Curated OER
A Constructivist Version of the Snail & Elodea Lab
Students explain the importance of having a control when setting up an experiment.
Curated OER
Looking At Variables
Learners predict and test different variables that would effect sugar cubes dissolving in water. In this dissolving lesson plan, students have 4 petri dishes with 4 different variations of sugar cubes and water. They predict which will...
Curated OER
You Really "Affect" Me
Middle schoolers examine the effects of variables. They view a video which introduces the concepts, take part in an internet-based activity, then engage in a hands-on activity which allows them to practice what they have been studying.
Curated OER
The Mulch Mystery!
Fourth graders make a detailed observations about non-native and native grasses. They define reasonable policies that they expect to follow while working in the CRWA. Students list, in small groups, two treatments that have been used in...
Curated OER
Algebra I: Linear Functions
Using rates from a rental car company, young mathematicians graph data, explore linear relationships, and discuss the role of slope and the y-intercept. This lesson allows for the discussion of independent and dependent variables, as...
Virginia Department of Education
Scientific Inquiry: Measurement/Data
While pupils design their own lab experiments, they will not form a new species. Scholars take their materials and design an experiment regarding reaction rates.
Nuffield Foundation
Investigating Osmosis in Chickens' Eggs
You might not be able to learn through osmosis, but you sure can observe it! Scholars observe and measure osmosis using chicken eggs. They control for multiple variables to determine which variables have an impact and how the impact...
American Chemical Society
Changing State: Evaporation
Why do experiments require a control? Guide scholars through designing an experiment to see what they can do to evaporate water faster with a lesson that stresses the importance of controlling all variables. The second activity...
Curated OER
Teen Driving: Skills, Responsibilities and Reactions
As an introduction to the skills required for and responsibilities of driving, pre-teens and teens engage in a series of activities, chart their response times, and analyze how variables effect these reaction times. Class...
American Chemical Society
Can Liquids Dissolve in Water?
How does food coloring work? Classes watch a demonstration showing liquids dissolving in liquids. In groups, they then explore the ability of other liquids to dissolve in water (alcohol, mineral oil, and corn syrup) by setting up and...
Curated OER
Pendulum Lab in 9th Grade Physical Science
Ninth graders conduct experiments to determine what affects the rate of a pendulum's swing. Working in small groups, they identify an independent variable to study and create an experiment to test their hypothesis. When tests are...
Curated OER
Study the Fizz
Students experiment to determine which bottle of soda has more dissolved carbon dioxide. For this solutions lesson, students use the scientific method to test the amount of carbon dioxide in bottles of soda. They identify and explain the...
Curated OER
Variables
Students watch a video show how to identify the independent variable, dependent variable and controls in an experiment; and design experiments that use controls to isolate a single independent variable and measure the resulting dependent...
Virginia Department of Education
Work and Power
Assist your class with correctly calculating the values for force, work, and power as they determine the amount various activities require. They gather data and participate in a group discussion to compare results upon conclusion of the...
American Chemical Society
Using Dissolving to Identify an Unknown
There is a solvent called aqua regis that can dissolve gold! After observing a solubility demonstration, groups receive four known crystals and one unknown. Based on the demo, they design an experiment to determine the identity of the...
Curated OER
Budgeting: You Can't Manage What You Don't Know
Learners discuss budgets. In this mathematics lesson, students watch an episode of Biz Kid$ about budgeting, participate in a guided group discussion, and create a pamphlet to teach others how to budget their money. Extension activities...
Curated OER
GROWING PLANTS UNIT
Students predict outcomes of scientific experiment,.conduct a scientific experiment with control groups, and plant seeds to observe, measure, and compare growth across groups. They gather, record, analyze, and share data with other...
EngageNY
Experiments and the Role of Random Assignment
Time to experiment with mathematics! Learners study experimental design and how randomization applies. They emphasize the difference between random selection and random assignment and how both are important to the validation of the...
Curated OER
The Marvels of Mud
Young scientists roll up their sleeves and get a little dirty in this three-day earth science investigation. Following the scientific method, children monitor the growth of algae in pond water samples in order to determine...
NASA
Heavy Lifting
Accept NASA's challenge to design heavy lifting vehicles. Groups of three design balloon-powered rockets to carry as much payload to the ceiling as possible. The teams are encouraged to launch several times while making...
Curated OER
Popcorn Science
Students identify and apply the scientific method through an experiment with popcorn. Then they identify what independent, dependent, and control variables are and create a list of different variables that affect popcorn popping....
Curated OER
Point Graphs
Students experiment with point graphs. In this math instructional activity, students are divided into groups and perform an experiment to see how high a ball bounces, recording their results on a point graph. Students then answer...
Curated OER
Red Means Danger
Students describe some common pests. They study three levels of pest control from the IPM pyramid.
Curated OER
Bubbles
Students experiment bubbles. In this scientific method lesson, students identify variables used in proper experiment design. Students conduct experiments with different brands of dish-washing detergent to determine which brand makes the...