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Snowflake Crystals
Fourth graders explore physical changes and the true life story of Wilson Bentley. They observe the changes that take place with snowflakes. Students discuss what happens when snow flakes melt. They create their own snowflakes using...
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Properties of Matter
Second graders investigate how objects can be described, classified and compared by their composition. They recognize that the same material can exist in different states. Students verify that things can be done to materials to change...
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Waves
Students identify the different parts of a wave. In this physics lesson, students explain how animals communicate using sound waves. They discuss the effect of Navy's sonar on dolphins and whales.
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Circular Motion
Students research physical science by completing worksheets. In this gravity lesson, students read assigned text regarding the rotation of Earth and the gravitational force caused by the speed of which it rotates. Students complete a...
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Chemistry E3 Lesson Plan
Ninth graders perform a series of experiment to investigate heat transfer and phase changes. For this physical science lesson, 9th graders identify and calculate the different subatomic particles. They explain the importance of...
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Energy Efficiency Ambassadors
Students consider how to cut their energy use. In this physical science lesson, students investigate the connections between energy use and climate changes. Students compute the actual electrical energy consumption of 2 bulbs and...
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Heat: Mini Unit
Students experiment with heat. In this physical science lesson, students engage in hands-on activities to develop concepts related to heat. Students offer explanations for their observations using given vocabulary.
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What is Matter?
Learners create a definition of matter. In this physical science lesson, students work in pairs to sort items printed on cards into several categories (matter, non-matter, and unsure) and agree on a definition of matter.
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Water and Ice
Learners explore the states of matter. In this physical science lesson, students observe what happens to water when it freezes and record observations. Learners then observe ice when it melts and record observations.
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Bucket Brigade
Students participate in a physical fitness activity about water. In this water conservation lesson, students discuss how to conserve water and the amount of water most people use in a day. To illustrate this amount students move 70...
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Mixing Oil and Water
Young scholars explore physical science by participating in a class experiment. In this chemistry instructional activity, students discuss what they predict will happen when cooking oil and water are blended together. Young scholars...
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Energize Your Future
Students consider the positive and negative aspects of alternative energy. In this physical science instructional activity, students consider the sources of energy they use everyday. Students compare alternative sources of...
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The Greenhouse Effect in a Jar
Learners explore climate change by participating in a physical science experiment. In this greenhouse effect lesson plan, students discuss the impact global warming has on our environment and how it works. Learners utilize a glass jar,...
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Spin the Saltine!
Students investigate chemical energy. In this physical science lesson, students blow on saltine crackers to demonstrate how chemical energy in food can be converted to motion. Students compare the saltine cracker experiment to how...
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Physical Science Fun
Fifth graders explain how the land changes by developing some "land dances." Working in cooperative groups, each group develops a movement sequence that depicts the vocabulary word they are given. They teach dance to other classmates.
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Seeing and Feeling Sound Vibrations
Groups rotate through a series of stations and work with a partner to observe sound waves. Children describe sound in terms of pitch, volume, and frequency. To apply their new knowledge, the class considers how these observations can...
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Cooking with the Sun
Students explore using energy from the sun for heating and cooking as they build and compare the performance of four solar cooker designs. This excellent two-day lesson has groups of students build and test a variety of solar cookers....
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Sending Binary Messages
Pairs build a device that will be able to send a binary message. They then update their device to allow it to send four possible messages before upping the ante to eight. The provided self-assessment rubric comes with reflection...
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Life Cycle of the Plant - The Pumpkin
First graders access prior knowledge about pumpkins and read the story Pumpkin, Pumpkin. They will sequence the life cycle of the pumpkin through the use of picture cards and then sing a song about the life cycle of the pumpkin and plant...
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Making a Battery
Fifth graders make a battery. In this physical science lesson, 5th graders word in pairs make the battery. Students follow 4 steps to create the battery.
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Elements and Compounds
Students explain how radioactive decay occurs. In this physical science lesson, students simulate radioactive half-life through an experiment. They graph their data and share their results in class.
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Spin, Spin, Spin That Body!: Figure Skating, Physics, Science, Winter Sports, Olympics
Students learn the scientific principles of centripetal force through research and experimentation.
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Introduction to Electric Circuits
High schoolers explore using a circuit board in this physics lesson. They will analyze current and battery set up on a circuit board. Teachers check the board before the students experiment.
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Burning It Up
Students explore energy as it relates to body function. Data about the personal physical activity of students is gathered and entered into a database which is utilized to test hypotheses made.