Teach Engineering
Light vs. Heat Bulbs
Careful, that light bulb is hot! Compare heat and light energy using a simple light bulb. The exercise addresses energy conservation and presents actual calculations to determine the most cost-effective light bulb.
Teach Engineering
Light Up Your Life
How do lighting types affect energy efficiency? Explore different types of lighting and the energy they use. Pupils learn about types of lights and calculate the energy used during a typical school year. They discover that being...
Teach Engineering
Circuits and Magnetic Fields
Have your class use compasses to try to find the magnetic field around an electric current. Groups use the same technique to visualize magnetic fields as they did in the second activity in the series, but this time, the field is...
Teach Engineering
Boxed In and Wrapped Up
If cubes have the smallest surface area, why aren't there more cube-shaped packages? Scholars take a box in the shape of a rectangular prism, cut it up, and make new boxes in the shape of cubes with the same volume. They then brainstorm...
Curated OER
Are You Full of Hot Air?
Explore the concept of measuring and recording circumference. In this physical science and measurement lesson, young learners blow up balloons, measure the circumference, and record the data on an interactive graphing website.
Concordia University Chicago
Peace and Plenty by George Inness
Learners will need to discuss the Civil War to truly understand the painting Peace and Plenty by George Inness. They'll analyze the painting in terms of context, style, and technique. Then, they'll experiment with light and composition...
Curated OER
Lenz's Law
Students conduct a series of experiments on electromagnetic induction. In this physics lesson, students apply the right hand rule to determine the current direction and electromotive force. They test Lenz's and Faraday's law by observing...
Curated OER
Fun with Surface Tension!
Students explore physical science by participating in a water properties experiment. In this surface tension instructional activity, students utilize pennies, water, a dropper and soapy water to test the different surface tensions with...
Curated OER
Warming by Freezing
Ninth graders discover the reasoning behind spraying water on fruit and seedlings in preparation for hard freezes. In this conceptual physics lesson, 9th graders conduct an experiment to measure the heat released when water goes from a...
Curated OER
Potato Petri dish
Students participate in an experiment to understand how germs grow. In this potato experiment students use their hands to touch a potato and leave it to see what grows on it. Students also observe a disinfected potato piece. Students the...
Curated OER
Opening Our Minds
Students discover the function of the brain. In this biology instructional activity, students participate in several experiments to demonstrate what part of the brain controls their movements. An example of an experiment is drawing with...
Curated OER
Salmon Homing Instincts
Students identify the stages of the salmon life cycle. In this fish lesson, students experience first hand what it would be like to be a returning salmon attempting to identify a home stream by smell.
Curated OER
Food Safety Lab-Part 3 Cross Contamination andHygiene
Students observe the effect of croos contamination as they inoculate orange juice with penicillin mold from the refrigeration lab and active yeast solution from the sterilization lab. They experience a simulation of passing bacteria...
Curated OER
Transition Metals (III)
Students discuss transition metals, where they are located on the periodic table, some of the element in the group, and some characteristics of the group. They work in groups to conduct an experiment in which they mix transition metals...
Curated OER
Bacteria: The good, the bad, the ugly
Seventh graders conduct an experiment. In this bacteria lesson, 7th graders list living and nonliving things and brainstorm the characteristics they share. Students are divided into two groups where they put samples of hand...
Reach Out!
Paper Clip Sailing
Learners explore water, molecules, and surface tension. In this floatation instructional activity, students discover why some objects are able to float on water as they follow the procedures included in this activity.
Curated OER
How Hot Is Hot In Namib?
Students research and demonstrate the temperatures of the Namibian Desert. They watch and discuss a video, conduct an experiment to demonstrate the desert temperatures, record their results in the form of a graph, and compare/contrast...
Curated OER
Squiggly, Wiggly Worms
Students, who are in early elementary grades, pair with fifth grade students to study worms. They observe worms in experiments, create research questions, and complete the research using Internet sites. They participate in a "Worm...
Curated OER
DEMONSTRATING AN EPIDEMIC
Learners experience a small scale "epidemic," demonstrating the ease with which disease organisms are spread, and enables the student to determine the originator of the "epidemic." They transfer live bacteria by hand contact, then...
Curated OER
Change It
Fourth graders expand their knowledge about how the physical properties of a substances can be changed. They are given multiple opportunities, using first-hand experiences and familiar objects in different contexts, to identify...
Curated OER
Now you see it....Now you Don't
Students investigate the biodegrading process of packing peanuts. In this biological process lesson, students conduct an experiment to see how quickly packing peanuts biodegrade. Students check the process each day and record their results.
Curated OER
Salt: Up Close and Personal
Students predict, observe, and explain the details of salt as they view it under a variety of magnifications. They observe salt with the naked eye, and then under a hand lens, microscope, and the electron microscope.
Curated OER
Going, Going, Gone!
Sixth graders use the scientific method to test variables of evaporation. In this evaporation lesson plan, 6th graders test a wet handprint on a paper towel and relate this experiment to weather conditions.
Curated OER
Diffusion
Students design and carry out an experiment according to the scientific method. The experiment must test the effects of time and concentration on the rate of diffusion of potassium permanganate into potato cubes. After performing the...