Lesson Plan
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What Changes Occur When Ice Melts?

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students explore the physical process of melting. They observe melting ice and answer questions related to energy transfer during phase changes.
Lesson Plan
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Effects of Ozone in the Air

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders learn how ground-level ozone is an air pollution problem. Students measure ozone levels and graph the results.
Lesson Plan
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Scientists at Work: What'll they think of next?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore scientific discovery while watching a video. They, in groups, are to research a scientific invention and present their findings to the class.
Lesson Plan
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Balloons: Math with the Montgolfier Balloon

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discover the history of hot air balloons by watching one ascent.  In this physics lesson plan, students utilize a Montgolfier Hot Air Balloon from an earlier lesson plan and record the temperature, rate of ascent and the...
Lesson Plan
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Sometimes, solid + liquid = gas

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders experiment with common household liquids and solids. For this chemical reaction lesson, 3rd graders discuss phase changes and experiment to find other ways to create gases. They use water, vinegar, lemon juice, flour,...
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Estimation Task

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Upper graders practice their estimation skills by observing different objects then making their best guess without using measuring instruments. Students are asked to estimate mass, length, volume, and area.
Lesson Plan
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The Day the Atom Died (Grade K-1)

For Teachers K - 1st
Students investigate what is wrong with the Rutherford atomic model. In this chemistry instructional activity, students answer questions about the atomic model after watching a video. They draw conclusions from the video and discuss how...
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What Is Chemistry, Anyway?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students differentiate physical and chemical change. In this chemistry lesson plan, students list examples of those changes. They apply what they learned in a Jeopardy style team game.
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Up, Up and Away

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders are presented with the problem of: Do all liquids evaporate at the same rate? The lesson contains adequate background information for the teacher. They participate in a lab experiment in order to test the scientific...
Lesson Plan
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What Boat Designs Float the Best?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate buoyancy by conducting a science experiment.  In this water properties lesson, 5th graders predict which of their different paper boat designs will float for the longest period.  Students conduct the...
Lesson Plan
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Skyscraper Capers

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Pupils discuss skyscrapers and listen as the teacher introduces the project. They use the Internet to perform research on one skyscraper. Students use information they gather to create a brochure of their building . They create an Excel...
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Detection Detective

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers describe what each detection method uses and rank the wavelengths of each if appropriate. They answer questions about absorption, importance of materials and explain differences. Students make sure they describe diagnostic...
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Float My Boat

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders, in groups, experiment with density and the displacement of water by creating and designing their own boats and seeing which boat holds the most centimeter cubes without sinking..
Lesson Plan
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The Water Cycle

For Teachers 1st
First graders investigate the different stages of the water cycle. They conduct Internet research and complete a water cycle WebQuest. Students identify what happens at each stage of the water cycle, and write about each stage in their...
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SLIME!

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Young scholars learn the effects of friction and examine how certain lubricants can only be used with certain materials.
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Avalanche

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students investigate the concept of avalanches and how they effect people who use the slopes. They conduct research using multiple resources that includes the internet in order to create a final oral presentation.
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Polymers

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore online tutorial on polymers. In this chemistry lesson, they create two polymers in the lab and compare their properties. They write a sales letter about their new and improved polymer product.
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Microscopes and Crystals

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students observe crystals under the microscope. In this science lesson, students compare how the crystal look like using their eyes, hand lens and microscope. They identify the type of crystal based on the amount of light they allow to...
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Density

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students, in groups, design a procedure to calculate the mass of gas molecules in the classroom by measuring the volume of the classroom and researching the density of air. They apply changes in air density with altitude and effects on a...
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Mystery Polymers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine how some natural substances are polymers.  In this polymer activity students complete a lab and give examples of a physical change. 
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Sink or Swim

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students define density and explain how to determine the density of an object. Students participate in a demonstration that shows the differences in the densities of different liquids and how they affect the liquid's physical properties.
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Which Wrap Is Wrapped Right?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students investigate the integrity and strength of different types of food wraps. They test the wraps and create a graphic organizer for the data. Once it is organized then a lab report can be written. The lesson contains background...
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Periodic Table & Its Trends

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students review atomic structure and then participate in a activity in which they categorize several "elements" into some form of order based on their properties. They discuss the trends they see. They also practice several electron...
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The Right Tool for the Job: Diagnosis Spectrum

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students watch a section of a medical TV show and individually make a written recommendation of appropriate imaging techniques to be used and explain why they chose these techniques. They participate in a discussion revealing their...