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Canned Heat
Learners demonstrate that light and dark colored objects absorb the sun's radiation at different rates. They experiment with the temperature change of water in two locations and discuss the results.
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Heat from Machines
Third graders continue their examination of the heat energy from machines. In groups, they make predictions on which machines might produce a measureable amount of heat. They take the temperatures of the various machines and record them...
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Nature's Air Conditioner
Students observe the process of transpiration in leaves. They measure how much water a leaf gives off in a 24-hour period, calculate the volume, and answer discussion questions.
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Dissolved Oxygen
Students discuss the relationships between dissolved oxygen in a stream, stream temperature, organic waste loads, and stream conditions by studying and using a model of dissolved oxygen in the stream.
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Exploring Infrared Image Technology
Students view infrared images of a blowing hair dryer, a Popsicle, and a toaster. They discuss the images and ways they are different than visible light images. Students view a temperature scale and discuss which parts of the item are...
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Star Power! Discovering the Power of Sunlight
Students estimate the energy output of the sun. They estimate how much power sunlight the sunlight provides to the earth. They build a simple device to measure the amount of solar radiation the earth receives from the sun.
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Energy in the Form of Calories
Students calculate the amount of food calories found in an individual peanut. In small groups, they set up the experiment so that a burning peanut will heat water above it. Using the temperature change and volume of the water they...
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Secret Agents of Dissolved Oxygen
Students determine the changes in different types of water in a sealed container over time. They investigate how to measure dissolved oxygen, temperature, and carbon dioxide with calculator or computer probe-ware. Students determine the...
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Ammonium Nitrate - Heat of Solution
Students quantify the relationship between temperature, energy and heat
and define an endothermic reaction. They measure the energy change caused by dissolving one mole of ammonium nitrate in water.
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Wet Weather, Wet Climate
Students discover the differences between weather and climate in this long-term lesson introduction. They create rain gauges and practice reading rainfall measurements, view a website showing the cloud cover in their location and draw...
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The Same but Different Part II
Third graders experiment with beakers of water and balloons to measure the volume of the gas in the balloon. They determine ways to change the volume of air in the balloon which changes its size but not its physical state. By heating the...
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The Same But Different
Third graders observe a frozen container filled with ice and discuss what happens when the ice sits out in the room. They practice measuring the mass and volume of the ice, watch as the frozen container is placed in a warm water bath to...
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DNA Isolation from Onion
Students apply measurement skills using the metric system. They explain the process of isolating DNA from other cell contents. They apply knowledge of cell structure to explain the process of isolating DNA.
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Icebergs Ahead!
Students experiment with density of ice, and examine how density affects how icebergs float in water.
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Stream Flow in Blacks Creek
Students explore what factors affect the stream flow in a local body of water. They collect data to measure stream flow and discharge and construct a hypothesis concerning the factors affecting stream flow.
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A Salty Experiment
Students study salty and fresh waters. In this harbor estuary lesson plan students complete a lab activity on salinity and describe what happened.
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Ice Cream Science
Students review properties of matter and discuss how materials change when things are done to them. They observe how materials change as a reaction to temperature by following the procedure to make ice cream and recording the temperature...
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Smog Be Gone
Students begin the lesson by identifying greenhouse gases. In groups, they observe and record the effect of the gases on the atmosphere and the temperature of the Earth. They participate in activities that describe the role of...
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Relative Humidity of Your School
Students predict the location where the relative humidity the highest and lowest in and around their school. They use a sling psychrometer to measure the relative humidity of the various locations.
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Current Interactions
Students design an experiment to see how wind, temperature, and salinity work together to influence ocean currents and present it in a report format. They explain to their classmates how experiment findings relate to ocean currents.
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Oh Nuts! - Calories Count
Students measure and record the mass of the nut to be tested to the nearest 0.01 gram.
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How Tall are Plants?
First graders measure a plant using unifix cubes and record their measurements on a class chart.
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Understanding Cloud Formation
Students read and relate the poem, "Clouds" by Aileen Fisher to a demonstration on cloud formation. They create clouds in jars using ice water and matches then discuss the ways clouds can be used to predict weather.
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Grow Your Own Grub
Students study plant needs and growth by completing a gardening activity. In this plant study instructional activity, students watch a video and discuss plant growth needs. Students plant seeds in containers and water the plants....