Curated OER
Water & Ice
Students investigate the properties of water. For this states of water lesson, students explore how water goes from liquid to solid and back to liquid again. Students use measurement, observation, and communication to describe the change.
American Chemical Society
Middle School Chemistry: Lesson Plans: Water Is a Polar Molecule
Students develop their own water molecule model to help them understand the idea that water has a slight positive charge at one end of the molecule and a slight negative charge at the other.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Build a Motorboat Powered by Surface Tension
If you look carefully, you could find dozens of similar interesting phenomena that are all linked to the surface tension of water. Here is a project that will help you understand and measure the properties of water surface tension.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Can Water Float on Water?
Of course it can, you say: ice is water and ice floats. And you're right. But we're talking about water in the liquid phase Can liquid water float on water? The goal of this project is to investigate what happens to layers of water with...
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: What Dissolves in Water?
In this lesson students will investigate whether several common substances are soluble in water. Student sheets are provided in English and in Spanish.
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: What Makes Water Special?
In this lesson students will explore and compare the physical properties of water and oil. Student sheets are provided in English and in Spanish.
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: What Is the Water Cycle?
In this lesson young scholars will create and investigate a simple model of the water cycle. Student sheets are provided in English and in Spanish.
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: How Can We Find Out What Is in Water?
In this lesson students use simple paper chromatography to investigate a mystery liquid. Student sheets are provided in English and in Spanish.
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: Why Is Water So Important?
In this post assessment activity students review points covered in the attached unit and reach conclusions regarding the importance of water to human health. Student sheets are provided in English and in Spanish.
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: What Is One Part Per Million Solution?
Substances dissolved in water can be present in very tiny amounts that are not visible to the eye. in this lesson students make a solution of food coloring with a concentration of one part per million.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Water Properties
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] In the following online tutorial students will describe the structure and polarity of a water molecule. They will also describe the hydrogen bonding that occurs in...
American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society: Explore Chemistry: Water and Chemistry
Explore water's unique properties in the activities here. Includes ideas for starting a chemistry club, ideas for Earth Day, articles, and videos.
NASA
Nasa: Exploration: Then and Now: Follow the Water Lesson
The objective of this lesson is for students to learn the location of water and the importance of water to life. Students will learn about osmosis, soil samples, salinity, and more.
NBC
Nbc Learn: Chemistry of Water
This video/lesson series explains how the structure and behavior of H2O in liquid form gives water its properties, and make it a chemical essential for life. Also in this collection: a Victorian-era depiction of the water molecule; news...
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology
Ciese: The International Boiling Point Project Lessons
A seven-instructional activity unit on discovering how the boiling point of water is affected by elevation. Additional materials, such as for assessment, can be accessed through the links on the left.
Utah Education Network
Uen: The Wonderful World of Water
These activities will help students understand the properties of water.
American Chemical Society
Middle School Chemistry: Lesson Plans: Surface Tension
Students observe and investigate why water has a strong surface tension.
Biology Corner
The Biology Corner How Is the Surface Tension of Water Affected by Soap?
Here is a classic lesson regarding surface tension. This worksheet combines properties of water and the scientific method together for a hands on investigation.
New York University
Nyu: Welcome to Water
Educational resource invites users to understand the properties of water by first examining what water is and how we use it and then leads users to further information on the three states that water can exist.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Why Does Ice Float in Water?
Ever wonder why solid ice floats in liquid water? In this video lecture you will explore the special properties of water. Learn "the science behind how hydrogen bonds keep the ice in your glass (and the polar ice caps) afloat". At the...
Science is Fun
Fun Science: Fireproof Balloon
Water has the ability to absorb lots of energy before it heats up. You can demonstrate this trait by trying to pop a balloon (containing water) with a flame.
Science is Fun
Fun Science: Lumpy Liquids and Squishy Solids
Investigate the properties of a strange substance which acts like a liquid and a solid. This simple experiment can be done with corn starch and water.
Other
University of Oxford: Nature's Raincoats
This website shows a current research project where scientists are collaborating together to create a water resistant surface. Scientists are doing this by researching the properties and behaviors of water. Site contains background...