Scholars generate and collect pure oxygen through a decomposition reaction of hydrogen peroxide in the fourth lesson of an 11-part series. Then, they complete six investigations into the properties of oxygen.   

We all know limestone weathers, but what affects the rate of weathering? Young scientists investigate the physical and chemical weathering of limestone (chalk) through experimentation. First, they conduct trials with different-size...

Learners define the terms "mass," "volume," and "density." The relationship between these three terms is established. They observe the differences between Regular and Diet Coke. They develop an hypotheses about why a can of Regular Coke...

Swirling and churning, the waters of the North Atlantic play a vital role in Earth's climate! Discover the many factors that produce circulation using a multimedia instructional activity from PBS's Weather and Climate series for high...

Students calculate the densities of several liquids that appear similar.  In this physical science lesson, students go beyond understanding the way liquids of different densities behave to researching how this knowledge applies in...

Young scholars investigate ways to find the density of irregular shaped objects. In this physics instructional activity, students calculate density using its mass and volume. They explain why some objects float or sink in water.

Students watch the teacher do a demonstration of density with diet and regular soda. Note: try this first, as different types of artificial sweetener have different densities. Students discuss density and volume. They discuss "Relational...

Third graders experiment with coins and water to explore light rays.  In this light and water lesson, 3rd graders work in pairs to observe what happens with a coin in water or how it appears based on the density of the water....

Learners explore the causes of differences in density. Students choose objects, measure the mass and volume, and calculate the density of each. They perform additional density experiments to model atoms and their correspondence to...

Students explore a hydrometer.  In this gravity lesson students construct a hydrometer and create a liquid density column. 

Students investigate the relationship between volume and mass in different liquids such as vegetable oil, rubbing alcohol and water. They measure the mass of several different volumes of each liquid and then graph the results as well as...

Students examine how salt water is more dense than fresh water. They discuss how manatees need to float and sink, conduct a sink or float experiment, and conduct an experiment with eggs and salt and fresh water.

Why are the properties of the water important when exploring the ocean? Young scientists discover the tools and technology used in deep sea exploration in the fourth installment in a five-part series. Groups work together to...

Present the class with a question on whether the water level of a pond will rise they take a large rock out of a boat and drop it into the pond. Groups come down on all sides of the question and try to justify their answers. The activity...

How do astronauts know how to live and work in a weightless environment? It doesn't come naturally! Junior physicists conduct experiments to examine the link between buoyancy and microgravity. Each activity illustrates a different aspect...

How does chemistry help deep-sea explorers? Part four of a five-part series of lessons from aboard the Okeanos Explorer introduces middle school scientists to technologies used in ocean exploration. Groups work together to analyze data...

Here is a comprehensive method for assessing chemistry learners' knowledge; have them approach two laboratory problems, plan their methods of solving each, and then actually carry out the experiments to find the answers. Both the...

Students use real satellite data to determine the changes in near-surface air temperature at different times of the year over the Caribbean Sea. They discover how Earth's tilt causes seasonal differences in incoming solar energy. They...

In this water worksheet, students review the properties of water including the density, boiling point, and evaporation. Students define mixture, solute, and solvent. This worksheet has 22 short answer questions.

Students investigate the concept of density by observing demonstrations. In this density lesson plan, students make observations while the teacher demonstrates the Cartesian diver, a density column, a candle trough, a wave bottle, an...

In this density worksheet, students read about density, volume and mass. They then use what they learned to answer the 8 questions on the page. The answers are on the last page.

Students explore water density and design a hydrometer to measure density. This activity is part of Ocean World's home site and excellent resources and links are provided.

Students investigate density using film canisters filled with different density materials and larger objects of varying density. In this density lesson plan, students discuss the concept of density and rank film containers from dense to...

Students experiment with objects of different densities. In this density lesson, students examine same-sized objects with different weights, then look at a teacher explanation of density. Students make wave bottles and a density jar to...