Cornell University
Catapult
Studying levers couldn't be more exciting! Learners build their own catapults and test the results as they make adjustments to the fulcrum. They compete against other groups to create the most accurate apparatus.
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Science: How Solids Become Liquids
Second graders discover how matter changes from one state to another by observing melting ice cubes. They decide on means to warm the ice and predict what will happen. Students record how long it takes for the cubes to melt.
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Science: Liquid Matter
Second graders examine the properties of liquids and their classifications. They compare and contrast cups of different liquids and record their findings in journals. Students observe how liquids flow at various speeds and that unlike...
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The Interactive Periodic Table of the Elements
Students study the different types of metals. In this investigative activity students watch a demonstration on the effects of temperature on atoms and take a tour through baone matter.
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Particulate Matter: How Dirty is the Air We Breathe?
Fourth graders work together to collect air samples for testing. They determine the amount of pollution in the air in their community. They discuss their results to end the lesson.
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The Big Meltdown
Students work together to develop a container to keep an ice cube in a solid state. They identify the three stages of matter and test different materials for this experiment. They share their results with the class.
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Particulate Matter: The Lorax
Students collect air samples to test it for air pollution. They are read the story The Lorax and discuss the effects of air pollution. They share their observations with the class.
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The Path of Pollution
Learners follow the path of pollution from the Chernobyl accident. Students name and locate countries where radiation traveled to, describe how air pollution travels from one area to another, and seqence the travel of radiation in...
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Coefficient of Kinetic Friction and Surface Area
Pupils investigate coefficient of friction with respect to surface area and applied force in contact with the sliding force.
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Survival Science: How Evaporation and Condensation Can Save Your Life!
Eighth graders demonstrate how scientific principles can be used to provide resources in an emergency situation. In this evaporation lesson students view a demonstration on a solar still and see a brief PowerPoint presentation.
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Changes in Matter
Eighth graders, in groups, explain the difference between physical and chemical changes.
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Chemical Changes
Eighth graders observe two types of interactions in a sealed plastic bag. One bag contains baking soda and water, and the other baking soda and vinegar. They determine what evidence indicates that a chemical change is occurring.
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Paper Chromatography
Learners use this design the illustrate how ink can be separated into its component chemicals using paper chromatography. They use five unknown samples of ink on pre-labeled chromatography strips are provided to students. Learners use...
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Physical and Chemical Changes
Students examine the different changes in matter. In this chemical change lesson plan students determine the amount of reactant made in a reaction using the law of conservation.
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Wood is Everywhere!
Fifth graders diagram and label the parts of a tree. For this lesson plan on how trees obtain food, 5th graders diagram and label the parts of a tree, and determine the diameter, height, and age of a tree.
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Rising Water!
Young scholars observe water change from a liquid to a gas state when heated and then return to its liquid stage when cooled. They learn that gas molecules move faster than liquid molecules. They discover physical properties that...
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Funny Putty
Students are introduced to the properties of solids, liquids and gases. They see that colloids are mixtures which display the properties of more than one of these states. They engage in an excellent experiment which demonstrates this fact.
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Water Cycle
Third graders define and discuss evaporation, precipitation, condensation, and collection, color web pages to illustrate Water Cycle book, listen to stories about Water Cycle, play trivia game to demonstrate knowledge of what they...
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Mystery Powders
Fifth graders evaluate the physical properties of 5 powders. Each powder is subject to different conditions. They describe each observation as with a chemical change or a physical change.
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Chemistry & The Community
Students complete a Webquest which investigates the chemistry in items such as shampoo. They research the Internet, perform a lab experiment, and write a scientific lab report with their findings. Upon completion of the activities, the...
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See Spot Run
Students identify several properties of water as a universal substance, describe the composition of several complex color mixtures and separate the components of dye using chromatographic technique.
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Hydrogen Powered Cars
Students apply the principles of chemistry to investigate the concept of how a hydrogen powered car works. They study the electrochemical reactions that provide the energy source. Students also record observations in the functioning of a...
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Tornadoes
Middle schoolers examine the characteristics of a tornado. They practice using new vocabulary and participate in a question and answer session. They use the internet to gather more specific information.
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Ring Around the Rosie
Students examine the concept of angular momentum and its correlation to mass, velocity, and radius. They listen to a teacher-led lecture, conduct an experiment with rotational inertia, angular momentum, and rotation speed by making...