Curated OER
The Living Earth-Glaciers
Learners investigate glaciers. In this earth science lesson, students use sandy ice cubes to observe how glaciers change the land. Learners list forces that cause changes in the Earth's surface.
American Chemical Society
Exploring Moisture on the Outside of a Cold Cup: For Dry Environments
If the area you live in is arid, or the preceding experiment in this unit didn't yield obvious results, use this one in place of it to help reveal where condensation comes from. The mini unit that this is part of a comprehensive...
Curated OER
Freeze Pops
Students experience problem-based learning as they use prior knowledge of the states of matter to keep a frozen juice bar from melting.
Curated OER
Air Pressure
Students examine air pressure. In this air pressure lesson, students perform a series of experiments to evaluate the effects of air pressure.
Curated OER
Blubber Mittens:Adaptation to Cold Climates
Students get a first hand look at the benefit of a "blubber layer" in cold climates through a simulation using vegetable shortening and icy water. Through this simulation, students examine how adaptations help organisms survive.
Curated OER
Weathering and Soil Formation
A set of 27 slides systematically shows how weathering, erosion, and deposition contribute to soil formation. Both chemical and mechanical weathering are described, as are resulting soil layers and properties. There is no longer any need...
National Institute of Open Schooling
Hydrogen and s-Block Elements
Lesson 19 in the series of 36 analyzes the element hydrogen and the s-block elements. Through readings, answering questions, and discussion, learners write about and explain their occurrence, physical and chemical properties, and...
NOAA
Ocean Zones
How can organisms light up in water? Bioluminescence is light produced in a chemical reaction that can occur in an organism's body. First, learners determine what happens to light/color as you move into the deep ocean. In groups, they...
Teach Engineering
Insulation Materials Investigation
Don't melt away! Pairs investigate different insulation materials to determine which one is better than the others. Using a low-temp heat plate, the teams insulate an ice cube from the heat source with a variety of substances. They...
Curated OER
Displacement and Density
High schoolers explore displacement. In this displacement and density instructional activity, pupils find the volume of irregular shaped objects. Afterward, they determine the volume of containers. They compute the amount of water...
LABScI
Freezing Point Depression: Why Don’t Oceans Freeze?
Can you go ice fishing in the ocean? Learners examine the freezing point of different saltwater solutions. Each solution has a different concentration of salt. By comparing the freezing points graphically, they make conclusions...
Curated OER
Matter
In a neat and straightforward manner, this PowerPoint delivers basic introductory information on the properties of matter, physical and chemical changes, and pure substances vs. mixtures. It also defines the states of matter. For some...
Normal Community High School
Density
Change the density of water by adding minerals. The presentation discusses density—from the definition to calculations—and applies it to the real world. It briefly mentions specific gravity, and finishes by showing Archimedes'...
Curated OER
Sediment Sleuths
Are you looking for a good, solid lesson on sedimentary rocks? This one, produced by the Illinois State Museum, is just such a lesson. Middle schoolers identify common rocks and minerals by analyzing sediments from local water sources....
Curated OER
Changing Planet: Sea Levels Rising
Begin by showing a six-minute video, Changing Planet: Rising Sea Level as an anticipatory set. Pupils draw a topographic map of a potato continent. Finally, they will visit NOAA's sea levels online map and NASA's carbon dioxide...
NOAA
Make an Edible Coral Reef
Coral reefs are full of an abundance of life and color. Why not celebrate it with an edible coral reef? Learners and teachers alike use cake, icing, and candies to create a tasty version of a coral reef that's complete with colors,...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Carbon, Greenhouse Gases, and Climate
Climate models mathematically represent the interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, land, sun, surface, and ice. Part two in the series of four lessons looks at the role greenhouse gases play in keeping Earth warm and has participants...
Curated OER
Fun in the Sun
Students freeze colored water. In this art lesson, students take the blocks of ice out of the freezer, put the blocks into a small pool and watch the ice melt.
Curated OER
Calibrating a Thermometer
Students calibrate an alcohol thermometer using the boiling and freezing point of water. In this physical science lesson, students explain what happens to boiling point of water as altitude increases. They calculate their experimental...
Curated OER
Density: Float or Sink
Students discover density. In this density lesson, students discover the properties of objects that allow them to float or sink in water.
Curated OER
Polygons, Pingos, and Themokarst! Oh MY!
Learners complete activities to learn about the common land features in Alaska. In this land study lesson plan, students study an overhead for permafrost features. Learners define ice wedge polygons, thermokarst, and pingos. Students...
Curated OER
Sixth Grade Science Test
In this science activity, 6th graders take a multiple choice quiz about matter, properties, electricity, and more. Students complete 30 questions total.
Curated OER
Blubber Gloves
The ways that animals adapt to their environments is quite remarkable. In this life science lesson, fifth graders take a look at some of the ways that aquatic animals that live in Arctic or Antarctic waters survive. They perform an...
Curated OER
Science: Water States
First graders investigate the various forms of water. They discuss the properties of water. They discover examples of water's various states and locate other solids, liquids, and gases in their homes.