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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pursuit of The Properties of Metals and Nonmetals

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how every element is classified based on the physical and chemical properties.  In this properties of metals lesson students divide into groups, complete a lab and finish a data sheet. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Egg-cellent Osmosis Experiment

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the problem of osmosis by conducting an experiment. They use eggs with the shells dissolved to tell whether fluid can move across the membranes. The experiment provides high interest for all kinds of students to keep...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Separating Solids Experiment

For Students 7th - 8th
In this separating solids experiment worksheet, students follow the procedures to find what physical properties could be used to separate a mixture of pepper, salt, sand and iron filings.
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Lesson Plan
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

Understanding Wave Motion - Slinky vs. Snaky: Which Spring is Dominant?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Ride the wave to an understanding of refraction! The first in a series of two inquiry-based lessons challenges learners to create transverse waves with two different types of springs. As their wave hits an object, they observe the change...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to the Scientific Method

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students designs and conduct a scientific experiment that identifies the problem, distinguishes manipulated, responding and controlled variables, collects, analyzes and communicates data, and makes valid inferences and conclusions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Identification of Animals by Serum Electrophoresis

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students compare their unknown serum against a set of known serum standards and determine the animal source of their serum. They write a lab report to communicate their results.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Plastic

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students experiment to create a plastic solution. In this science lesson, students use sodium borax and polyvinyl alcohol to create their solution, then identify, discuss, and chart observations on the end product.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mighty Minerals

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of minerals. They make a list of the uses of minerals found in Illinois. They write a report individually based on their observations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tie Dye

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers practice writing research proposals to test the color fastness of a dye once it has been exposed to a t-shirt. Each proposal needs details of experimental design, length of treatment, and means of cleaning the shirt. All...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Lenz's Law and the Spinning Can

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students observe a demonstration of Lenz's Law using an aluminum can and a bar magnet. They hypothesize what will occur as the can is placed in water and the magnet is lowered above it on a string. Students discover the phase shift...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Matter Unit

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students create products from studying about matter that include: Make a "T" chart with matter and non matter items. Write a poem, song, or rap about matter. Five vocabulary words from the chapter must be included in the poem.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bungee Man Lab

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the motion of a toy bungee jumper using the scientific method. They view a video of a bungee jumper and discuss what can be measured about a bungee jump. Students discuss the scientific mehtod and how to design an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cents-ible Chemistry-Analysis of the Metal in a Penny

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students determine the base metals and surface metals in a penny. In this analysis of metals lesson plan, students determine the density of five pennies minted in different years. They use different chemicals such as hydrochloric acid,...
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Activity
American Chemical Society

Exothermic, Endothermic, and Chemical Change

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Scientists can't observe bonds breaking or forming, so how do they distinguish between exothermic and endothermic reactions? Young scholars complete two experiments to do just that. They monitor temperature change and calculate the...
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Activity
American Chemical Society

Energy and Entropy of a Stretched Rubber Band

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Stephen Perry invented and patented the modern rubber band in 1845. Young scientists put his discovery to work as they use rubber bands to observe entropy and enthalpy. They determine the change in free energy to figure out if it...
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Lesson Plan
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

The Effects of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles on Brine Shrimp: A Toxicology Study

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Who doesn't love gold and silver? Brine shrimp, that's who! Learners conduct an experimental lesson to monitor the toxicity of gold and silver nanoparticles on brine shrimp. They synthesize solutions to expose the brine shrimp to and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mighty Minerals

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students identify the characteristics of minerals. They complete proper identification tests and record the data in an organized fashion. They list important uses for minerals as well.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teen Driving: Skills, Responsibilities and Reactions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
As an introduction to the skills required for and responsibilities of driving, pre-teens and teens engage in a series of activities, chart their response times, and analyze how variables effect these reaction times. Class groups use the...
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Printables
Achievement Strategies

CCSS Unit Design Template for Art

For Teachers K - 12th
Art classes, like any lab class, require extensive preplanning and set-up time. Use this planning template in the quiet before the storm to identify the equipment and materials that will be needed, the procedures and processes...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Project Geode

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students predict the appearance of a geode's internal structure based on its mass and density. They form a hypothesis based on the data they collect. They also identify common minerals found in Illinois.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Activity #15 The Snowy Christmas Tree

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners weigh out the proper amount of silver nitrate and prepare the silver nitrate solution. They observe what occurs when pure copper is added to silver nitrate solution. Pupils determine whether the change in the appearance of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Penny Factory

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders identify the characteristics of a simple physical and chemical change. They describe objects by the properties of the materials from which they are made and separate or sort items using these properties. Students explain...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newton's First Law Crash!!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine Newton's first law of motion and demonstrate how it applies to cars.  In this motion lesson students complete an experiment and worksheet on speed and inertia.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Liquid Logic: Experiments in Viscosity

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars examine specific characteristics of liquids through a hands-on lab activity. An experiment with teacher prepared viscosity tubes is conducted in which liquid identities are predicted based on data. A hypothesis is written...