Lesson Plan
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Oxygen vs. Air Pressure

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students conduct an experiment to determine if water level is affected by a change in oxygen level or air pressure.
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Mystery Polymers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils examine how some natural substances are polymers.  In this polymer lesson students complete a lab and give examples of a physical change. 
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Watershed Analysis

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Students conduct a regional watershed analysis of an area of their choosing. Using on-line data and their personal knowledge of the area, they determine the annual hydrologic budget and teach the class about "their" watershed.
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Collecting and Classifying Pollen

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students collect and analyze pollen from different species of plants. In small groups, they classify pollen according to shape, size and physical characteristics. They draw the basic anatomy of flowering plants and create a dichotomous...
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Floor Polish Experiments

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students compare various brands of floor polishes and test their durability and appearance.  In this floor polish lesson plan students test different polishes and check performance. 
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Mighty Oaks from Little Acorns

For Teachers K - 4th Standards
What does it mean to grow? To germinate? For the plan detailed here, class members investigate the growth process of an oak tree while focusing on the beginning stages of planting and germination. They plant seeds and record observations...
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Acid Stomach

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop an understanding of how aspirin works and how understanding it's interaction with other chemicals in the body aided doctors in medical research. They complete a lab that compares the reaction of regular aspirin and...
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Adventures With Super-Absorbers and Substance Solubility

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students understand the concepts of absorption, swellability and solubility and recognize that science is all around us in our everyday lives and is fun to explore.
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Red, Green, and Blue Mystery Liquids! Hypothesis or Inference?

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders are actively involved in the scientific method and inquiry as they form quick hypotheses based upon a teacher set of mystery liquids. They determine the need to make additional observations of the liquids.
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The Miracle Fish: Learning to Design an Experiment

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students develop procedures to explore the behavior of fish.  In this scientific experiment instructional activity students from a hypothesis, write a question, identify different variables and controls in their experiment. 
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Heat Transfer

For Teachers 10th - 12th
The young scholars construct a heating curve and explain its components. They perform calculations. They review phase changes and quantify Energy differences. They review phases of matter and their energy content.
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Candy Cane Chemistry

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders, in groups, examine the effect of heat on bonding forces by doing laboratory work.
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Oil Embargo!

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders generate and analyze data to determine which and how much of two polymers best absorb oils, formulate procedure to accurately determine how many times its own weight particular polymer can absorb, and develop understanding...
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Buoyant Force

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students investigate the scientific concept of why some objects float when put in a liquid solution. They apply the laws of motion and force while conducting classroom activities. Students also take notes and answer target questions to...
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Off Base

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study La Chatelier's principle and identify how carbon dioxide may affect pH.  In this coral lesson students complete a worksheet on pH and observe a lab.
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Measuring Thermal Energy Transfer

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct an experiment to calculate and quantify heat transfer. They conduct the experiment, and complete a data and lab conclusion sheet.
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Did a Chemical Reaction "Really" Occur?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners perform several different experiments to observe signs of chemical reactions and determine if reaction has occurred, use search engine to find Internet sites pertaining to chemical reactions, and write up brief summary of site.
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Physics Post-Lab

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students explore physics. In this science lesson, students discuss physics in their everyday lives. Students complete a physics worksheet.
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Corrosion/Plating/Electrolysis

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students familiarize themselves with half cell reactions, potential circuits, etc. They participate in a lab that includes a worksheet that guides them through an inquiry pertaining to the content. They complete a series of questions...
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Reaction Rates

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students work in groups of 4-6 for the experiment/activity part of this exercise. They base their explanation on what they observed. Students observe how substances react chemically in characteristic ways with other substances to form...
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Thermoset Polymers

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students complete a lab activity with polymers to allow them to better understand how to make "observations".  In this science instructional activity students make measurements and collect data.
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Mixtures

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders experiment with mixtures. In this chemistry instructional activity, 6th graders determine which mixtures are considered heterogeneous, a suspension, a solution or a colloid. Students create a data sheet of what they discover.
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Enzymes

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders test their saliva for enzyme activity. In this enzyme lesson, 10th graders conduct an experiment to test the enzymatic activity of their saliva. They relate the lack of certain digestive enzymes with alcoholism.
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Determining pH

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students evaluate pH levels through a solubility experiment. In this pH levels lesson, students list characteristics of acids and bases. Students complete their own pH level experiment. Students go to the GEMS Alien Juice Bar website to...