Insulation

To prepare for the activity, STEM classes read about nanotechnology and the amazing properties of graphene. They collect a graphene sample from pencils, and then connect them into simple circuits to determine whether it makes a better...

In a classic activity, emerging electricians test various objects for electrical conductivity in a circuit. Each group constructs a simple circuit by following a diagram. Predictions are made and objects are inserted into the circuit,...

In this half flower diagram activity, students label flower parts on a "half flower" diagram, use a dictionary/research tool to write definitions for 2 given words, and draw a picture of a flower they find.

Is your current lesson plan for salt and freshwater literacy leaving you high and dry? If so, dive into part one of a seven-part series that explores the physical features of Earth's salt and freshwater sources. Junior hydrologists...

Instill the concept of adaptation with the help of Blubber Gloves—ziplock bags, shortening, and duct tape. Scholars discuss how animals and plants keep warm in polar regions, record their predictions, and try on their Blubber Gloves to...

It's all about the material. Learners experiment with different substances as they try to keep an ice cube from melting. They draw conclusions by answering a set of questions about the types and amount of material that had the best result.

Play a game to review characteristics of different materials. Players will compare natural to man-made materials and how much light passes through them. They consider water and heat resistance as well. If you are preparing your class for...

Students test insulation materials. For this energy conservation lesson, students use different insulation materials to see which one holds heat the best. Students pour hot water into bottles, take the temperature, wait 15 minutes, then...

What is an insulator? What materials make the best insulator? Watch as Joanne and Steve conduct a simple experiment to see if a plastic cup insulates better than a styrofoam cup. Make a prediction: which do you think will be the better...

By constructing a watershed model and identifying watershed features in it, they discover how water erosion changes the landscape. As with most watershed modeling activities, this one is costly in terms of time and materials. It is,...