Students discover that everyday substances are composed of parts that make a unique whole. Thsy examine a complex system when they create their own play dough by taking several parts and creating a whole.

Fourth graders explore physical changes. They discuss that physical change is a change in size, shape, or state of matter of a substance. Students explore what change takes place when two substances can dissolve each other. They observe...

Pupils discover the properties of matter and how they change when composite materials are produced.  In this informative lesson students write up a question and procedure to an experiment then analyze and draw conclusions based on...

Students explain the implications of particle theory of The Law of Conservation of Matter for problems of pollution and waste disposal. They describe, in terms of atoms and molecules, what happens to materials when they are dissolved or...

Learners investigate what happens to solids and liquids when they change from one form to another. In this states of matter lesson, students work in groups on a virtual experiment that requires them to collect data regarding the melting...

Learners investigate gases and liquids. For this states of matter online lesson, students examine how evaporation plays a part in the transition of liquids into gases as they watch a kettle of water boil and then work in small groups on...

Students explore the properties of matter. In this properties of materials lesson plan, students examine wood, metal, rubber, Styrofoam, and plastic. Students identify the attributes of each of the materials.

Students will create and predict patterns formed when making paper snowflakes. Students will construct snowflakes understanding that patterns may be predicted based on observation.

Eighth graders examine avalanches after reading excerpts from John Muir's book, "The Yosemite." In small groups, they conduct experiments with flour, sugar, and potato flakes representing different snow consistencies. Then, 8th graders...

Students discover how water expands when frozen during a glacier. In this matter lesson, students fill a glass jar with water, leaving no room for air in the jar and place it in the freezer.  Students retrieve the jar and notice the...

Students examine the different changes in matter.  In this chemical change lesson students determine the amount of reactant made in a reaction using the law of conservation. 

Students explore the concept of air. In this air lesson, students examine the attributes of air and study the pressure that air exerts as they observe a scientific demonstration and view 2 video links.

Learners explore how new advancements in technology can lead to advancements in scientific knowledge, and specifically how new technologies are advancing the study of mummies.

Students study nanotechnology and investigate the dimensions of a nanoscale.  In this nanometer study lesson students will see how truly small a nanometer is by measuring things such as a piece of hair.

How can one easily classify metals, nonmetals, and metalloids? Pupils answer this question as they experiment with unknown substances and perform tests on conductivity, brittleness, and malleability to determine...

Searching for a relatively interesting way to demonstrate Charles' Law? Here is a lesson in which pupils heat air inside a flask and then cool the flask to quickly cool the air. They make observations about what occurs during the...

What's in the water? Encourage your class to further explore this question and learn about pond ecosystems, food chains, and food webs as they complete this hands-on activity. They view the environment from a new perspective...

General chemistry class members engage in a mini-unit on mole conversions. Through nine lab activites with varying degrees of difficulty, they practice measuring mass and volume, molar calculations, and stoichiometry. Terrific...

Young chemists perform an experiment to determine if a compound is iron (II) chloride or iron (III) chloride. Then they determine the formula, balance the equation, and answer analysis questions. 

If your pupils think a catalyst is a list of their cats, then this might be the lesson for you! Young chemists study the effect of temperature, catalysts, concentration, and particle size on reaction rates during four different...

Young chemists grow ionic crystals, metallic crystals, and supersaturated crystals in three different lab experiments. Observing these under a microscope allows pupils to compare the various structures. 

Students explore solids, liquids, and gases. In this states of water lesson, students conduct a scientific investigation that requires them to observe and note the differences among solid, liquids, and gases.

Students compare slime recipes. In this properties of matter lesson, students make Oobleck and glurch and compare the properties of each and examine the solid and liquid properties of them.

Young scholars examine the change of matter while making ice cream. In this change of matter instructional activity, students work in groups to observe the change of matter in ice cream. Young scholars follow a recipe in order to...