Curated OER
What’s That, I Can’t Hear You?
Young scholars investigate forms of energy as well as light and sound. In this science lesson, students participate in hands-on activities that require them to evaluate how sound affects astronauts in flight. A video of this lesson being...
Curated OER
Obtain a visible spectra of chlorophyll a
Learners become familiar with the concept of spectroscopy or the study of the interaction of matter with electromagnetic radiation. They prepare solutions and measure absorbance at different wavelengths. Pupils comprehend that mater and...
Curated OER
How Long Will It Last?
Students turn on a flashlight and leave it on until the energy is used up (12-36) hours. They estimate or preduct how long they think the energy in the batteries will last. They then estimate how long a birthday candle will burn, giving...
Curated OER
What the Sun Can Do
Students develop and test a unique, personally-relevant hypothesis about the consequences of exposure to UV radiation based units on a living organism, common baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
Curated OER
I'll Build You A Rainbow
Sixth graders conduct a variety of experiments to explore types of light and the concept of refraction. They observe objects in water, use water and prisms to create rainbows and combine light filtered through colored cellophane to...
Curated OER
Electromagnetic Spectrum/Spectroscopy
Students examine the electromagnetic spectrum and demonstrate the elements within. In this investigative activity students complete a demonstration and calculate the energy of a photon.
Curated OER
Environment and the Earth
Students were involved in environmental service learning and they gathered information from academic buildings for a database. The data allowed them to use an establish baseline data on light use, recycling, and water fixtures in five...
Curated OER
Identifying Elements
Students use diffraction glasses to find similarities and differences between observed spectrum of fluorescent light and an incandescent light They work in groups of 4-6 for the experiment/activity part of this exercise.
Curated OER
Physical Principles in Living Systems
Seventh graders experiment with white light, plane mirrors, and curved mirrors in order to demonstrate the physical principles of living systems. In this physical principles lesson plan, 7th graders take 3 days to discover what happens...
Curated OER
Heat and Color
Sixth graders conduct a simple experiment to explore the ways that color can affect heat transfer. They review the three ways that heat can transfer: conduction, convection and radiation.
Curated OER
Spin the Saltine!
Students investigate chemical energy. In this physical science lesson, students blow on saltine crackers to demonstrate how chemical energy in food can be converted to motion. Students compare the saltine cracker experiment to how...
Curated OER
Its Electric!
Fourth graders define the differences between static and current electricity by participating in an investigation. In this energy lesson, 4th graders utilize electrical supplies to demonstrate the differences between static and current...
Curated OER
Albedo and Irradiation of Surfaces
Here is a physical science activity where pupils place thermometers inside of a white and a black paper pocket and place them under a lamp. They record and compare the temperature increase over a ten-minute period. Have your class...
Curated OER
What Wavelength Was That?
A combination of informative text, photos, and graphics comprise this sharp show on electromagnetic radiation. Some slides mention hands-on activities for demonstrating concepts, so if you want to include them you will need to figure out...
Curated OER
Sunlight and Plants
Students design and conduct an experiment to discover the role of direct sunlight on plants during germination and after germination. They plant corn and lima beans in small containers which they place in direct sunlight from a window...
Curated OER
Light the Bulb
Learners explore electricity. In this power experiment lesson, students determine what is required for lighting a bulb. Learners develop an understanding of open and closed circuits, and how energy is formed
Curated OER
Energy/Light/Heat/Sound
Fourth graders study the properties of heat in this series of lessons. They discuss sources of heat and experiment to determine its properties. They identify insulators and conductors by measuring temperatures, and graphing their data....
Curated OER
Shining the Light on Skin
Pupils investigate the relationships between certain environmental factors and levels of exposure to sunlight. The variables of location, time of year, and day, and the weather which affect the intensity of the sun are explored in this...
Curated OER
Experiment: Refraction And The Reappearing Coin
For this refraction worksheet, students perform an experiment by putting a penny in a bowl, walking off and turning back around to see if they can still see the penny or not.
Curated OER
Cell Energy-Bubbling Plants
Middle schoolers discuss the process of photosynthesis in plants and that oxygen is produced as a by product. They observe underwater Elodea plants "breathing" in a hands-on activity. After setting up the experiment, they observe the...
Curated OER
Algae Experiments
Students describe the characteristics of algae. In this biology lesson, students perform a series of experiment to explore algae. They investigate the basic things algae need to survive.
Curated OER
Aquatic Habitat Water Quality Experiment
Fifth graders discuss the importance of water quality for humans and fish and make predictions about what happens to water that is polluted. In small groups, they conduct experiments to compare and contrast water that is unpolluted and...
Curated OER
Energy Audits for the Elderly
High schoolers perform experiments to determine the nature of energy particularly in air, light and water. They conducted an energy audit using the Energy Audit Checklist and by looking at the school's bills for gas and power.
Curated OER
Who Turned the Lights Out?
Students discover the life cycle of butterfly by observing its growth from egg to caterpillar and the formation of its chrysalis. Students conduct an experiment in which they design housing for the chrysalises which are either in full...