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PRIMARY Activity: Racing Jars
Students explore how mass affects speed in this hands-on physics experiment. In this mass and speed lesson, students fill a baby food jar with water and leave a second jar empty. They roll the 2 jars down a ramp to observe which jar will...
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Air Pressure
Students perform experiments that demonstrate the characteristics of air pressure. In this physics lesson, students participate and observe experiments using simple household items. The results of these experiments are used to help the...
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Light
Students explore light. In this light wave physics lesson, students construct periscopes, kaleidoscopes, color wheels, and pinhole cameras. Students observe and record characteristics of light demonstrated through the use of...
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Ice Cream Blizzards
Fourth graders explore whether the making of homemade ice cream is a physical change or a chemical change in a lab experiment. Students identify states of matter, describe the physical properties of states, and collect temperature data...
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Rube Goldberg Project
Students apply inquiry and problem solving approaches in science. They design a device (invention) that solves a special problem.
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Adding Adaptations to Insects
Fourth graders investigate elements of physical adaptation in insects and organisms. They discover how adaptations can select an insect for survival and make an insect that be used in an outdoor discovery activity.
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The Need to Invent
Students create an invention. In this problem solving instructional activity, students share their experiences using crutches or a wheelchair and hold a discussion on how inventions are created to help those who are physically...
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Poetry and Observations
Young scholars compare poetry and the night sky. In this poetry lesson, students read poetry and compare the imagery from the poem with the night sky. Young scholars explore how science and poetry relate to one another.
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Decomposers- Nurse Logs
Students investigate temperate forest ecosystems. In this environmental lesson, students discover different forms of decomposition and its effect on the environment.
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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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Properties of Air
Fourth graders participate in a demonstration activity using bubbles in which they determine that air fills the bubbles. Next, they work in small groups as they they experiment with the properties of air at separate work stations. After...
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Simple Circuit: Electric Currents and Circuits
Through inquiry and exploration, 4th graders will learn and understand the functions of open and closed circuits. They will break into 2 groups, define vocabulary, hypothesize how to light a bulb, then test their hypothesis 4 different...
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Collecting Compost
Students observe a composting box. In this soil lesson plan, students create a composting bin by using a bin, newspaper, worms, and food scraps. Students create a composting food web.
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Marine Animal and Plant Adaptations
Learners examine nature by creating their own animals. In this animal adaptation lesson, students define scientific vocabulary terms dealing with adaptation such as sea stars, sea cucumbers and exoskeleton. Learners utilize their...
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Engineering in Sports
Learners explore physical education by completing a quiz in class. In this engineering lesson, students identify different ways engineering has made sports safer such as stronger padding and helmets, stronger equipment and smarter...
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Gravity - The Glue of the Universe
Students explore physics by conducting a class experiment. For this gravitational force lesson, students define several scientific terms associated with force. Students utilize a styrofoam cup and marbles to simulate a satellite crashing...
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Reflect and Refract
Learners explore light. In this properties of light lesson, students define the terms refract, reflect, and diffract after listening to the teacher's description. Learners listen to the book Light Magic and observe a spoon in a glass of...
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Learn to Build a Rocket in 5 Days
Young scholars explore physics by participating in an engineering activity. In this rocket instructional activity, students define a list of scientific vocabulary terms such as "re-engineering" and "trade-off." Young scholars identify...
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Promoting Daily Fitness; Mini Game
Learners evaluate human health by completing an interactive activity on the Internet. In this food choice lesson, students identify a list of foods which can make you unhealthy and sick compared to a list of nutritional ingredients....
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Germs and the Body
Young scholars explore biology by completing an illness worksheet. In this human germs lesson, students identify how germs are transferred from one body to another and the prevention methods that can be taken. Young scholars complete a...
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
A Classroom Solar System
Create a scaled model of our solar system in your classroom! Scholars work collaboratively to build paper mache planets and hang them in their proper position to showcase each planet's location in the solar system.
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Properties of Air
Students conduct investigations to demonstrate and learn that air takes up space, and puts pressure, or pushes, on everything around it. They conduct experiments to learn about feeling air pressure and measuring air pressure. Prior to...
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Puzzling Planets
Students examine the concept of a solar system. In this research based lesson, students compare a star and a planet. They explain the requirements for life in a biosphere.