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Latex Helium Balloons: Any Alternatives?
Students discuss the latex balloon release controversy and review suggested alternatives to the latex balloon.
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Downhill Discoveries
Students are involved in hands-on activities to determine how course conditions affect bobsled, luge, and downhill ski races.
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How Fast Is that Rocket?
Eighth graders calculate the speed of a falling object using measurements from a falling rocket. They report data from their data sheet to the teacher to record on the board or on the overhead transparency and discuss the results with...
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It Won't Budge: Balloon
Eighth graders use the scientific method to discover why a balloon is not inflated.
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Inching Our Way Into The Metric System
Students investigate the Metric System. They discuss the history of the Metric System, convert various units of measurement into the Metric System, and solve problems on a spreadsheet.
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Utamoro Prints
Students discuss the art work of Japanese artist Kitagawa Utamoro and investigate the term "commercialization" and its affect on societies. The lesson concludes with individuals presenting their own findings and examples of...
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African Americans During the Civil War
Ninth graders work together to discuss the various experiences of African Americans during the Civil War. Using the internet, they identify the laws and reasons African Americans were allowed to join the Union Army. Using their...
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Timing An X-ray Pulsar
Students use X-ray data to identify an object as a rotating neutron star, and determine its period of rotation. They use XTE observations of the Crab Pulsar to determine the period of the light intensity, interpret this period as the...
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Newton's Third Law of Motion
Seventh graders are introduced to Newton's Third Law of Motion. In this physics lesson students examine the concept of thrust as one of the forces acting on aircraft.
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Solar Storms
Students investigate the cycles of solar activity. They plot the solar activity and use the graph to answer a number of questions and explain the relationship between the solar storms and sunspots and the impact on earth and space travel.
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Arkansas- Economic System
Students investigate how the six natural regions of Arkansas work together to form the economic system of the state. They read a paragraph and articles about the state and complete an activity that demonstrates interdependence. They...
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Spacing Out the Solar System
Sixth graders practice applying their problem-solving skills as they measure circular objects and make connections to planets. They identify and describe measurable attributes of objects and units of measurement and solve problems...
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Aircraft Trajectory Problem Set
Students, after reading an explanation from a NASA Web-based textbook, demonstrate an understanding of the text by applying it to the calculation of speed, distance, acceleration, and time in simple aircraft motion.
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Efficiency Means Getting More for Less
Middle schoolers measure water and make predictions about efficiency.
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3-2-1 Blast Off!
Fifth graders work cooperatively in groups to assemble and launch a rocket.
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Parachutes And Parafoils
Pupils study deceleration devices like parachutes and parafoils.
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What's That Brown Fuzzy Stuff On My Plum?
Students examine Koch's Postulates by actually using them. They perform each of the required four steps to show that the brown fuzzy fungus they see growing on stone fruit (plums, peaches, nectarines, cherries) is what causes them to rot.
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Determining Mercantile Volume of a Pine Tree
Fourth graders, acting as foresters, determine timber volumes as sawtimber or pulpwood for marketing. They find the marketable value of a tree using its diameter and volume.
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What Goes in Must Come Out
Students monitor their calorie intake and energy expenditure. They keep track of daily data in a journal and assess and adjust their diets as appropriate.
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Float My Boat
Fourth graders, in groups, experiment with density and the displacement of water by creating and designing their own boats and seeing which boat holds the most centimeter cubes without sinking..
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Construction and Use of an Accelerometer
Eighth graders, in groups, study acceleration and build an accelerometer.
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How Dense Are You?
Students examine how density is a value that describes what type of a material an object is made of regardless of its shape or size.