Curated OER
To Float or Not to Float - A Lesson on Density
Students observe and experiment with the concept of density. This is done using a simple experiment that helps them to apply scientific principles of observation and proving a hypothesis.
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Ocean Currents
Young scholars discover the geography of Earth by analyzing water currents. In this oceanography lesson, students create visual references on a map of the globe where and why major ocean currents are moving water. Young...
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Mixing Oil and Water
Young scholars explore physical science by participating in a class experiment. In this chemistry instructional activity, students discuss what they predict will happen when cooking oil and water are blended together. Young scholars...
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Build Your Own Submarine
Students construct their own submarine following a certain procedure. In this physics lesson plan, students calculate the density of objects using a mathematical formula. They explain why some object floats in water while some do not.
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Denser Sensor
Fourth graders calculate density, compare densities of solids and liquids, measure liquids using a balance, and investigate the significance of density. They conduct an experiment to determine an order of densities, and complete a...
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Exploring Buoyancy
Students use materials found at a resource table to design simple devices that will house instruments to take water samples from a tub of water. They design 3 instruments, each varying in density so that one will float, one will hover...
California Academy of Science
Global Climate Change and Sea Level Rise
Ice is nice, and its condition on the planet has a significant effect. Junior geoscientists experiment with ice melting in both water and on land to discover how each affect the rising sea level. This detailed instructional activity...
Curated OER
Quantitative Determination of the Composition of Water-based Paints and the Correlation of Paint Properties to Pain Composition
High schoolers perform a series of tests on water-based paints. In this chemistry lesson, students identify their different functions. They calculate paint density and fractional concentrations.
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Liquids: Floating and Sinking
Third graders conduct an experiment. In this floating and sinking liquids lesson, 3rd graders discuss density and investigate it using syrup, vegetable oil and colored water. Students observe the results and complete a worksheet.
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Properties of Matter
Students investigate the properties of matter. In this properties of matter lesson, students observe containers of different metals and discuss their properties including density. Students find the density of an unknown metal and of...
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Modeling Estuaries
Young scholars create a model estuary. For this modeling estuaries lesson, students identify characteristics and mix water of varying densities. Young scholars form a hypothesis, conduct an experiment, and analyze the results.
Curated OER
To Float or Not to Float, That is the Question?
Ninth graders develop operational definition of density, do computations using density equation, categorize pieces of matter as being able to float on
water or not, based on density, explain why some objects sink or float based on...
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Why Cheerios Don't Sink
Students investigate Archimedes' Principle and show how it relates to density. In this Archimedes' Principle lesson plan, students experiment with a beaker of water, a Styrofoam "boat" and a weight. They predict what will happen when the...
Curated OER
Sink or Swim
Learners explore sinking and floating. In this buoyancy instructional activity, students conduct an investigation dealing with regular and diet soda. Learners drop various soda cans into water and then discuss why some float...
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Hot Air Balloons
Students examine how a hot air balloon works. In this hot air balloon lesson, students do an experiment to test the effects of heat on density. Students make their own hot air balloon and act out how nitrogen moves when turned to a liquid.
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How Big is a Molecule?
High schoolers calculate the size of a molecule. In this molecules and their sizes lesson plan, students find the size of an oleic acid molecule by using a measured amount of drops of oleic acid to find the volume of the sample, the...
Curated OER
TE Activity: Oil Spill Cleanup
Students experiment by creating an oil spill and trying a number of clean up methods. They determine which methods are the least costly and most effective. They role play as an environmental engineer and as an oil company owner who must...
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Are You a Trend Setter?
Learners are introduced to the periodic table of elements. They devise and perform and experiment in which they determine the density of specific elements. They use their results to predict the density of other elements in the same group.
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Applied Science - Physics Pre-Lab
Students observe fluid motion. In this Physics lesson, students explore the principles of Pascal, Archimedes, and Bernoulli. Students list their experiences with fluid movement.
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Oil Spill
Students explore an important role of environmental engineers by studying the Exxon Valdez oil spill. They experiment with different strategies in order to clean up their own manufactured oil spill.
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What's the Matter? (Grades 6-7)
Young scholars explain the physical properties of matter. They, in groups, perform a variety of experiments, each demonstrating a different property of matter. A very nice, hands-on lesson!
Curated OER
Activity #17 Liquid Density and Temperature
Students comprehend that hot water rises up through cold water but cold water does not rixe in hot water. They comprehend that water at temperatures above 4oC decreases in density with increases in temperature. Students answer lab...
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Density Currents
Students study how fluids of differing densities interact with one another, how densities of fluids can be changed, and how density currents transport and deposit tremendous amounts of sediment in lakes and in the ocean.
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Immiscible Liquids and Density
Students will make a lava lamp. For this density lesson, students will combine water and oil and make observations, then add salt to the oil and observe the oil sink, then float again when the salt dissolves in the water.