Curated OER
Energy Audit
Young scholars collect data about energy usage and use mathematical calculations to analyze their data. In this energy conservation and statistics math lesson, students survey their homes to complete an energy usage worksheet. Young...
NASA
Speaking in Phases
Hear from deep space. Pupils learn how satellites transfer information back to Earth. They learn about three different ways to modulate radio waves and how a satellite sends information with only 0s and 1s. Using sound, class members...
It's About Time
Our Community's Place Among the Stars
But isn't the Milky Way a candy bar? Lead a detailed discussion on the complex topic of our solar system and the Milky Way Galaxy as the class explores stellar evolution, structure, and investigates the relationship between luminosity...
Curated OER
Fun with Circuits
What kinds of things need electricity to work? Kids draw the missing parts to three incomplete circuits in a worksheet about power and electricity. The science exploration asks them to build a circuit to a light bulb, but this might be a...
Curated OER
Making Light of Science
Middle schoolers investigate the electromagnetic spectrum, focusing on visible light. They are introduced to the idea that all light travels as waves, and that wavelength defines the various regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Virginia Department of Education
Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids
How can one easily classify metals, nonmetals, and metalloids? Pupils answer this question as they experiment with unknown substances and perform tests on conductivity, brittleness, and malleability to determine which unknown belongs in...
Carnegie Mellon University
How Power Plants Work 2
In this second of three lessons on power plants, future engineers find out how we generate electricity and how coal-powered plants operate. They work in small groups to make electromagnet generators to light LED bulbs. A set of...
Curated OER
Applied Science - Technology (3A) Pre Lab
Third graders discuss electric currents. In this circuit lesson, 3rd graders create a picture of a battery circuit and a light bulb. They show the positive and negative charge and the flow of electrons.
Curated OER
Who Will Benefit if We Give Bulbs What They Need to Grow?
Students identify the elements needed for bulbs to grow. They raise tulips and give them to various members of the community. They identify local philanthropic communities and look for ways they can constructively donate time and give...
Curated OER
Simply Circuitry and Series Circuit
Students investigate a series circuit. In this physical science activity, students use a battery, switch, and light bulbs to build an electrical circuit. Students identify the standard symbols being used in electric circuitry.
Curated OER
What Is Energy? Short Demos
Students engage in three short, hands-on, in-class demos which expand students' understand of energy. First, using peanuts and heat, students see how the human body burns food to make energy. Then, they create paper snake mobiles to...
Curated OER
Heat and Light Come From Various Sources
First graders study heat and light and how they come from various sources. They list sources of heat and light and identify the different energy sources as heat, light, or both heat and light.
Exploratorium
Seeing Your Retina
Using a dimmed flashlight, life science learners can see the network of blood vessels that line the back of their eye. Darken the room and let them try this activity as part of your unit on the eyeball. Also consider some of the other...
Curated OER
TE Activity: Ohm's Law 2
Students study Ohm's Law 2 after completing an activity about Ohm's Law 1. They determine how long it takes to charge a battery. They examine if it is better to use batteries in series or parallel circuits.
Curated OER
The Lighter Side of Color
Students explore light and color, including how colors are mixed to produce new colors, how light is filtered, and how light is reflected off of surfaces. They read materials provided, complete worksheets, and complete hands-on activities.
Curated OER
Electricity Danger
Students determine how electricity is useful but also can be dangerous. They observe a teacher demonstration of the hazards associated with touching wires using a puppet, batteries, wire, and a light bulb. They devise a list of...
Curated OER
What Is Electricity?
Students investigate vocabulary words associated with electricity. In this electrical lesson, students utilize the Internet to research what electricity is and how it works. Students create an actual circuit in class using a battery,...
Curated OER
Name That Gas!
Young scientists discover that air is a mixture of different gases - mainly nitrogen and oxygen. The properties of some of the other gases found in oxygen are listed in a table, then learners must decide which one of those gases is...
Curated OER
Magnet Magic
Magnets are a source of amazement for young learners. It seems like magic the way they can attract certain things. This activity gives some background on which materials can be attracted to a magnet. Then, learners must circle the words...
Curated OER
Two Kinds of Circuits
Fourth graders examine parallel and series ciruits. They experiment what happens if a bulb is removed from both a parallel and series circuit. They understand the differences between parallel and series ciruits,
Curated OER
Herschel Infrared Experiment
Middle schoolers perform a version of the experiment of 1800 by the famous astronomer Sir Frederick William Herschel.
NASA
Feel the Heat
Pupils examine how solar energy can supply power and heat on the lunar surface. As groups design and build a solar-powered water heating system, they test their system to determine the change in temperature of the water and redesign it...
Curated OER
Electricity: Going with the Flow!
Fifth graders explore a simple circuit. They experiment with a wire, light bulb and a bettery to see how many ways they can make the light bulb light up. Students describe how they were or were not ablt to light the bulb.
Curated OER
Circuits and Symbols
In this circuits worksheet, students read how electricity flows through circuits and learn how to draw a circuit diagram. Students then complete 16 matching, 2 multiple choice, 14 fill in the blank, and 3 short answer questions.