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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sunlight and Warm Air

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students discuss radiant energy from the sun, performing a simple experiment with sun glasses and bright light to demonstrate the concept. Students further participate in simple in-class experiments to demonstrate: air density as it...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Greenhouse Effect: Pop Bottle Experiment

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Young scholars explore global warming by conducting a weather experiment. In this greenhouse gas lesson plan, students define the greenhouse effect and the impact on our ozone layer. Young scholars utilize a soda pop bottle, floodlight...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Light: Lesson 2 - The Electromagnetic Spectrum

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars investigate the Electromagnetic Spectrum and realize there is energy beyond visible light. They identify parts of the EM Spectrum.
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Unit Plan
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PBS

Blow the Roof Off!

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Blow the minds of young scientists with this collection of inquiry-based investigations. Based on a series of eight videos, these "hands-on, minds-on" science lessons engage young learners in exploring a wide range of topics from making...
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Lab Resource
Colorado State University

Why Is the Sky Purple?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
The color of the sky depends on the time of day. Young scholars experiment with scattering different wavelengths of light to recreate the color of the sky. They observe both the longer blue wavelengths and the shorter red and orange...
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Seasons Around the World

For Students 1st - 5th
Why does Earth experience summer, fall, winter, and spring? Using an informative demonstration, learners see how the angle of the sun on Earth and the rotation of Earth determine the seasons. Scholars work in pairs to learn that the...
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Activity
Teach Engineering

Human Power

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
How many humans does it take to power a light bulb? The 10th part of a 25-lesson Energy Systems and Solutions unit has learners conduct an experiment to calculate power. They then use the results to determine how many classmates they...
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

LEDs Rainbow Connection

For Students 6th - 12th
View LED lights through the eyes of a scientist. Young scholars learn to view light as a wave frequency and connect various frequencies to different colors on the light spectrum. A lab activity asks groups to measure the frequency of...
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Activity
Teach Engineering

Beating the Motion Sensor

For Teachers 7th - 9th
I bet I can cross the room without having the lights come on. Class members set up an experiment in which they try to determine what materials will mask motion detected by a sensor. Groups predict how materials will interact with light,...
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Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

Making Waves

For Teachers 7th Standards
Learning about waves can have its ups and downs, but a demo-packed tool kit has the class "standing" for more! Learners gain experience with several different wave types, organizing observations and data, and wave terminology. The...
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Activity
Discovery Education

Through the Looking Glass

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Turning white light into colors only takes a little scientific know how! Young scholars create their own spectroscope in a hands-on activity exploring the properties of light. Using a diffraction grating, they discover how white light...
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Activity
Exploratorium

Vocal Visualizer

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Make sound visible with an activity that provides directions for how to build a vocal visualizer meant to create light patterns. Making noise into the visualizer causes a mirror to vibrate, reflecting a laser beam, and creating the...
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Lab Resource
Colorado State University

How Can I Turn a Solar Oven into a Refrigerator?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Whether you want to heat things up in science class or cool things down a bit, an intriguing lab's got you covered! Science scholars explore the principles of thermodynamics using a solar oven, then change the conditions to turn their...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Got Light!

For Students 3rd - 4th
Sources of light, and the reflection of light off of objects, are the focus of this brief and simple science learning exercise. Learners must trace the path that light takes which enables a boy to read a book. A suggested activity is to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Check Out Lights and Shields with Beads

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners explore Ultraviolet detecting beads and conduct several investigations with them.  In this investigative lesson students participate in an experiment to see the harmful effects of UV light and discuss their findings. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Herschel Infrared Experiment

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners perform a version of the experiment of 1800 by the famous astronomer Sir Frederick William Herschel.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Learn About Energy Sources

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders identify at least four energy sources through sensory experiences.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making a Battery and Energy Transformation

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders determine what makes a battery work. In this battery lesson plan, 7th graders brainstorm ideas about how they think batteries provide energy. They perform an experiment in which they work as a team to assemble a battery....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Multi-Talented Electrical Energy

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Young scholars explore energy conversions by demonstrating the conversion of electrical energy into light, heat, sound, and magnetic energy. Students create a simple device that converts electrical energy from batteries to heat, light,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Transformation

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students identify different kinds of energy such as heat energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, and magnetic energy. They investigate the concept of conservation of energy.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let There Be Light

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore electricity. In this electricity instructional activity, 5th graders experiment with open and closed circuits. Students determine how to properly connect a battery and bulb to illuminate the bulb.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy and the Environment

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders define alternative energy form, design models which show how the energy source can be used, and explain the purpose of dams.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Experiments with Photovoltaic Cells

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils explain how sunlight is converted to electricity. In this series of physics lesson, students study how varying the characteristics of the light source affect photovoltaic cells. They research their different uses in other countries.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Energy in the Home

For Students 8th - 10th
In this energy use worksheet, students read about kilowatts and solve 2 problems. They find the costs to run certain electrical items for a given amount of time and they determine the electricity consumption of an accelerator that runs...