Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Starch and Sugar Testing 1

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders determine the presence of starch and sugar in unknown solutions. This task assesses students' abilities to observe, record and interpret data, classify, generalize/infer, construct data tables, and identify sugar and...
Lesson Plan
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Heating Crystals

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the effects of heating on various crystals. They formulate and revise scientific explanations and models using logic and evidence. Students work individually during this experiment.
Lesson Plan
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Ice Cold

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students design and conduct an experiment to investigate what happens when salt and ice come together and to determine if one form of salt is better for melting ice on steps and sidewalks.
Lesson Plan
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Kinetic Theory

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe how molecules of the different phases of matter move according to the Kinetic Theory. For this chemistry lesson, students observe and participate in teacher demos. They give real world applications of the kinetic theory.
Lesson Plan
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Water and Ice

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore water and ice. In this 3 states of matter lesson, students work with a partner to observe, illustrate, and describe the characteristics of an ice cube in a cup. The ice cube is observed again in 15 minutes and changes...
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Root, Root, Root for the Nutrients

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students observe the growth of a seed, predict what will happen when seeds are planted without soil, and conduct an experiment using a hydroponics system.
Lesson Plan
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Laws of Motions

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore the Laws of Motion. They define friction and explain the concept of inertia. Students explain what happens when a force is exerted on an object that is in equilibrium. They state the second and third laws of motion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Temperature and Enzymes

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students compare the times it takes the milk in each of two cups to curdle. They are told that an enzyme that is added to the milk, rennin, is involved in the natural curdling process of milk. Students are asked to consider what...
Lesson Plan
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Lesson 6: Resonance

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students participate in a lab activity using three tuning forks of different frequencies and a Resonance Tube Set purchased from Sargent-Welch to take measurements of resonant lengths of the tuning fork frequencies. Students then try to...
Lesson Plan
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The Big Meltdown

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students work together to develop a container to keep an ice cube in a solid state. They identify the three stages of matter and test different materials for this experiment. They share their results with the class.
Lesson Plan
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Developing a Theory About the Nature of the Contents of a Sealed Box

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students observe the changes of a closed chemical system. They record and analyze the data as they manipulate the system. They answer questions to end the lesson.
Lesson Plan
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A World Of Matter

For Teachers 1st
First graders complete a variety of experiments with solids, liquids and gases. They read books about matter, identify the characteristics of solids, liquids and gases and the sort and classify a variety of matter. Students make...
Lesson Plan
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Measurement of the Depth of the Ocean

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students comprehend the physical properties of pressure and Boyle's Law by designing a depth gauge. They construct a capillary depth gauge and calculate the calibrated depth marks of the capillary tube. They determine the margin of error...
Lesson Plan
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Understanding of the Structure of an Amino Group

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students review the characteristics of acids and bases. They examine the structure of an amino group and compare amines to ammonia. They work together to develop the concent of polymerization.
Lesson Plan
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How Can We Determine the Concentration of an Unknown Solution?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in experiments to help them determine the concentration of an unknown solution. They graph a standard curve and plotting the relationship between the concentration and the amount of light needed. They discuss their...
Lesson Plan
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The Importance of Water

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore the importance of water. They discuss why water is important and students design an experiment that evaluates the water quality and methods of improving water quality. Students perform testing and report their findings.
Lesson Plan
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Liquid Layers

For Teachers 6th - 9th
In this density worksheet, students investigate what will happen when various liquids with different densities are put into the same container. They hypothesis and make observations. Students answer 4 questions about their investigation...
Lesson Plan
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Constancy and Change

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders identify three forms of matter- solids, liquids, and gases with 100% accuracy. They observe what happens when they try to put two kinds of matter into the same space and conclude that solids, liquids, and gases occupy space.
Lesson Plan
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Ice Ice Baby! The Design and Preparation of A Reusable Ice Pack

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students explore polymers by designing and preparing an inexpensive and effective reusable ice pack. They develop and test a design for a reusable ice pack in the science lab. Students apply chemical and physical properties of polymers...
Lesson Plan
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Solids, Liquids, and Gases

For Teachers K
Students explore the three main forms of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. They examine concrete examples of each, using their five senses and "experimenting" to find differences in them. They find pictures of each, cut them out and past...
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Physical and Chemical Changes

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students examine the different changes in matter.  In this chemical change lesson plan students determine the amount of reactant made in a reaction using the law of conservation. 
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Sum of the Parts

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders build objects using various materials. They estimate the weight of the object using individual building pieces. Then they weigh the actual object and then tear it apart and weigh the pieces. They compare the two weights.
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Project Geode

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars predict the appearance of a geode's internal structure based on its mass and density. They form a hypothesis based on the data they collect. They also identify common minerals found in Illinois.
Lesson Plan
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NUMB3RS Activity: A Matter of Half-Life and Death

For Teachers 11th - 12th Standards
Students investigate exponential decay.  Students explore the biological half-life of Cesium-137.  Students investigate the Goiania Accident of 1987 which is considered one of the worst incidents in the history of the Atomic...