A Lesson on Density
Students define density in their own words. In this physics instructional activity, students calculate density using mass and volume. They explain why some objects sink and some float.
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Qualitative Vs. Quantitative
Fourth graders examine the difference between qualitative and quantitative observations by doing a simple lab activity. This lesson can be used at any grade level. It involves the basic observation process skill.
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CheMATHstry That Sticks Right to You
Students find the percent composition of sugar in the gum. In this chemistry lesson, students calculate percent error from the experiment. They use dimensional analysis to convert between units.
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What Floats Your Boat?
Students discover the Archimedes principle through a buoyancy experiment. They measure the water displacement of a lump a clay which is denser than water then reshape the clay into a bowl which floats but displaces more water.
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Permeability of Earth Materials
Students observe and classify the permeability of a variety of materials.
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Towel Testing
Students examine how to design and implement experiments. In this paper towel experiment lesson plan students test the strength of paper towels.
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Selecting Soil Organisms in Compost
Learners conduct an experiment to demonstrate that many of the enzyme systems needed to break down society's wastes exist in nature among the decomposers in a compost pile. They culture compost bacteria on starch agar to examine the...
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Selecting Soil Organisms in Compost
Students demonstrate that many of the enzyme systems needed to break down--and therefore clean up-society's wastes already exist in nature among the decomposers. They select the best starch-munching organisms by altering the environment...
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Density Columns
Eighth graders create solutions with 5 different densities. In this chemistry lesson, 8th graders analyze the density of solutions stacked on top of each other. They document their data through graphing. This assignment requires 4 class...
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Laboratory - Density of a Material
Students conduct a lab (with water, guar gum and sodium borate) and carefully record physical and chemical properties and changes throughout the session, and experiment with weighing by difference.
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Density of a Gas
Eighth graders investigate the mass, volume, and density of a gas by producing it in a chemical reaction. The entire Density of a Gas Lab and L section of the K W L chart be formatively assessed.