Primo Levi wrote a collection of short stories comparing his life from Italy to Auschwitz to elements in the periodic table. Pupils read an excerpt from his book and research the characteristics of various elements. Then, they make a...

Students investigate the concept of elements and atoms. They conduct research using a variety of resources and use the information in order to create a class presentation. The lesson includes specific dialogue and steps for the teacher...

Students explore elements by analyzing everyday objects and materials in class. In this carbon lesson, students define several vocabulary terms such as carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon, and carbonate. Students view a group of items,...

Students investigate elements by by defining scientific terms.  In this Periodic Table of Elements lesson plan, students utilize a glass of water, and powdered fruit drink to perform a lab activity demonstrating properties of...

Eighth graders explore the chemical and physical properties of a variety of elements in a lab setting. They organize the data they collect onto a spreadsheet and then choose one element from the periodic table to research. They...

Students examine the structure of molecules, their formula, and percentage composition of each element in the compound. They construct an organic compound with different functional groups using a modeling kit, and draw a 3-D structure...

Students explore the concept of atoms and how they combine to form molecules and compounds. In pairs, they read an article on how atoms work and discuss the main points. They draw atoms and write a paragraph about their elements.

Students study atoms and chemical compounds. They identify certain elements essential to human health, describe physical and chemical properties of water, and name four types of polymers unique to all life forms. They explain how each...

Students examine the style of an 18th-century compound microscope and its case. In this scientific design lesson plan, students look at Jacques Caffieri's, "Compound Microscope and Case" before comparing the design to a modern...

Learners are able to identify, create, and evaluate three kinds of sentences: simple, compound, and complex. They are able identify the purpose of various sentence types: declarative, interrogative, imperative, exclamatory, and...

Students interview the chemical elements. They research information about their element, such as: stable isotopes, valence electrons, number of subatomic particles. They create a yearbook page for their element, and a format to present it.

Students research certain elements and then analyze their potential bonds with other elements in a dating game where the dating pool is comprised of the elements featured on the Periodic Table.

Students develop an appreciation for Shakespeare by researching the Elizabethan period and situations in the Twelfth Night. In this Shakespeare play lesson, students complete a 52 page packet to learn about the period of time and...

Students engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concepts related to solution chemistry. They calculate the molar mass of various chemical compounds. Then students predict the anion ratio for ionic compounds. Students also write...

Students discuss the difference between atoms and elements. They analyze how compounds are formed. Students discuss the difference between covalent bonds, hydrogen bonds, and ionic bonds. They review bonding with diagrams, "Atoms or...

Students investigate how information about the atom has been determined. In this atomic structure lesson, students draw what they think an atom looks like. They conduct Internet research about the types of atomic models and how...

Students describe the history of materials. They use the kinetic (particle) theory to explain changes of state in matter and trace the flow of heat during changes of state and chemical changes.

Students investigate the effects of pollution on marine ecosystems. They read and discuss an article, identify the effects of pollution on marine life, conduct research on local nutrient pollution, and conduct local water quality studies.

Students explore how certain foods come to be certified "organic." They write the words "organic" and "synthetic" and given the definitions of each. Students are given dictionaries. They are asked: "What is organic food?" Students grow...

Students divide substances into categories: made of chemicals/not made of chemicals, synthetic/naturally occurring, and toxic/nontoxic. They observe a mystery chemical and determine what precautions they need to take when handling an...

Students research about the chemical processes involved in cave formation. In this chemistry lesson, students draw or find a cave picture with stalagmites and stalactites online. They write a brief caption and share them with the class.

Students discover how President Eisenhower's brand of diplomacy at this Pennsylvania farm temporarily eased the tensions of the Cold War.

Young scholars explore the nature and composition of a comet. They research comet facts, legends, and myths. They identify different types of comets and describe what happens to a comet as it travels closer to the Sun.

Ninth graders explore how electricity is created and distributed through alternative production methods. Students participate in hands-on activities, research, lecture based instruction, and CD ROM resources.