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Paper Chromatography
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...
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Chemical Changes
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.
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Ready, Set, Let's Dough! It's A Matter Of System
Students discover that everyday substances are composed of parts that make a unique whole. Thsy examine a complex system when they create their own play dough by taking several parts and creating a whole.
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A Matter of Fact
Students design their own Science experiment. For this science experiment lesson students create a hypothesis related to matter and test it. They displayed their data in a graph.
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Project Geode
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.
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Crystals: What Are They and What Holds Them Together
Students are introduced to the characteristics of crystals and what keeps them together. Using the Periodic Table, they examine the various elements and develop a model of an atom. In groups, they place sugar and salt in petri dishes...
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Using VNTR Analysis to Identify Guilt at a Crime Scene
Students collect DNA from cheek cells. They compare and contrast the processes of DNA replication and PCR. They discuss how this information can be used to determine guilt at crime scenes.
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The Wonderful World of Polymers
Seventh graders investigate the concept of polymers. They discover unique properties and how polymers are natural. The lesson contains sufficient background information for the teacher. Students examine different types of materials and...
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What's the Matter with that Cup?
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.
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Laws of Motions
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.
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Sink or Float?
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...
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Temperature and Enzymes
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...
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Using Chromatography to Identify Unknowns
High schoolers are introduced to the concept of chromatography. They practice using new vocabular and observing experiments. They answer discussion questions to end the lesson plan.
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The Synthesis of Some Organic Compounds And Their Representative Structures
Students examine how to represent organic compounds three-dimensionally. They write a synthesis reaction for three demonstrations, and construct a three-dimensional structure using a molecular modeling set.
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Lesson 6: Resonance
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...
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The Elements
Fifth graders explore the differences between elements. In this elements and atoms lesson students complete an activity that shows how chemicals react to a flame test.
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Temperature
Several slides compare different temperature scales. Thermal expansion, heat transfer, and Maxwell speed distribution are also explored. The last two slides seem unrelated to the topic of heat, but are easily left out of this otherwise...
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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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Sixth Grade Science Test
In this science activity, 6th graders take a multiple choice quiz about matter, properties, electricity, and more. Students complete 30 questions total.
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Physical and Chemical Changes
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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NUMB3RS Activity: A Matter of Half-Life and Death
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...
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Sum of the Parts
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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Density of a Sinker
Eighth graders determine the density of a sinker by first finding the mass and then the volume using a graduated cylinder. Students must write the procedure they use to find the volume of the sinker then apply their data to follow-up...
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Using Density to Identify Wood Types
Students identify different woods based on their density. In this density lesson plan, students use a triple beam balance to find the mass and a metric ruler for the volume. They look through various wood blocks and identify what type of...