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Chemical Changes
Eighth graders observe two types of interactions in a sealed plastic bag. One bag contains baking soda and water, and the other baking soda and vinegar. They determine what evidence indicates that a chemical change is occurring.
Creative Chemistry
Use of Common Metals
In this metals learning exercise, learners read about the different properties of aluminum, copper, and iron and determine why these metals are used the way they are. The exercise has five short answer questions.
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Nutrient Enrichment vs. Oxygen Depletion
Students investigate how excess nutrients enter a body of water, and the harmful effects they have on aquatic organisms.
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Meteorology (Condensation)
Second graders define condensation and evaporation. They identify and describe the steps in the water cycle. They ask questions to end the lesson.
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What Can We Do To Change These Materials
First graders perform experiments to investigate property changes that occur in materials or matter. In the science lab, they use heat to explore changes in rice, sand, gelatin, baking soda and more. Learners observe and record the...
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Who's Down the Well?
Pupils identify several sources of contaminants to groundwater. They discuss the movement of possible contaminants through that groundwater from outside sources. They describe how environmental engineers analyze contaminants to...
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Classifying Matter
Second graders conduct investigations to explore matter. In this states of matter activity, 2nd graders complete four activities to analyze the three states of matter. Students analyze the properties of solids, liquids, and gases....
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Make a Bouncy Custard Ball
In this science experiment learning exercise, students mix borax, custard powder (pudding mix?), glue and water to make a bouncy ball. Students carry out bouncing and stretching investigations.
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Modeling Protein Structure
Students examine amino acids and discuss the properties of side chains. In this proteins lesson students demonstrate the foldings of peptides.
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Vibrant Volcanoes
Students explore volcanoes. In this science lesson, students discuss the characteristics of volcanoes and view a video segment about a volcano. Students examine plate tectonics.
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Ice Cream Chemical and Physical Changes
Fourth graders identify characteristics of a simple physical and chemical change. They describe objects by the properties of the materials from which they are made and that these properties can be used separate. Students describe the...
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Great Salt Lake
Fourth graders make an ecosystem that brine shrimp can live in and take data as to what level of salinity the water is, how cold it is, and other data that students may think is important. They also hypothesize and predict the outcomes...
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Heat and Temperature
Ninth graders explore the relationship between heat and temperature. After performing experiments, 9th graders record their observations and discuss the results. They investigate the properties of heat and explore how energy possessed...
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Oil Spill
Pupils use one of four absorbent products to separate as much of the oil and water mixture they are able to do. The purpose of this task is for students to collect and analyze data for the purpose of determining which absorbent is best,...
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Solid, Liquid, Gas!
Students determine the properties of the solids, liquids, and gases, and how they can recognize those properties by observing a teacher demonstration. Next, they experiment with at mystery matter that looks like a liquid but that takes...
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How to identify a physical change from a chemical change
Students identify the difference between some physical and chemical properties and compare some physical and chemical changes. They design an experiment to distinguish between a physical or a chemical property of their choice.
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Motion and Forces
Eighth graders define the terms: magnetism, poles, compass, magnetic field, lines of force, electromagnet. They name two properties shared by all magnets and describe how one magnet will affect another.
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Food Chains And Webs
Students investigate the concept of soil and all its components. They collect samples from a local site and transplant it into a terrarium. Students identify the organic elements, clay ,silt, and other forms of debris. They also identify...
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Melting Ice
Students observe the melting of ice and explore the basic physical changes that occur. They gain information of how different substances change the rate of melting. Students discuss the properties of water and ice, the definition of...
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Gel-O-Colors!!
What distinguishes the differences between refraction and reflection? Learners identify the properties of light as they mix colored light to create new color variations. As they work they gather data about the properties of light and...
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Plastic Polymers
Students learn about plastic. In this plastic polymers lesson, students examine the properties of plastic, its variety of uses and how it is recycled.
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Rock Cycle SIOP Unit
Young scholars collect rocks, identify them, classify them, investigate their properties, and more. In this rocks lesson plan, students also experiment with soil and erosion and weather.
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Petroglyphs: Protecting the Past
Fourth graders investigate the three types of rocks and study about petroglyphs. They explore why petroglyphs were used by the Nez Perce People. Students investigate the properties of the three types of rocks and they discuss cultural...
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The Solar System: Why do we Explore?
Third graders act as scientists. In this property discovery lesson, 3rd graders explore the substance "Oobleck" (cornstarch, water, food coloring). They work in groups to investigate the substance and make observations as a scientist...