Virginia Department of Education
Mystery Anions
Lost an electron? You should keep an ion them. Young chemists learn qualitative analysis in the second instructional activity of an 11-part chemistry series. After observing reactions of simple salts, the teacher provides pupils...
Curated OER
Carbon: Structure Matters
Young scholars read the Who We Are Section on Calfee Designs Webpage and discuss carbon usage. They work in pairs to look up the minerals diamond and graphite then create a chart on the properties of each mineral then compare how they...
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Polymers
Students explore online tutorial on polymers. In this chemistry lesson, they create two polymers in the lab and compare their properties. They write a sales letter about their new and improved polymer product.
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Climate & Atmosphere: A Global & Local Perspective
Students complete a series of activities in which they study atoms, molecules, and the presence of atmosphere. They study the water cycle and the Greenhouse Effect by investigating and completing handouts.
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Ozone: The Earth's Security Blanket
Students work in groups to define and research the terms: ozone, troposphere and stratosphere. Students watch videos, conduct Internet research, participate in discussion groups and complete worksheets.
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Foucault's Pendulum
High schoolers investigate how the motion of the Foucault pendulum proves that the Earth is rotating. They research the Internet about pendulums and conduct an experiment online. They view a multimedia presentation about pendulums and...
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Electrostatics
Middle schoolers examine ways positive and negative charges are attracted and repelled by watching teacher demonstrations, and complete activity sheet related to classroom demonstration activities to prove proficiency of knowledge of...
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Go To The Head of the Cloud
Young scholars pretend they are water droplets traveling through the water cycle. Using their text, they discover the steps in the cycle and the different paths water can take. They write a report about their journey through the water...
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Putting the Ice in Hockey
Eighth grade physical science classes examine why the ice on which hockey is played is slippery. They do so by discussing phases of matter and the molecular motion in each. They read an article on a website and write out answers to...
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The Causes of Differences in Density
Students explore what causes differences in density. They observe an models depecting atoms, compounds, and molecules. Students determine if there is air in between atomic bonds. They study the structure and spacing of molecular bonds.
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The Physical Setting
Tenth graders examine chemical reactions. In this chemistry lesson students choose an investigation that they wish to perform based on their interest.
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Lesson- Colors of Stars
Student describes what happens to the color of a stove burner or a coal as it gets hotter. They use the applet to determine what range of temperatures range give you a red light, what range of temperatures would give you a white light,...
Center Science Education
The Nitrogen Cycle Game
Earth science experts learn about the roles of nitrogen by taking a virtual journey through the nitrogen cycle. Completing a passport worksheet along the way, they move from place to place around the classroom by the toss of dice. Each...
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Static Electricity 4: Static Electricity and Lightning
Students explain concepts related to static electricity, based on a single example: lightning.
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Succession in the Classroom
Students investigate their environment by growing plants in class. In this botany lesson, students discuss the lifespan of plants and animals and how they must be cared for continuously over time. Students grow a plant in...
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Frosty the Snowman Meets His Demise: An Analogy to Carbon Dating
High schoolers read and discuss an article about carbon dating, then participate in a hands-on lab to discover how carbon dating works. Students also write a letter to a friend explaining the process, and how archeologists use the...
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More About Static Electricity
Students examine the concept that static electricity is a phenomenon that involves positive and negative charges. They explore the Static Electricity section of the Science, Technology and Engineering website to learn more about the...
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When Things Start Heating Up
Young scholars explore how and why heat is produced from things that give off light, from machines, or when one thing is rubbed against another. They participate in several hands-on activities designed to help them realize that heat is...
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When Things Start Heating Up
Students develop a clearer understanding of how and why heat is produced from things that give off light, from machines, or when one thing is rubbed against another.
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Ozone Tag
Seventh graders explain the role of stratospheric ozone and predict at least three ways in which depleted ozone would change her/his lifestyle. They then describe the process by which chlorine or bromine compounds can break down ozone...
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Things That Glow
Third graders study the concept of light as an energy source. In this energy lesson students participate in a lab that show them the concept of light as an energy source.
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Learning Lesson: Crunch Time
Students demonstrate the effect of heat on pressure. They use a 2-liter bottle and hot tap water to complete the experiments. They also discuss thunderstorm safety rules.
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Mechanical, Electrical and Radiant Energy
Students write a hypothesis and complete a lab. In this investigative instructional activity students complete their lab and a worksheet about energy.
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Dissolved Oxygen Lesson
Students investigate what dissolved oxygen is and why it is important to aquatic life and what factors influence levels of dissolved oxygen in a lake. They study how to use MS Excel to make charts to show trends and correlations.