Curated OER
Climate & Atmosphere: A Global & Local Perspective
Middle schoolers complete a series of activities in which they study atoms, molecules, and the presence of atmosphere. They study the water cycle and the Greenhouse Effect by investigating and completing handouts.
Curated OER
Molecular Origami
Students construct an origami models of different molecules. In this chemistry lesson, students explain what expansive soils are made up of. They discuss what happens when this expansive soil expands or shrinks.
Curated OER
Writing Chemical Formulas
Students study how to write chemical fomulas by reviewing the combinations atoms form into compounds. They write a procedure to test various substances and name the compounds and write formulas. As they construct models for formulas and...
Curated OER
A Chemical Balancing Act
Students decompose glucose and write an equation for the reaction. In this decomposition reaction lesson plan, students burn a sample of glucose and test the products for water using cobalt chloride paper. They write a balanced equation...
Curated OER
Solubility Lab
For this solubility worksheet, learners test a variety of polar and non polar substances to determine which ones will dissolve in vegetable oil and which ones will dissolve in water. Students collect data and answer 2 questions about...
Curated OER
Chemical Sleuthing
Students engage in a lesson which includes flame tests and the construction of a simple diffraction spectrograph with which to measure sodium ion emissions. They use the Bragg equation to compute the wavelength of the line spectra produced.
Curated OER
Magnets: They Are Totally Attractive
Students classify objects that magnets are attracted to and aren't attracted to. They also magnetize metal. They construct and use a compass. They develop a product which show they explain the properties of magnetism.
Curated OER
Volume of Gas
Eighth graders investigate the effect of temperature on the volume of a gas in a closed container. They measure the height of the water in their beaker/container, conduct their experiment, and create a graph to illustrate their data.
Curated OER
Desalination: Creating a Solar Still
To better understand how solar power can aid in creating desalinated drinking water, the class creates a model still. They will build a model of a solar still, make observations, and discuss how the process works. While the idea behind...
Serendip
Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
How does energy from the sun make plants grow? Scholars move step by step through the processes that promote plant propagation during a detailed lesson. The resource illustrates ADP production and hydrolysis, then allows learners to...
NOAA
The Methane Circus
Step right up! An engaging research-centered lesson, the third in a series of six, has young archaeologists study the amazing animals of the Cambrian explosion. Working in groups, they profile a breathtaking and odd creature and learn...
Curated OER
Survival Still
Students explain how to desalinate water using solar energy. In this solar lesson students complete a lab activity and explain capillary water.
Curated OER
Hot Rocks
Learners demonstrate that setting of plaster and cement is a change, which involves a release of heat energy, use data collected experimentally to construct comparison graphs and analyze the graphs to make predictions about future...
Curated OER
Earth's Atmosphere and Temperature
Students explore the layers of earth's atmosphere and conduct an experiment to identify carbon dioxide. They construct models using styrofoam to represent molecules in the atmosphere's layers. To discover how sunlight efffects...
Curated OER
Energy and Energy Resources
For this energy and energy resources worksheet, students complete 14 fill in the blank questions in the form of word scrambles, twisters, and teasers.
NOAA
Methane Hydrates – What's the Big Deal?
Have you ever tried to light ice on fire? With methane hydrate, you can do exactly that. The ice forms with methane inside so it looks like ice, but is able to burn. The lesson plan uses group research and a hands-on activity to help...
Cornell University
Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions
The heat of solution measures how much thermal energy a dissolving substance consumes or gives off. The experiment demonstrates both endothermic and exothermic reactions. Scholars dissolve several substances, measure the temperature...
Cornell University
Glued into Science—Classifying Polymers
Explore the unique characteristics of polymers. A complete lesson plan begins with a presentation introducing polymers. Following the presentation, young scientists develop a laboratory plan for creating substances using polymers. They...
Cornell University
Atomic Bonding
Explore the connection of surface area to bonding within atoms. Learners complete lab investigations to model changing surface area with different sizes and concentrations of atoms. A flour fireball demonstration follows the labs to...
Serendip
Food, Energy and Body Weight
High schoolers learn why humans need calories, how they control weight with food choices, and the impact of exercise on energy. Scholars then apply their understanding to a case study of lunch choices and exercise.
Serendip
Using Models to Understand Cellular Respiration
Energize biologists with colorful images in an activity that captivates the imagination while demystifying the subject of cellular respiration. Participants build comprehension skills and access core content knowledge by analyzing text...
Serendip
How Do Muscles Get the Energy They Need for Athletic Activity?
Every muscle movement requires energy, but where does that energy come from? Scholars answer this question and more as they complete a worksheet. By following the directions, completing research, and discussing it as a class, they begin...
American Chemical Society
Using Dissolving to Identify an Unknown
There is a solvent called aqua regis that can dissolve gold! After observing a solubility demonstration, groups receive four known crystals and one unknown. Based on the demo, they design an experiment to determine the identity of the...
Curated OER
Comprise/Compose
In this comprise and compose learning exercise, learners choose the correct word to complete each sentence. Students choose either comprise or compose to complete 9 sentences.