Curated OER
Introduce Solids
Students identify and interpret a variety of solid materials - cloth, wood, metal, plastic, paper, and rubber. After a period of free exploration, they then describe the properties of the objects and develop vocabulary in order to...
Curated OER
Air and Its Characteristics
Learners explore air through guided discovery. In this air lesson, students will observe three demonstrations about air. They will answer leading questions as they observe how air displaces and takes up space, how air has weight, and how...
Curated OER
Science Lesson Plans
Learners conduct a variety of exploration activities on various science topics. For this science lesson outline, students design a cell encapsulation to hold a specific type of medicine. They give examples of physical and chemical...
Curated OER
Environment: Erosion Boxes
Fourth graders discover how the processes of erosion and weathering alter the physical characteristics of the environment. In a student log,they record the various types of erosion and list ways to prevent it. Using clear, plastic...
NOAA
Ocean Zones
How can organisms light up in water? Bioluminescence is light produced in a chemical reaction that can occur in an organism's body. First, learners determine what happens to light/color as you move into the deep ocean. In groups, they...
Cornell University
Unknown Powders
Create a little scientific magic within your classroom! Learners mix powders and liquids and identify chemical reactions. Based on the reactions, individuals determine the identity of various powders.
Teach Engineering
Messin' with Mixtures
Do you separate your trail mix before eating it? Then you've been separating mixtures your whole life! Scholars model a contaminated soil sample using trail mix and estimate the percentage of each component. They consider how to clean up...
American Chemical Society
Developing Tests to Distinguish Between Similar-Looking Liquids
Each group talks about how to test unknown liquids based on their findings in the previous experiment. In this second of four activities, they test unknowns on wax paper, newspaper, and construction paper. As a stand-alone, this lesson...
American Chemical Society
Investigating the Line
Note that this lesson is best paired with the preceding lesson in the unit. In that lesson, elementary physical scientists observed that the color coating of M&Ms® candies do not mix when dissolved off of the chocolate surface. Now...
Curated OER
More on Conduction and Convection
Why do some items feel colder when they are the same temperature? How should you keep your soda cold? What makes the wind blow? These are just some of the things middle schoolers discover when completing a lesson on...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Carbon, Greenhouse Gases, and Climate
Climate models mathematically represent the interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, land, sun, surface, and ice. Part two in the series of four lessons looks at the role greenhouse gases play in keeping Earth warm and has participants...
Curated OER
Heat and Matter
Students explore liquids and solids by conducting in class experiments. In this matter activity, students define the properties of matter and how heat can change those properties. Students experiment with heating objects such as butter...
Curated OER
Science:Effects of Weathering
Seventh graders take an outdoor observation walk around the campus and take soil samples. Working in groups , they conduct experiments with rocks and soil that demonstrate the effects of different types of erosion.
Curated OER
Water Filtration Competition
Young scholars design water filtration systems. They draw sketches and write paragraphs about their systems. After presenting their systems to the class, each group then builds their system and determines its effectiveness for purifying...
Curated OER
Sound
Fifth graders explore and examine the basic properties of sound. In pairs, they speak through a balloon and listen to the sound vibrations, and listen to a ticking clock or watch through a variety of materials and identify the...
Curated OER
To Float or Not to Float - A Lesson on Density
Students observe and experiment with the concept of density. This is done using a simple experiment that helps them to apply scientific principles of observation and proving a hypothesis.
Curated OER
Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers
Twelve pages of text tells viewers about the physical properties and naming procedures for alcohols and ethers. A page is also dedicated to briefly describing phenols. This straightforward chemistry presentation comes to you as a PDF...
Curated OER
Salt and Water Divorce by a Physical Change
High schoolers discuss the definitions of physical and chemical properties and changes. They vaporize a solution of salt and water, observing the sodium chloride that is left behind.
Curated OER
The"Dirt" on Soil
Young scholars examine the three different types of soil and their physical properties. In this soil lesson students design and implement a model of a water treatment plant.
Curated OER
Animals: Worms
Students research the physical characteristics of mealworms and tubefex. In this worm lesson, students explore worms using a microscope. Students search their environment for worms.
Curated OER
The Same But Different
Fourth graders identify the characteristics of a simple physical change. They describe objects by the properties of the materials from which they are made. Students discuss the different states of matter and their distinct physical...
Curated OER
Learning About Matter And Energy
Students learn about matter and energy. For this science lesson plan, students gain an understanding of the properties of matter and energy as they discover that some things float, some things dissolve in water and discuss that energy...
Curated OER
Solids, Liquids and Gases - Part 2
Students experiment with balloons, soda water and raisins to find out about the states of matter. In this solids, liquids and gases lesson plan, students complete a group activity with balloons to recognize the state of matter in...
Curated OER
Science- Unit on Matter- Solids
Second graders identify and describe properties of matter.
They identify three forms of matter- solids, liquids, and gases with 100% accuracy. The student describes the properties of solid objects.