Fourth graders study evaporation and condensation as parts of the water cycle. First they determine the similarities and differences between a cup of water and an ice cube before measuring the volume of ice before melting it, and...

Pupils explore matter by conducting an in-class experiment. They experiment with water's various forms by melting and freezing water, identifying its new shape. These observations are recorded to supplement later discussion. They also...

Third graders examine how a family modifies their environment to create a home out of mud. They read the book "This House is Made of Mud" by Ken Buchanan, and write a description of their own home that compares the home of mud to their...

Middle schoolers explore heat energy and how it is used to change the phase of matter, and discover that temperature does not increase or decrease until the phase change is complete. This extremely well-written plan is packed with great...

See the water filtration system up close with a fun science experiment. Young scientists work for several class periods to design a water filter using household objects, and then decide which filter material would be most effective...

Students study the amount of potable water on the Earth. In this water instructional activity, students examine the amount of potable water as compared to all the water on the Earth. They discuss why many parts of the world do not have...

Students explore physical science by participating in a water properties experiment. In this surface tension lesson, students utilize pennies, water, a dropper and soapy water to test the different surface tensions with numerous objects....

Students explore the states of water. In this water states activity, students observe ice over time and the changes that take place. Students read a related text and draw their observations in a journal entry. Students discuss the...

Ninth graders explore ways water moves through various reservoirs on Earth, examine how human activities change water cycle, investigate substances present in water that indicate human activity, and discuss how understanding water cycle...

Students identify the signs that a chemical reaction took place. In this chemistry lesson, students role play the movement of different molecules of matter. They classify matter according to their properties.

Fourth graders observe what is happening when an Alka-Seltzer tablet is placed in a clear cup of water. They observe the release of carbon dioxide gas. Pupils answer the question of how much as is released by observing the experiment...

When your upper elementary or middle school class is learning about chemical changes, these activities help demonstrate the concepts. In Part A, they submerge and place a nail partially underwater, then after a week they make...

Learners discover that material and energy uses by a city come from outside the city boundaries. They realize that the pathway of these material is linear instead of cyclical as they are in natural ecosystems.

Students investigate the physical, chemical and biological parameters necessary to establish an ecological baseline. Establishing an ecological baseline not only shows the ecological characteristics of a creek but makes the possible...

Learners work as a team to gather organisms from a stream to evaluate if the water quality is excellent, good, or fair to poor.

Third graders sing a piggyback song to explore the parts of the water cycle and then illustrate and label the water cycle in their science journals.

Students access information from the Destination Indonesia Web site to explore the island nation of Indonesia. They answer four questions and then write two full-page journal entries about one or more travel destinations in Indonesia.

Students explore the water cycle using educational resources. In this water cycle lesson, students use a global climate DVD to complete a scavenger hunt on the hydrologic (water) cycle.

Students study estuaries and how the physical factors change over time.  In this investigative lesson students use a website to gain knowledge of estuaries then in groups they create and present their charts.

Show the class the world as they've never seen it before—from way above! Learners try to unravel the mysteries presented by rich satellite imagery, learn to interpret topographic maps, and study erosion by constructing their very...

Students explore geographic information. In this geography and technology lesson, students choose a county and answer related questions on a Webquest. Students create a word web and design a country brochure.

How is sea coral like a thermometer? Part three of a six-part series from NOAA describes how oceanographers can use coral growth to estimate water temperature over time. Life science pupils manipulate data to determine the age of corals...

High schoolers explore the concept of paleoclimatological proxies.  In this paleoclimatological proxies lesson plan, students explain isotope ratios in deep water coral samples.  High schoolers write a paragraph about global...

Student groups rotate through four stations to examine light energy behavior: refraction, magnification, prisms and polarization. They see how a beam of light is refracted (bent) through various transparent mediums. Students investigate...