Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Water Cycle: States of Water

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Elementary schoolers explore states of matter by concentrating on the ways in which water moves between its solid, liquid, and gaseous states in a variety of Earth environments. Learners interpret these movements through dance. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Temperature Changes Everything

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Middle school chemists visit interactive websites in order to discover what happens to molecular motion when heat is added to matter. They conduct an experiment that demonstrates the expansion of matter with the addition of heat. A lab...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ice Cream

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Open this instructional activity by giving a brief history of ice cream. Using liquid nitrogen to lower the temperature, preteens make their own confection. The accompanying activity sheet queries learners about freezing point, the...
Lesson Plan
Carnegie Mellon University

Bathtub Model

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Using a colorful infographic handout and a guide sheet, hold a class discussion about how a bathtub can serve as a model for the greenhouse effect created by Earth's atmosphere. Participants will understand that as energy or matter is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sky Show

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners use the internet to gather information to create their own science lesson plan. They choose from optical, wind, or electrical phenomena and use the internet to research information. Finally, they organize the information they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conductors and Insulators

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore conductors and insulators. In this science lesson, 5th graders act as electrons moving through a wire. Students break into groups representing conductors and insulators and explore how they work with electrons.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Will It Sink or Float?

For Teachers 3rd
Learners conduct a science experiment to determine whether a variety of objects will sink or float. They discuss the concept of density, and then make predictions about whether the objects will sink or float. They then conduct the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sink or Float?

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students predict and test different items to see if they sink or float. In this sink and float lesson plan, students predict whether an item is buoyant or not, and learn that size and weight do not matter when it comes to buoyancy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ice Cube Experiment

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd
Students explore the rate at which ice melts. In this science lesson plan, students place ice cubes on colored index cards and place them in direct sunlight. Students observe which ice cubes melt fastest and slowest.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Living Environment

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners explore the cycles of an ecosystem.  In this environmental science lesson plan, students work in groups to research the nitrogen cycle, the water cycle, or the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle. Learners prepare a PowerPoint or...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Do These Properties Matter?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders rotate between three property stations, the solid station, the gas station, and the liquid station. They experiment with each activity until the teacher gives the signal to change.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phases of Matter

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students describe the motion of solids, liquids and gases. In this chemistry lesson, students describe how temperature affect motion of the particles. They determine the physical properties of each phase.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Picnic, The Study of Matter

For Teachers 1st
First graders discover the properties of matter through hands-on experiences, 1st graders discover how to protect their Freeze Pop from melting.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's the Matter with My Jell-o?

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students work in teams of four as they conduct four controlled Jell-O experiments over a two-day period. The Family Page extends this learning to the community by providing families with challenges to explore at home.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's the Matter with My Orange?

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students use oranges to informally explore decomposition, dehydration, fermentation, the water cycle, bacteria, yeast, food webs, the needs of living things, and physical vs. chemical change over a period of three or more months.
Lesson Plan
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American Chemical Society

Temperature Affects Density

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Different substances can have different densities, but can the same substance have different densities? Lesson explores the effect of temperature on the density of water. Extension idea connects the concept of how melting ice in lakes...
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Temperature Affects Dissolving

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Stir chocolate drink mix into hot and cold water to see if there is a difference in how quickly it dissolves. Number three in a six-lesson unit on dissolving, this installment investigates the effect of temperature. If you consult the...
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Change in Temperature - Exothermic Reaction

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Alone, or as part of the intended unit on chemical reactions, this activity allows learners to experience an exothermic reaction. Here, learners add calcium chloride to a baking soda solution and watch the temperature rise! They will...
Lesson Plan
American Chemical Society

Comparing the Density of an Object to the Density of Water

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Investigators construct a makeshift balance and compare equal volumes of wax and water. They do the same for clay and water. Then they discover whether the wax and clay will float or sink in water. Ultimately this is a comparison of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Activity #7 Special Properties: A Discussion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify special properties of matter (absorbency, hardness, brittleness, malleability, and elasticity). They define the term matter. Pupils investigate some of the special properties of matter to aid in classifying matter.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Activity #5 'Empty' Bag?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students review that air is a form of matter. They investigate how air takes up space. Pupils comprehend that they cannot see air, it takes up space and has mass, therefore it is a form of matter. Students investigate how to show that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Activity #9 A State Debate!

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars list individual properties of solids, liquids, and gases. They examine that some properties have more than one state of matter. Pupils consider whether shaving cream, is a solid, a liquid, or a gas, or some combination.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

States of Water

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students investigate the 3 states of matter. In this physical science "matter" lesson, students observe and participate in a number of demonstrations involving melting and freezing water. Students observe the effect heat has on changing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solids, Liquids and Gases - Part 2

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students experiment with balloons, soda water and raisins to find out about the states of matter.  In this solids, liquids and gases lesson, students complete a group activity with balloons to recognize the state of matter in it....

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