Curated OER
Mr. and Miss Big Feet
Third graders experiment with gravitational force. In this physical science lesson, 3rd graders send matchbox cars off a ramp while changing the amount of weight attached to the car. Students record their data and discuss the results.
Curated OER
GUM: More, Less, or the Same?
Students confirm the law of conservation of matter by weighing chewing gum before and after it is chewed.
Curated OER
More Bait for Your Buck!
Learners determine where to buy the heaviest earthworms as they study invertebrates. They create a double bar graph of the results of the weight data.
Curated OER
Let's Weigh Air
Students participate in an experiment to measure the weight of air by measuring the weight of the mass it displaces. They lift up a desk and a textbook using a toilet plunger, and calculate the weight of the air, or air pressure.
Curated OER
Computer Science: Pendulum
Pupils investigate the basic properties of pendulums as a function of spreadsheets. Working in groups, they measure the period for a pendulum at six different lengths and record the results. They prepare a file using Microsoft Excel and...
Curated OER
Video Analysis of Motion &
Students examine a powerful tool that can be used in the study of motion. They use VideoPoint to measure an aspect of an organism's motion: speed, acceleration, center of mass.
Curated OER
Spacing Out the Solar System
Sixth graders practice applying their problem-solving skills as they measure circular objects and make connections to planets. They identify and describe measurable attributes of objects and units of measurement and solve problems...
Curated OER
Density
Pupils, in groups, design a procedure to calculate the mass of gas molecules in the classroom by measuring the volume of the classroom and researching the density of air. They apply changes in air density with altitude and effects on a...
Curated OER
Inching Our Way Into The Metric System
Students investigate the Metric System. They discuss the history of the Metric System, convert various units of measurement into the Metric System, and solve problems on a spreadsheet.
Curated OER
Floaters and Sinkers
Fifth graders define density as the amount of mass per volume a material contains, compare the densities of several types of materials, especially those that sink in water compared to those that float. They use two different methods to...
Curated OER
Discovering Pi
Fourth graders are introduced and experiment with the concept of pi. Using this information, they discover the relationship between the circumference and diameter of circles. In groups, they practice measuring the circumference of...
Curated OER
How Fast Is that Rocket?
Eighth graders calculate the speed of a falling object using measurements from a falling rocket. They report data from their data sheet to the teacher to record on the board or on the overhead transparency and discuss the results with...
Curated OER
Efficiency Means Getting More for Less
Students measure water and make predictions about efficiency.
Curated OER
Star Power! Discovering the Power of Sunlight
Students estimate the energy output of the sun. They estimate how much power sunlight the sunlight provides to the earth. They build a simple device to measure the amount of solar radiation the earth receives from the sun.
Curated OER
The Effects of Photosynthesis on Plant Growth
Students are able to draw a diagram of the light reactions and briefly describe what is occurring throughout the process. They are able to explain where each reactant/product in the photosynthesis equation comes from/goes during the...
Curated OER
How Much Do You Really Weigh?
Sixth graders check to see how their weights differ if they weighed themselves on different planets. They record their findings on a data sheet.
Science 4 Inquiry
Investigating How Heat Flows
It is impossible to cool down a glass of water by adding ice. Young scientists explore heat transfer through videos, experiments, and interactive games. They quickly catch on that the water melts the ice and things aren't always as they...
Public Media for Northern California
An Educator’s Guide to Teaching Gun Control Issues | The Lowdown
The topic of gun control is vast, controversial, and difficult to introduce to students. This gem of a resource covers both sides of the issue and provides topic background, various multimedia and print resources, analysis questions, and...
Curated OER
Circuit Diagrams: Switching Circuits
Use a lab sheet on circuit diagrams in your electricity unit. Fifth graders draw two series circuits with diagrams, based on two examples. A science experiment prompts learners to use 3x5 cards to illustrate the way a series circuit works.
Science Geek
Intermolecular Forces of Attraction
Chemists love London (dispersion forces)! Presentation begins with an explanation of intermolecular forces including hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole attraction, and London dispersion forces. It also covers polarity and the relative...
Curated OER
Air Pressure
Learners participate in a series of demonstrations about Bernoulli's principle. They explain how air pressure varies with air speed. They write a detailed lab report about the activity. This is a great way to explore this concept.
Exploratorium
Resonator
Construct a demonstration apparatus for your lesson on resonance. Instructions are provided here to assemble dowels and balls into swinging objects that have different frequencies. It is a neat visual to include during your lecture if...