Curated OER
Elements and Compounds
Students explain how radioactive decay occurs. In this physical science lesson plan, students simulate radioactive half-life through an experiment. They graph their data and share their results in class.
Curated OER
and and Ocean Views of Earth by Remote Sensing
Students explain how satellites help scientists to see more than with the unaided eye and how Landsat technology works. Students identify vegetation and fire sites in the rainforest and detect erosion along rivers. They are able to use...
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Observing Motion
First graders explore movement and motion. In this motion lesson, 1st graders how objects can move as well as how the Earth is in constant motion and the force of gravity. Students complete a coloring sheet.
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Bottle Rocket Lesson
Students design a rocket that stays on air for the longest period of time. In this physics lesson plan, students research the function of different rocket components. They test their design and make necessary modifications.
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Properties and Behavior of Waves
Young scholars explore the different properties of waves. In this physics lesson, students differentiate mechanical and electromagnetic waves. They explore each lab station and write their observation about the wave behavior they see.
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Falling Water
Students drop water from different heights to demonstrate the conversion of water's potential energy to kinetic energy. They see how varying the height from which water is dropped affects the splash size. In seeing how falling water can...
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Understanding: Uncertainty
Students discuss the Heisenberg uncertainty principle and how it applies to the subatomic world. Working in groups, they design a model that would help others to understand the uncertainty principle. Written explanations are included...
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How Far... How Powerfu
Students work with a real optical spectrum of a gamma ray burst afterglow taken at the Keck Observatory. They measure the shifts of spectral lines, deduce the velocity of the astronomical object, and then use Hubble's Law to get its...
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Water Power
Students observe a model of a waterwheel to investigate the transformations of energy involved in turning the blades of a hydro-turbine into work. They work as engineers to create a model for a new waterwheel while considering resources,...
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Online Exploration: Telescopes From the Ground Up
Young scholars explore a web-based illustrated text and interactive graphics to determine the relationship between the operation of telescopes and light. optics. They work in small groups to become an expert on one of the ten eras of...
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Applied Science - Technology (KA) Pre Lab
Students explore tools. In this tool lesson, students see how tools and machines were invented to help people work easier. They see different types of simple machines such as wheel and axle, lever, and wedge.
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Hot Cans and Cold Cans
Learners investigate the physics of heating and cooling through conduction, convection, and radiation. Working in groups, they determine the best way to cool a can of water and warm a can of water. Temperature is taken at five minute...
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Capturing the Sun's Warmth
Students explore the variety of ways to use solar energy. They investigate the thermal energy storage capacities of different test materials to determine which to use in passive solar building design. They explain how passive solar...
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Stations of Light
Student groups rotate through four stations to examine light energy behavior: refraction, magnification, prisms and polarization. They see how a beam of light is refracted (bent) through various transparent mediums. Students investigate...
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The Phenomenon of Sound: Waves
Students explore sound waves. In this sound waves lesson, students brainstorm different sounds and how sounds move or travel. Students then create a KWL chart and work through six different lab activities to examine how sound waves...
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Thar She Blows!: Wind Power
Students examine how wind energy is transformed into electrical energy. In pairs, they build miniature wind turbines and measure how much electrical current they produce. They asses the importance of design and position in energy...
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Avoiding Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Burning Fossil Fuels
Students calculate stoichiometrically the amount of carbon dioxide that would be emitted from burning a mole of varios alkanes that comprise fossile fuels. If the energy released from burning a mole of these alkanes is known, then the...
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Carbohydrates-Simple and Complex
Grain products are staple foods and sources of simple and complex carbohydrates that provide energy for the body. Define simple and complex carbohydrates Identify function and sources of simple and complex carbohydrates Describe how...
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State Change
Eighth graders explore the physical change of matter. As a class, they discuss their favorite super hero and determine if the hero undergoes a physical or chemical change. Students examine the change of state and phase change. In groups,...
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Measuring Calories in Food
Learners measure the amount of calories in food. In this food energy lesson, students discuss what a calorie is, how our bodies use a calorie, and how many we need. Then, learners use a calorimeter to calculate the amount of energy in a...
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Saudi Arabia -- Future city
Seventh graders summarize an article on Masdar. For this summarizing lesson students clearly explain three of the four points provided in an outline of the article. The students write an essay and identify six physical features of the...
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The 1980s Series - Breakdancing
Students examine how breakdancing influenced Keith Haring. They translate a flat image into movement. They breakdance along to music of the 1980's to experience the energy and innovation of that decade. They create flipbooks of their own...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
The Digestive System
Fourth graders simulate how the digestive system works. In this hands-on simulation, 4th graders complete six group activities that help students visualize how our body breaks down food into nutrients.
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Thunderstorm Outflow I
Students study the characteristics of thunderstorms. They view an animation of radar reflectivity that depicts a thunderstorm and its outflow to locate the thunderstorm's outflow. Afterward, they explain what physical process occurs in a...