Curated OER
Bubble and Boyle
Even middle schoolers still enjoy experimenting with bubbles! They execute a series of experiments enabling them to distinguish between convex and concave surfaces, explore the properties of buoyancy, surface tension, and density,...
Curated OER
Investigating Matter
What a great resource! This presentation is informative as is, but there are links provided to some great resources that can help learners explore the states of matter in greater depth. For example, there is a link to a website that...
PBS
Phase Changes | Phases of Matter | UNC-TV Science
Take an energetic ride through the phase changes of a water molecule in a compact activity. Young scientists learn about the phases of matter and discover the role of thermal energy in governing phase changes while watching a short...
PBS
The 3 Phases | Phases of Matter | UNC-TV Science
Explore the states of matter without the mess or expensive equipment in a compact, informative activity. Scientists watch as the narrator explains the three states of matter using a glass of ice and soda in an animated video that...
American Chemical Society
Gas Sudsation
Bring out some bubbly! Individuals perform the classic baking soda and vinegar experiment with a twist. Learners add a drop of dish detergent to make the bubbles last longer. They vary the amount of baking soda and vinegar in an effort...
American Chemical Society
Mentos and Diet Coke!
Let the bubbles tell the story. Using a hands-on lesson, budding scientists learn how carbon dioxide in soda interacts with objects placed in the soda. The lesson explains how the gas adheres to the surface of the objects based on the...
American Chemical Society
What’s the Difference between Baking Soda and Baking Powder?
Introduce pupils to chemical reactions. Using the hands-on lesson, learners experiment with substances that combine to form a gas. Different substances react to form different amounts of gas, leading to a discussion about the particles...
American Chemical Society
The Water Cycle
Bring the water cycle into the classroom without the mess. Learners build a model of the water cycle using everyday materials. They observe the process of evaporation and condensation and relate their observations to the larger scale...
American Chemical Society
Matter Is Made of Tiny Particles
Believe in the invisible and convince the class that tiny particles exist even if they can't see them! A thorough lesson plan investigates all phases of matter and provides pupils hands-on experiences that demonstrate that all matter is...
University of Colorado
A Spectral Mystery
It's no mystery that every gas has an emission spectrum. Scholars use a spectrograph to look at the emission spectra of nitrogen, oxygen, air, and other gases in gas discharge tubes. They use their results to determine the identity of a...
Museum of Science
Stomp Rocket
It doesn't take rocket science to launch a rocket. A fun activity has pupils build a rocket that launches when they stomp on a plastic bottle. They learn how the escaping compressed gas from the bottle causes the rocket to fly.
Museum of Science
Cloud in a Bottle
Perhaps one day humans will learn to control the weather. Future scientists simulate clouds and fog in a plastic bottle. They conduct an experiment where they place smoke and hot water in the bottle, then squeeze and release repeatedly....
Museum of Science
Create Gas
Let's have a gas. Individuals mix baking soda and vinegar in a bottle. Learners view the interaction between the solid and the liquid and notice that a gas is formed. Scholars notice the gas inflates a balloon stretched across the mouth...
University of Waikato
Water Molecules in Drama
The state of molecules is changing. Young actors and actresses perform the process of phase change in front of the class. They assume the roles of water molecules and, as a group, show how the behavior of the molecules in the solid,...
University of Waikato
Solid to Liquid to Gas
Help classes understand heat as a form of energy. A hands-on activity has learners investigate how heat, or the lack of heat, affects the physical state of water. They then connect their discoveries to the water cycle.
University of Waikato
Looking at Water - Solid, Liquid, or Gas
Here's a tip: only one substance is commonly found as a solid, liquid, and gas. Learners use that knowledge as they investigate the properties of water in each state. They interact with water in each of its three phases and record what...
Space Awareness
Investigating the Atmosphere - Air Takes Up Space
How do you know there is air? Can you see it, smell it, feel it? To begin the investigation, learners watch a video and discuss what they know about air and the atmosphere. Then, they participate in five different hands-on, inquiry-based...
Space Awareness
Fizzy Balloons - C02 in School
Carbon dioxide is a very important gas; it is present in the air, used in cooking, and supports plant and animal life. Scholars investigate the properties of carbon dioxide with three different activities. They experience a color change,...
Royal Society of Chemistry
State Symbols
When water is a solvent in a chemical equation, we consider it an aqueous solution. Scholars match the name of four states of matter to their proper symbol in a chemical equation. Four puzzles provide repetition to help pupils remember...
Royal Society of Chemistry
Sodium Halide Reactions with Conc. H2SO4
What do you get when you combine precipitate reactions with puzzles? Maximize the engagement in a single replacement reactions lesson by incorporating fun puzzles. Chemistry scholars observe the reaction between several sodium halides...
Royal Society of Chemistry
States of Matter 2
While scientists have identified seven states of matter, these puzzles cover the most common three. Scholars match the properties, particle motion, and particle picture to each type of matter. Three Sudoku-style puzzles review the data...
Royal Society of Chemistry
States of Matter 1
Do solids, liquids, and gases even matter? Scholars match the state of matter to its particle picture, size and shape description, and description of the arrangement of the particles. Once they complete that activity, they complete a...
Royal Society of Chemistry
Testing for Gases
If most gases are invisible, how do we know so much about them? Pupils practice associating the name, formula, testing method, and outcome for four common gases using an interactive. Users build on the content of their first puzzles to...
Royal Society of Chemistry
A Cartesian Diver—Classic Chemistry Experiments
Sometimes the simplest experiments leave the biggest impression! Introduce young chemists to the Cartesian Diver by having them make one of their own. Use the Diver to further their study of liquids and gases, as well as compression.