Lesson Plan
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Hot Cans and Cold Cans

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Learners investigate the physics of heating and cooling through conduction, convection, and radiation. Working in groups, they determine the best way to cool a can of water and warm a can of water. Temperature is taken at five minute...
Lesson Plan
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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, 3rd graders participate in air pressure experiments. Students record their observations of the...
Lesson Plan
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Hydrogen Powered Cars

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students apply the principles of chemistry to investigate the concept of how a hydrogen powered car works. They study the electrochemical reactions that provide the energy source. Students also record observations in the functioning of a...
Lesson Plan
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Water, Water Everywhere (Pond Animals)

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders examine the characteristics of animals who live in a pond environment. In groups, they describe the various stages in the life of a frog and identify the characteristics of other pond animals. Using this information,...
Lesson Plan
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Salt: Up Close and Personal

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners predict, observe, and explain the details of salt as they view it under a variety of magnifications. They observe salt with the naked eye, and then under a hand lens, microscope, and the electron microscope.
Lesson Plan
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Ancient Tablets, Ancient Graves: Accessing Women's Lives in Mesopotamia

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the role of women in ancient Mesopotamia. Several excerpts from the Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets and artifacts are analyzed to determine the treatment, rights, and powers of women in this era.
Lesson Plan
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Virus and Bacteriophage

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine the differences between a virus and a bacteriophage. They explore various websites, identify the parts of a virus and a bacteriophage, and construct a model of a virus or bacteriophage.
Lesson Plan
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So You Think You're Tough

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders learn how to classify animals. In this invertebrates lesson, 4th graders discuss how we classify thinks into groups and move into a discussion about classifying animals. Students learn about the differences between...
Lesson Plan
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Warming by Freezing

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders discover the reasoning behind spraying water on fruit and seedlings in preparation for hard freezes. In this conceptual physics lesson, 9th graders conduct an experiment to measure the heat released when water goes from a...
Lesson Plan
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What About Cantaloupes?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate the physical properties of cantaloupe using their senses. In this life science activity, 2nd graders estimate the weight of their sample. They get it's actual weight and compare it with their estimate.
Lesson Plan
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Paper Chromatography

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners use this design the illustrate how ink can be separated into its component chemicals using paper chromatography. They use five unknown samples of ink on pre-labeled chromatography strips are provided to students. Learners use...
Lesson Plan
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Chemical Changes

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders observe two types of interactions in a sealed plastic bag. One bag contains baking soda and water, and the other baking soda and vinegar. They determine what evidence indicates that a chemical change is occurring.
Lesson Plan
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Animal Classification Unit

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study how to group animals by their physical characteristics. They examine how animals have adapted to have their needs met by the environment.
Lesson Plan
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Marshland Ecosystem

For Teachers K - 12th
Students classify animals based on their physical characteristics and eating habits.  In this animal identification lesson plan, students investigate the life forms shown on a Parisian ceramic basin, and discover ecosystem the...
Lesson Plan
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Sink or Float?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students analyze the relationship between density, buoyancy, and salinity. For this chemical properties lesson, students read a background activity for the lesson and experiments to the topics. Students discuss the questions and complete...
Lesson Plan
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Why is My Honey Runny?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners identify the factors that affect viscosity of substances. In this chemistry lesson, students define what viscosity is in their own words. They give real world applications of viscosity.
Lesson Plan
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What's the Matter with that Cup?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders measure volume, circumference, and height of fast food cups, find which one has the greatest volume, and compare/contrast those measurements to discover any correlations between them.
Lesson Plan
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Water and Ice

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students study the liquid and solid states of water. In this water states instructional activity, students complete three experiments to study water as it cycles from a liquid state to a solid state and back. Students finish with a Venn...
Lesson Plan
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Transformation of Energy- Sound

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate how sound is made by vibrating matter. They work with a ruler and a rubber band to produce different types of vibration which makes different pitches of sound. They record their observations of the noises made...
Lesson Plan
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Beat the Greeks

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Learners conduct research of the history of atomic theory. Information is presented from Democritus and Aristotle to the early Renaissance using the Internet and video.The integration of technology allows for a vast amount of research...
Lesson Plan
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Properties and Behavior of Waves

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the different properties of waves. For this physics lesson, students differentiate mechanical and electromagnetic waves. They explore each lab station and write their observation about the wave behavior they see.
Lesson Plan
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Food and Fiber: Helping the Environment and You

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the many uses of corn-based products and the importance of water resources. They consider how biodegradable products help to keep water clean. They perform experiments to observe how corn pellets dissolve while...
Lesson Plan
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Look at It from the Right Angle

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students investigate how geometry can be used in the field of fitness and physical performance. They view a video that demonstrates how doctors and therapists mention geometry as they treat sports-related injuries.
Lesson Plan
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Graphical Determination of Density

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students determine the density of metal shot by a graphical method using significant digits in making measurements and calculations. Students graph a seris of laboratory measurements and determine density from a mass verses volume graph.