University of Chicago
Don't Be Too Flaky
Snow, ice, and water are all composed of H2O. Does that mean they all have the same volume? Discover the ways that the densities of these substances determine their volumes, and how they change based on their current states of...
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The Effects of Temperature on Chemical Mixtures
Students explore chemical cahnges and the effect of temperature on chemical mixturees, They make observations of the behavior and appearance of certain chemical mixtures and reactions.
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Acids and Alkalis
This PowerPoint progresses slide-by-slide through all the facts you would want to deliver about acids, alkalis, salts, and the related lab tests. Each slide has one or two facts about a physical or chemical property or behavior. The...
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A World Of Matter
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...
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States of Matter
First graders break into groups of five students and are given 15 different objects and 3 posters. They group the objects into 3 different families with all the objects in each category placed on one of the posters. They choose whatever...
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Colored Drops
Students examine the properties of a liquid that contains water and food coloring and a liquid that contains water, food coloring and a liquid detergent. They interpret their data, describe properties, and make reasonable explanations...
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Introduce Solids
Students identify and interpret a variety of solid materials - cloth, wood, metal, plastic, paper, and rubber. After a period of free exploration, they then describe the properties of the objects and develop vocabulary in order to...
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Chapter 3 Worksheet Matter
For this matter worksheet, students answer ten questions about matter including the phase of matter, mixtures and how they are different from compounds, the physical and chemical properties of matter and the difference between...
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Mystery Powders
Fifth graders evaluate the physical properties of 5 powders. Each powder is subject to different conditions. They describe each observation as with a chemical change or a physical change.
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The Nature of Salt
Young scholars record information from the periodic table for sodium and chloride. They determine whether salts are molecular or ionic compounds, along with sodium chloride's molecular weight, and relative weights
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Water and Ice
Students observe and discuss what happens when water turns to ice and when ice turns into water. In this freezing and melting lesson plan, students observe ice and water and complete hands on activities that change their properties.
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Water and Ice
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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Oobleck Versus Gloop
Second graders explain that we use our senses to make observations and that the observations often describe properties of an object or substance. They make oobleck, then perform a series of tests on it.
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Making Sense of Density
Students identify the concepts of density, mass, and volume that define the property of a substance. They also determine that the properties of materials, such as, density and volume, can be compared and measured by using rulers,...
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Activity #9 A State Debate!
Students list individual properties of solids, liquids, and gases. They examine that some properties have more than one state of matter. Pupils consider whether shaving cream, is a solid, a liquid, or a gas, or some combination.
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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.
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Do These Properties Matter?
Third graders rotate between three property stations, the solid station, the gas station, and the liquid station. They experiment with each activity until the teacher gives the signal to change.
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Water and Ice
Students explore the states of water. In this water states instructional activity, students observe ice over time and the changes that take place. Students read a related text and draw their observations in a journal entry. Students...
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Melting and Freezing
Fifth graders observe experiments with ice and water. They complete a Venn diagram listing the properties of each. They experiment with ice and water, comparing their weights. They note the weights are equal.
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The Same But Different
Fourth graders identify the characteristics of a simple physical change. They describe objects by the properties of the materials from which they are made. Students discuss the different states of matter and their distinct physical...
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Frozen Solids
Middle schoolers investigate various properties of ice including melting points and the effect of pressure on ice. They demonstrate how increased pressure lowers the melting point of ice and perform a simple experiment proving that water...
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Making Ice Cream
First graders create ice cream in class. In this matter lesson plan, 1st graders discover solids, liquids and gases and the properties of each. Students produce a batch of ice cream in class using household items.
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Solutions and Suspensions
Students explore matter by conducting an in class demonstration. In this liquid mixture lesson plan, students identify the difference between a solution in which a solid dissolves into liquid, and a suspension where the solid doesn't...
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Warming by Freezing
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...