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Radioactivity Experiments
Students study the difference between types of ionizing radiation and how elements are transmuted. They determine that radiation is normal and surrounds us. They calculate the amounts of alpha, beta and gamma radiation emitted from a...
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Matter, Matter
Young scholars define vocabulary related to the parts of the atom. For this matter lesson, students navigate the web to find the structure and the forces that affect atoms. Young scholars complete an experiment with...
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Rubrics Realized
Middle schoolers create a template document that contains a 6-column/6-row rubric structure. They modify their template to include scoring categories or criteria, and scoring characteristics for a specific assignment.
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Chemical Bonding and Shapes of Molecules
In this chemical bonds activity, students review the different types of bonds, Lewis dot structures, ions, and molecule shapes. This activity has 10 matching, 17 multiple choice, and 3 drawing questions.
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Five Paragraph Essay
Students create a standard outline, using a word processing tool, while they are learning about the basic writing device of the 5 paragraph essay.
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Periodic Table Lesson Plan
Students describe how elements are arranged on the periodic table. They compare metals, nonmetals, and metalloids based on their properties and on their locations in the periodic table. Students describe the differences between a...
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Crystals: Geometry and Groups
Young scholars discuss the importance of examining crystals and experiment growing them. In groups, they complete a project in which they use groups in geometry just like crystallographers. They practice solving the groups and proofs...
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Electron Sqare Dance
Students participate in an Electron Square Dance in which they act the part of atoms. They follow the structure of different atoms suggested by the teacher.
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Nuclear Power
Young scholars take on the role of members of a concerned citizens group and discuss the transportation of spent-fuel rods from a local nuclear power plant and the safety issues that surround the power plant. Students work in groups to...
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Electromagnetic Spectrum/Spectroscopy
Students examine the electromagnetic spectrum and demonstrate the elements within. In this investigative lesson students complete a demonstration and calculate the energy of a photon.
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Poster Assignment: Sports Chemistry
Tenth graders distinguish between chemical and physical properties and changes in matter when given specific examples. They view a video of sports activities. Students chose their favorite sport and design an experiment to improve sports...
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Build Your Own Atom
Young scholars build a model of an atom using an online program. For this chemistry lesson, students discuss the different parts of the atom. They complete an independent research about their chosen element.
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Limiting Reagent
Students work in small groups with a small set of 8 nuts and 5 bolts to assemble into combinations of 1 nut: 1 bolt, and 2 nuts: 1 bolt. They explore the outcome and discuss. Then a student mixes two clear, colorless solutions together...
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Mighty Minerals
Learners investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of minerals. They make a list of the uses of minerals found in Illinois. They write a report individually based on their observations.
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States of Matter Mini-Unit
Students identify he phases of matter (solid, liquid, gas), and why they take place. They comprehend what a physical change is and what a chemical change is. Students know the difference between a Mixture and a Solution.
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A Hydrothermal Adventure
Students analyze hydrothermal vents. In this hydrothermal vents lesson plan, students discover the effects of hydrothermal vents on tectonic plates. Students make model hydrothermal vents to understand how they form and operate.
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Are You Charged?
Fourth graders study the charges on ions and familiarize themselves with a quick way to remember charges based on location of elements on the periodic table. They complete a worksheet and share their answers with the class.
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Chemistry
In this chemistry worksheet, students describe an atom, its parts, the charges of these parts, and atoms life functions. Then they explain what the octet rule states for the placements of electrons around the nucleus of an atom. Students...
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Isotopes of Pennies
High schoolers demonstrate that isotopes of an element have different masses. They illustrate atomic mass and neutrons. The periodic table is examined in length. Display of a collection of atoms is surveyed.
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DNA, Genes, and Chromosomes
Students review the structure and function of DNA, genes, and chromosomes and are engaged by a demonstration illustrating the relative size of DNA, genes and chromosomes. They also describe through analogy and model the structure and...
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Electricity and Magnetism
Fourth graders compare electricity and magnetism. In this science activity, 4th graders discuss the concepts of electricity and magnetism and brainstorm examples of electrical and magnetic forces.
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Matter and Energy
Students participate in a small group read aloud of the short story, "Cerium" by Primo Levi. They answer several questions about the story and then relate the reading to a lecture on Kinetic theory. After the lecture they apply the...
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What is Radon?
Middle schoolers read an article about radon and its properties. They examine a periodic table and identify the numbers surrounding an element. They discuss the harmful and helpful effects of radiation.
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Classifying Matter Game
Learners identify the different states of matter. In this chemistry lesson, students differentiate the physical properties of the three states. They apply what they learned by playing a team game at the end of the lesson.