The Science Spot
Independent Investigation Guidelines
A neatly formatted outline of the steps of the scientific method can be used as a reference sheet for your future science fair participants. For each step, you will find a few guiding questions or points to remember when working on them.
Physics Classroom
Using Graphs
Many university professors complain incoming scholars struggle with interpreting graphs. A skill builder offers three different types of exercises including calculating slope, interpreting graphs, and extrapolating outside the plotted...
Curated OER
Solution Sets and Linear Independence of Vectors
Eleventh graders study homogeneous linear systems. In this linear system of equations lesson, 11th graders write linear system solutions in parametric vector form. Students also identify the connection between linear independence and...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan On Fran Data
Seventh graders investigate the concept of functions and how they are used in the context of the real world while identifying the dependent and independent variables. They graph relations and functions and find the zeros of functions....
Curated OER
Testing a New Drug 1
Students act as chief research scientists with the responsibility of testing a new drug. Students design a controlled experiment to test a hypothetical experimental drug. Students write a clear, concise, and detailed plan to present to a...
Curated OER
Waves Velocity & Particle Velocity
In this physics learning exercise, students examine a single wave pulse which travels down a slinky. Then they sketch a single ring of the slinky as the wave goes by and determine whether the wave is constant or not.
Curated OER
Drag Equation - Level 1
Students, after reading the Drag Equation page from the NASA Web site, demonstrate an understanding of this equation and how drag is dependent on the variables included in the equation.
Curated OER
Drag Equation - Level 2
Students, after reading the Drag Equation page from the NASA Web-based textbook, demonstrate an understanding of this equation and how drag is dependent on the variables included in the equation.
Curated OER
A Solar Project
High schoolers make predictions about the global temperature of the earth and to see how this is dependent upon a number of variables. Students visualize how changing parameters can impact the global temperature of the earth.
Curated OER
Physics: Angular Solution of Hydrogen Atom
Students discover the angular solution of hydrogen activity. Depending on the undergraduate course, this activity can illustrate eigenvalue problems, to introduce Shrodinger's equation and particle wave duality, or to introduce...
Curated OER
Wind, Pressure, Force, Calculus and Engineering Connections
Twelfth graders solve first order differential equations using the separation of variables technique. In this calculus lesson, 12th graders explain the connection between math and engineering. They brainstorm what engineers do in real life.
Curated OER
Making a Mountain Out of a Snow Hill: Skiing, Winter Sports, Economics, Business, Problem Solving
Students explore how to select among choices of variables and analyze the cost-benefit ratio of their short and long term planning in a team activity as they consider the planning and operation of a ski slope.
Virginia Department of Education
Middle School Mathematics Vocabulary Word Wall Cards
Having a good working knowledge of math vocabulary is so important for learners as they progress through different levels of mathematical learning. Here is 125 pages worth of wonderfully constructed vocabulary and concept review cards....
Curated OER
Lab Experiments in Nutrition
Looking for authentic hands-on nutritional experiments? High schoolers will perform experiments to test for the presence of vitamin C in several solutions as well as the effect of caffeine on Daphnia. They will also consider the...
Curated OER
Who Lives in the Water? Stream Side Science
Andree Walker thought of everything when he wrote this resource. It includes a detailed list of materials and background information links for the teacher. In addition, it has procedures, a macroinvertebrate identification key, and tally...
Curated OER
Bungee M&M's
Science is exciting - and delicious! Pairs of learners set up a bungee cord type of experiment. They use buckets filled with M & M's, a meter stick, and a Slinky spring (as the bungee) to conduct their experiment. A good activity...
Curated OER
Spaghetti Bridges: Student Worksheet
Pairs of learners work together in order to simulate how engineers test materials for strength and safety in the real world. They use paper cups and pieces of spaghetti to run strength tests. This excellent worksheet should lead to...
Curated OER
Analysis of the Concentration of Sodium Chloride in a Product
Students design an experiment to test for the concentration of chloride in products. In this analysis of chloride concentration lesson plan, students develop and conduct an experiment to find the amount of chloride ion in a substance of...
Charleston School District
Exploring Linear Functions
What does a graph or equation say about a situation? Lots! The lesson uses the concepts explored in the previous four lessons in the series and applies them to problem solving situations. Learners create an equation from problems posed...
Curated OER
Investigating Newton's Second Law Of Motion
Students participate in a lesson that investigates Newton's Second Law of Motion. They conduct an experiment of observing balls that are rolled down a ramp. The lesson includes background information for the teacher for preparation and...
Charleston School District
Equations of Linear Functions
Teaching linear function relationships using contextual information is beneficial to pupils' understanding. The lesson uses problem solving to build linear functions given different information for each problem. This is the second in a...
Virginia Department of Education
Quadratic Curve of Best Fit
Class members create a table of the number of chords that can be drawn given the number of points on a circle. Pupils analyze the data created, find a function to fit to it, and use the function to make further predictions.
Virginia Department of Education
Functions 1
Scholars learn what it means for a relation to be a function and see various representations of functions. After learning the definition, they participate in a card sorting activity classifying relations as functions or not.
Cornell University
Alka-Seltzer Rockets
Blast off! An engaging hands-on activity has pupils create rockets powered by Alka-Seltzer. They learn about the physics behind these rockets throughout the process.