Curated OER
Pendulums
Students construct a pendulums and experiment with what variables change or effect the rate at which they swing through an arc. They are assessed on scientific inquiry including the following skills: observation, data collection,...
Curated OER
Rate of Solvation
Students test factors that may affect the rate at which sugar dissolve in water. They conduct two studies: One is to test the effect of temperature on the rate of solvation and the other is to test a factor which Students come up with...
Curated OER
Mutations--Preexisting or Acquired?
Learners state the controls and variables of the Newcombe spread experiment. They state a hypothesis for the Newcombe spread experiment. Students distinguish between the characteristics of a preexisting mutations and those of an...
Curated OER
Bleach Chemical Reactions
Students learn what happens when bleach comes in contact with various cloth fibers, chemical colors, nature and synthetics.
Curated OER
Investigating the Effect of Minerals on Plant Growth
How do different minerals affect the growth of plants? Budding botanists find out in a multi-week experiment that has them using solutions with specific mineral deficiencies. While there is a lot of preparation for the investigation,...
Curated OER
Solar Kit Lesson #11 - Power Maximum: An Electrical Determination
Collaborative groups connect resistors and solar panels in series and measure electrical resistance, voltage, and current. The objective is to order 16 solar panels from strongest to weakest. They graph current-voltage and power curves...
Mascil Project
Parachute Food Drop
Drop a perfect project into your lesson plans. Groups use different building materials to create models of parachutes for food drops. After testing out their prototypes, they make improvements to their designs.
Nuffield Foundation
Investigating Enzymes Used in Laundry Detergent
It's a win-win situation: learn about enzymes and get clean clothes, too. Young scientists add enzymes to a dilution of laundry detergent. They apply them to stained fabrics to determine the effectiveness of the enzyme-filled detergents.
Curated OER
Lost on Everest
What would it be like to be stranded on Mount Everest? Curious learners view a video clip, test common fabrics to see how they stand up to cold, and develop/answer discussion questions.
Curated OER
The Atlatl System
Fifth graders are introduced to the atlatl system and how to test and control variables. In groups, they use the Internet to research how the system has changed over time. They test various variables and record their results in a graph...
Curated OER
Power
Pupils analyze people's sources of power: resources, organization and numbers. They determine when and how power is exercised by analyzing specific examples.
Curated OER
Experimenting with Motion
Students study motion and how different variables can change the outcome. For this motion lesson students answer questions about their experiment and see what the different variables did.
Curated OER
Environmental Graphing
Students experiment with graphing. For this graphing introduction lesson, students complete four activities: 1) a bar graph based on class birthdays 2) an estimation graph of the raisins in raisin bread 3) another estimation example with...
Curated OER
Marble Madness
Young scholars determine the velocity of a marble rolling down the incline. In this physics instructional activity, students identify the independent and dependent variables in the experiment. They construct and analyze a graph.
Curated OER
Electromagnets
Students improve their science skills by designing an experiment for the relationship between electricity and magnetism. For this science skills lesson, students discuss the scientific method and use the given materials to complete an...
Curated OER
How Do We Use Scientific Inquiry To Solve the World's Problems?
Ninth graders examine how a scientific investigation is performed. They read and discuss examples of various scientific experiments, design an experiment involving fast growing plants, and create graphs and charts to present their...
Curated OER
Fertilizer Frenzy
Ninth graders design and conduct an experiment. They evaluate other's experiments. Students describe relationships between biological systems and the environmental contaminants. They work as a team to solve a problem.
Curated OER
Why did the can crush?
Students watch a demonstration to ascertain why a soda can crushed. They make observations and hypothesize about why a soda can crushed and relate the difference in pressure to its affect on objects around us (soda can). Explanation is...
Curated OER
Alfalfa Butterfly/Caterpillar Lifecycle Investigation
Students collect and record data. They identify sex of butterflies. They make conclusions based on collected data.
Curated OER
With Liberty and Top Soil for All
Learners describe the need of plants to have water, soil and sunlight to grow. They use the scientific method when completing experiments. They identify the core democratic values that are needed for a democracy to grow and compare them...
Curated OER
Our Food and Microorganisms
Students answer questions about how microorganisms can affect our food supply and how they can be controlled. The first set of inquiry activities are directed by the teacher. Subsequent activities are based on students generating their...
Curated OER
Acids And Bases -- Universal Indicator
Eighth graders design and perform an experiment that uses a Universal Indicator Color Guide to measure the strength of acids and bases. They also determine happens when acids and bases are mixed together. They decide which of three...
Curated OER
Apply Technological Design and Scientific Habits of Mind
Students work together to brainstorm their obstacles in testing different scientific principles. In groups, they are given a scenerio with a specific dilemma and they use the internet to research how to solve the problem. They design a...
Curated OER
Seeds and Similarities
Students use the scientific inquiry method to identify the changes in a plant's life cycle. In groups, they plant different types of plants and use a chart to compare and contrast their growth rates. They share their conclusions with...