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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water - Solid and Liquid

For Teachers 1st
First graders conduct a science inquiry by comparing water in its liquid and solid form. The students describe the different stages of water and complete a worksheet answering questions about each form of the water. Teacher assessment...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocks Up!

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students will design and build a structure to support a rock. Students will use their knowledge of movement of objects to determine the proper base to be built to support their rock. Students will explore their natural area for...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Science of Ghana

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the climate and food sources of Ghana.  In this lesson on climate students view diagrams of global convection and complete a convection experiment.
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Lesson Plan
Polar Trec

Down to the Deep Virtual Lab

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
At a depth of 3,000 m in the ocean, the pressure is 300 times that at sea level! In the activity, individuals predict what will happen to Styrofoam cups submerged 3,000 meters into the ocean. They then convert these units to soccer...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deformed Frogs! - The Parasite Hypothesis

For Teachers 6th - 9th
This project provides young scholars the opportunity to investigate parasites as a possible cause of the observed frog deformities. It asks students to view web-based evidence and interpret whether it supports the parasite hypothesis....
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Lesson Plan
Pyro Innovations

Beach Exploration

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Little ones will absolutely love this instructional activity. It's all about the beach and what they can find while sifting through the sand. A large bucket of sand filled with hidden items is brought into the classroom. Learners will...
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Lesson Plan
PHET

Measuring the Interplanetary Magnetic Field

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Scientists need to figure out how to measure interplanetary magnetic fields, but the magnetic field of the spacecraft is interfering with their readings. Scholars attempt to solve the problem that has perplexed NASA scientists for years.
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Lesson Plan
Foundation for Water & Energy Education

How is Flowing Water an Energy Source? Activity B

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Explore the world's water without leaving the classroom! In this second of three uncomplicated but wonderful activities, physical science learners feel the pressure of water. They discover that the deeper the water, the stronger the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Walking Magic

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct experiment with water striders by placing the insect in two different solutions and discuss their observations. They discover that weight and surface area are important factors in their experiment.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Wonder...

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Pupils review information they have gathered from previous lessons. They create their own experiments and carry them out. They reflect on the project as a whole.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Floristic Relay: A Game to Teach Succession

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars investigate the concept of succession and plant community dynamics. They play a game in order to conduct multiple experiments while playing. The interest of the game is useful for keeping student interest throughout the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fractals, An Inquiry

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers observe and discuss several different fractal drawings and relate them to patterns they see in nature. They use an online fractal tool to create and modify a fractal image and then create their own fractal image with...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seeds and Similarities

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars use the scientific inquiry method to identify the changes in a plant's life cycle. In groups, they plant different types of plants and use a chart to compare and contrast their growth rates. They share their conclusions...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Illinois' Habitats Happening

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers use the scientific inquiry method to examine the ecosystems and biomes in Illinois. Using the characteristics of a local habitat, they identify the best conditions for an ecosystem to survive and how a slight change can...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Groundwater Realities

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students review the components of the scientific inquiry method. In groups, they use the internet to research the sustainability of water resources in their community. They examine an environmental impact study, answer questions and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Farming in Space

For Teachers K - 12th
Students research, design, and run plant growth experiments online. They explore websites, design an experiment using an animation-based building block program, construct a soda bottle hydroponic production unit and a cardboard plant...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gravity

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students perform inquiry in response to the question "Do objects fall at the same rate?", teacher candidates discuss a model experiment for secondary students to discover the answer, including recording and analyzing data.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exercise and Heartrate

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders experiment to find the effects of exercise on the heart rate.  In this exercise and heart rate lesson, 4th graders create questions about exercise and heart rate. Students use the scientific method to test and analyze...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Wonderful World of Waves (Wave Basics)

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers define amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and period, calculate period given frequency, and calculate frequency given period, define crest and trough and locate both on diagram of wave, differentiate between latitudinal and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Have a Ball with Bernoulli II

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the work of Daniel Bernoulli through experiment and background information.  In this Bernoulli lesson plan, 3rd graders participate in air pressure experiments. Students record their observations of the effects of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction And Brief History of Materials Science

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners develop an understanding of the concept of matter. They l participate actively in the bubble raft experiment as described on the Center for Thermal Spray Research's website. They demonstrate dislocations and grain...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnetism

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students experiment with the concept of magnetism. Working in small groups, students design an experiment to test the magnet attraction of various substances. After completing their experiments, students research magnetism and it's...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photovoltaics and Solar Energy

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students experiment with photovoltaic cells and determine the energy use of their appliances. In this renewable energy lesson plan, students calculate the energy emitted by a photovoltaic cell through an inquiry-based lab. They keep...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Levers

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders participate in a review discussion of the parts of a lever, resistance or load, fulcrum, and effort. Next, they complete activities at six experiment stations while collecting data that they share with the class. While...