Science Matters
Energy Transfer and Transformation
When you take a simple task and create an exceptionally difficult way to complete it, it is known as a Rube Goldberg machine. These machines are filled with many types of energy transfers and energy transformations. Here, pupils...
Science Matters
Potential and Kinetic Energy
Everything has potential energy; learning to use it is the key to understanding all types of energy. Scholars learn the difference between kinetic and potential energy. They then apply the concept to drawing examples of both types...
Science Matters
Energy from Water Wheels
Historians believe the first vertical water wheel was invented in Rome during the Augustan Age. The sixth lesson in the series of 10 has scholars experiment with designing their own water wheels. Through testing various pastas and...
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Eyes on Dissolved Oxygen
Learn about the factors that affect the way oxygen dissolves in salt water with a chemistry lab. After studying the molecular structure of water, young scientists figure out how aeration, temperature, and organic waste affect...
Curated OER
Dead Zones: Why Are the Waters Dying?
Young scholars investigate the effects of pollution on marine ecosystems. They read and discuss an article, identify the effects of pollution on marine life, conduct research on local nutrient pollution, and conduct local water quality...
University of California
Energy and Biomass Pyramids
Young scientists play tag as they act out the food pyramid in the ocean ecosystem. Energy circles pass from the smaller prey to the predators and at the end of the activity, a data chart and analysis questions allow pupils to apply their...
Curated OER
Ecosystem Lesson Plan: Food Chain/Food Web
Students discuss ecosystems, eliciting their current knowledge of an ecosystem. Students receive an Ecosystems document and look at the picture. Students brainstorm connection between the cover picture and ecosystems. The indicated...
Curated OER
Water Chemistry
Young scholars engage in a lesson that is concerned with the concept of water chemistry. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Students also consider an experiment to observe how water has the abiility to exist as three...
Curated OER
What's Making It Look So Brown Outside?
Ninth graders analyze cars and particulate matter in the atmosphere. They analyze results of particulate pollutants and identify which vehicle gives off more particulates. They identify sources of particulate matter and relate to...
Curated OER
Make it Rain!
Young scholars describe how water exists on earth in three states. They trace the path that rain water follows after it falls. Students describe various forms that water takes on the earth's surface and conditions under which they...
Curated OER
Soiled Again
High schoolers propose and perform an experiment using the scientific method. The purpose of the experiment is to discern some earth materials or combinations of earth materials that best increases the pH of "acid rain". From the results...
Curated OER
For Your Eyes Only
Students identify two major types of visible pollutants, smog, and particulate matter, They explain that air pollutants are generated during incomplete combustion. They measure and rank collectors from the most pollutants to the least...
Curated OER
Tropical Atlantic Aerosols
Students analyze NASA data from the Multi-angle Imaging Spectroradiometer. In this NASA data lesson, students access an assigned website to examine information from the MISR on the Terra Satellite. They determine how desert dust travels...
Curated OER
Permafrost: Permanently Frozen Ground
Students explore permafrost. In this 3 states of matter lesson, students identify characteristics of solids and liquids. Students observe water and soil melting and freezing at various temperatures. Students make...
Curated OER
Plant Power
Seventh graders discuss the role of plants on Earth's biological system. In this life science lesson, 7th graders explain the process of transpiration and its importance in establishing Earth's climate patterns.
Curated OER
Dusty Air
Students discover the types and amounts of particulate matter found in the air. They collect particulates using a Petri dish coated with Vaseline then classify and count the collection under a stereoscope.
Curated OER
Tides and How Creatures Survive
Students discover tidal pools. In this oceanographic lesson, students observe the tides of the earth and the creatures that inhabit the intertidal zones. Students role-play the tidal zones by portraying themselves as animals...
Curated OER
Global Warming
Young scholars examine how human produced emissions of carbon dioxide contribute to global warming. Using the internet, they research the future effects of global warming on the Earth. In groups, they discover ways to reduce daily...
Curated OER
Energy: Exploring Alternative Forms
In the study of science, there is always
going to be research, data, theories and wonderful new discoveries. I feel that my interest
about energy will help me design an adequate unit full of intrigue and discovery. The
students should...
Curated OER
Phases of the Moon
Students use a simple physical model of the Earth, sun, and moon to understand why the moon changes phases from the perspective of Earthly observers. They hold up balls representing the moon in a room with a single light source to see...
Curated OER
Our Savage Planet in the News
Young scholars research volcanoes, storms, atmospheric conditions, etc., find information and collect facts, create a simulation of a science news broadcast, watch a video clip of an avalanche, and create an artistic rendering of one...
Curated OER
Spectral Surprise
Students create spectral colors. In this hands-on science lesson plan, students examine the electromagnetic spectrum as they follow steps to create a model that separates and displays light.
Curated OER
Density and Mass
Learners experiment to find which liquids are more dense. In this density and mass lesson, students predict and then test objects to observe and measure their density. learners observe which items sink and float. Students complete...
Curated OER
What happens to water before we use it?
Students examine how water is treated prior to becoming available for human consumption. In this water treatment lesson plan, students conduct an experiment in which they filter water. Students formulate a hypothesis, test, analyze data,...