Virginia Department of Education
Changes in Ecosystems
How does water pollution affect the environment? Provide your class with the resources to answer this question as they learn about eutrophication and ecosystem changes. Over two weeks, they simulate the effects of pollution on the...
Curated OER
Fluid Thinking About Liquids and Solids
Second graders examine the physical characteristics of the different states of matter. In this chemistry lesson, 2nd graders observe how matter changes from one phase to another. They classify substances according to its type of matter.
Curated OER
Mixing It Up!
Third graders identify the different states of matter. In this science instructional activity, 3rd graders describe the different components of solutions and mixtures. They create emulsions, foams and suspensions in the lab.
Curated OER
Be a Scientist: A Kindergarten Unit
Students conduct observations using their five senses. In this science lesson, students describe different states of matter. They investigate the factors affecting mold growth.
Curated OER
What's the Matter?
First graders identify solids, liquids, and gases. In this matter lesson plan, the teacher guides students through numerous demonstrations as they determine the properties of solids, liquids, and gases and classify things as each. As...
Virginia Department of Education
Heat Transfer and Heat Capacity
It's time to increase the heat! Young chemists demonstrate heat transfer and heat capacity in an activity-packed lab, showing the transitions between solid, liquid, and gaseous phases of materials. Individuals plot data as the...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Making a Liquid Crystal Thermometer
Introduce your classes to a fourth state of matter! Liquid crystals have a colorful sheen that changes based on different physical factors. Learners use this information to create a liquid crystal thermometer where the color of the...
Curated OER
Heat Transfer & Phase Changes
In this heat transfer and phase change worksheet, students experiment with ice, salt, and milk to show the relationship between the temperature of a solution and its phase. Students turn milk from a liquid to a solid and graph the...
Curated OER
What is Matter?
Students investigate what matter is and how it changes states. For this physical properties lesson, students examine the vocabulary database and identify the characteristics of the three phases of matter. Students perform a...
Virginia Department of Education
Partial Pressure
At some point, everyone has been under pressure—even Dalton! Explore Dalton's law of partial pressures with young chemists as they measure the volume of air extracted from a sample compared to its original volume. Class...
Curated OER
Temperature Changes Everything
Middle school chemists visit interactive websites in order to discover what happens to molecular motion when heat is added to matter. They conduct an experiment that demonstrates the expansion of matter with the addition of heat. A lab...
Curated OER
Water and Ice
Students will observe, measure and describe the phase changes of ice. For this science lesson plan, students observe ice as it changes phases. Qualaitative notations made by individual students will be shared and compared.
Curated OER
It's a Gas! Or is it?
Examine the effects of temperature and pressure on solubility and the states of matter of ocean water. Learners make inferences about the unique chemistry of ocean water at different depths. They engage in an activity related to...
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Water Supply
Participate in three activities that look at the earth's limited water supply and the changes water goes through as it enters each phase of the water cycle. The resource is complete with three activities that demonstrate the changing...
Teach Engineering
An Introduction to Air Quality Research
Viewers are a PowerPoint are exposed to the idea that pollutants are in more than just the air we breathe. the presentation provides information about the layers of the earth's atmosphere and takes a look at the pollutants in the...
Curated OER
Matter Matters: Solids, Liquids and Gases
Scientists participate in a variety of hands-on experiments in this ten-day unit on the three states of matter. Lessons incorporate literature, a-v materials, and poetry to help young scholars differentiate between solids, liquids and...
Curated OER
Wipe Out
Learners examine the flow of water. They observe and test the properties of water by using sticks in flowing water. The lesson has streaming video, resource links to access, and a good hands-on activity that is clearly described in the...
Curated OER
Dark Matter In The Universe
Middle schoolers investigate the concept of dark matter and how it occurs in the universe. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Students use the information by reading at least two articles about dark matter. They also...
NorthEast Ohio Geoscience Education Outreach
Density and Pressure of a Hot Air Balloon
Using a dry cleaner bag and a blow dryer, create a hot air balloon! The materials list suggests obtaining one dry cleaner bag per student, but since this is probably inconvenient, consider doing this as a demonstration during a lesson on...
Curated OER
Soapy Solids
Young scholars observe and explain how a change in temperature causes a physical change in a substance. In this physical science lesson plan, students use a soap making kit to observe the effects of adding heat to the bar soap...
Curated OER
Clip the Face
Students discover the moon's phases and the rarity of eclipses. In this lunar lesson, students view a video titled Spin Around the Solar System: A Moon Dance, which demonstrates the key differences between a lunar and solar eclipse....
Curated OER
Solids, Liquids and Gases - Part 2
Students experiment with balloons, soda water and raisins to find out about the states of matter. In this solids, liquids and gases lesson plan, students complete a group activity with balloons to recognize the state of matter in...
Curated OER
What's Matter?
Students explore the definition of matter. In exploring matter lesson students get into groups and navigate the Internet to answer questions.
Curated OER
The Bending and Bouncing of Light
Students investigate refraction and reflection of light. In this light activity, students perform 3 activities to observe light interacting with matter by using a flashlight. They explore refraction using a glass of water and reflection...