Curated OER
Physical and Chemical Reactions - Factors Which Affect Reaction Rate
A total of five experiments lead chemistry pros to understand the difference between physical and chemical change. They also experiment with exothermic reaction factors that affect rate of reaction. The procedures are not written in the...
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Marine Habitats of Galveston Island
Four lessons introduce elementary ecologists to salt marsh and sandy beach habitats. In the first instructional activity, they place shells and other materials in vinegar to determine if they contain calcium carbonate. In the second...
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How Can You Tell One Clear Gas From Another?
Fifth graders perform experiments to determine the identity of an unknown gas sample. In this chemistry lesson, 5th graders fill balloons with air, oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. They use mass and reactivity to identify the gases.
American Chemical Society
Using Chemical Change to Identify an Unknown
If you discover an unknown powder, how do you determine if it is safe? Lesson uses four different tests to identify the properties of various powders that appear the same. Then scholars get an unknown powder and have to determine which...
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Understanding Lava Layers
Seventh graders trace the lava flow of an erupting volcano. In this earth science lesson plan, 7th graders experiment using baking soda and vinegar. They record and share their observations.
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Bouncing Popcorn
Third graders meet a teacher challenge to work like chemists. They investigate with baking soda, water, salt, sugar, vinegar, and sprite to move a popcorn kernel from the bottom of a cup to the top. They experiment with different...
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Observing Reactions
Students use the scientific method to complete to experiments that have visible reactions. In this visible reaction lesson, students participate in an experiment with melting ice and one with inflating a balloon. Students record their...
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Sampling Carbon Dioxide
Students perform an experiment to determine which source of gas (their breath, exhaust from a car, or the air in the classroom) has a greater concentration of carbon dioxide. Students compare the colors of BTB solutions after...
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How Do Car Engines Work?
High schoolers perform an experiment which simulates what happens inside an internal combustion engine. They explain how the chemical reaction they witnessed is similar to what happens inside the car engine.
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Milk Glue
Students create glue from milk by curdling milk with an acid. In this protein denaturing lesson plan, students experiment with milk and vinegar to denature the proteins in milk, create curds and whey and use the curds to produce glue by...
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Chemical Fun
Fifth graders observe and conduct a variety of experiments to differentiate between physical and chemical changes. They mix cabbage juice with different liquids and record their observations on a chart. Students write down their...
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An Introduction to Acids and Bases
Students explore acids and bases. In this lesson about acids and bases, students do an experiment to test certain items to determine what they are. Students use cabbage and litmus paper as indicators. Students understand how to sort the...
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Air Engine - Air Races
Students conduct an experiment about air volume, density, and pressure. In this air lesson, students discuss air, and how it moves. They make predictions about what will happen during the balloon and string experiment. They document the...
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The History of Creation
Students explore the properties of matter. In this lesson about matter, students will do a series of experiments to enable them to understand about creation of the universe. In these some of the experiments students will makes stars,...
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Gas Laws
Students perform a series of experiments on gas laws. In this chemistry instructional activity, students analyze the relationship between temperature, volume and pressure. They create a poster summarizing all the gas laws.
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Can Acid and Bases Remedy the Body?
Students experiment with acids and bases using technology-based "probe-ware", computers, and household products in this exciting biology/chemistry lesson. The lesson was written for an advanced 6th grade class.
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States of Matter
Students examine the properties of solids, liquids, and gasses. In this states of matter instructional activity, the teacher guides students through a series of experiments to illustrate each state of matter and how matter changes from...
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pH Basics
At some point, all science learners experiment with pH. In this brief lesson, they simply use pH strips or a meter to find the pH of six different solutions. A useful worksheet that displays a data chart is included for your middle...
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Fizzy Pop
Fifth graders compare and identify variables that affect the rate of a chemical change using Alka-Seltzer, water, ice, and hot water. They time how long each variable takes to pop the canister into the air, and record the results on a...
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Observing Buffers In Lakes, Ponds And Streams
Young scholars observe the effects of limestone on the acidity of water. Some areas of the nation have a lot of limestone in lake bottoms and in soil, which helps neutralize the effects of acid rain. Students see this effect first hand.
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Solids, Liquids, and Gases
Students explore solids, liquids, and gasses and categorize and describe the three states of matter. In this chemistry lesson, students categorize items as solid, liquid, or gas based on the definitions given by the teacher. Students...
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Chemistry: Mini-Volcanoes
Young scholars observe an experiment using common household chemicals to simulate a volcanic eruption. In small cups, they follow the teacher's instructions to make their own volcanoes. After watching a Brain-pop video, students complete...
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Chemistry: pH Probe
Students conduct a pH probe of various household products including both bases and acids. In groups, they use litmus paper to test such liquids as amonia, vinegar, and detergent to discover which are acids and which are bases. Finally,...
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What is a Karst
Students investigate landforms by holding a class experiment. In this topography lesson, students define the word "karst" and discover why sinkholes are created on the surface of the Earth by completing worksheets. Students create a...