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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Twister: The Tornado Story

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine dangerous weather by researching tornadoes.  In this extreme weather lesson, students identify the states included in Tornado Alley.  Students create a virtual tornado using 2 plastic bottles.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marble Run

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students use marbles to conduct experiments on movement of objects and explore Newton's three laws of motion. In this motion lesson plan, students use marbles, tubing, foam, paper cups, and more.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hot Wheels

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students observe the action produced by toy cars. In this geometry lesson, students discuss motion and distance as they relate to the movement of a spherical object.They collect data and make conjectures based on their data.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Carter Center’s Work in Sub-Saharan Africa

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the state of Sub-Saharan Africa. In this geography skills activity, students examine the work of the Carter Center in Africa as they investigate the strengths and weaknesses of linguistic, tribal, and religious...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Biodiesel Combustion and Its Influences in NOx Emissions

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders evaluate the physical mechanisms that cause a change in NOx emissions. In this combustion activity, 10th graders participate in a research project. Students create a presentation of their findings. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Things Fly

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explain basic principles of aeronautics such as gravity and lift. In this How Things Fly lesson, students visit the interactive, hands-on How Things Fly gallery at the Smithsonian. Students perform three experiments that...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Harmonic Motion

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the theory of simple harmonic motion (SHM) by performing hands-on, practical application experiments. In this harmonic motion instructional activity, students use strings of various lengths and bobs of different weights...
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Lesson Plan
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Simple Machines

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students investigate simple machines. For this simple machines lesson, students explore how tools increase productivity and make life easier. Students experiment with simple tools and discover the parts of each tool.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slip Slide'n Away

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students analyze the sliding of boxes along a warehouse floor. In this algebra lesson, students connect math and physics by calculating the friction created by the sliding of each box. They develop faster method to move the box, based on...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Changing Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore the Earth's crust. In this earth science lesson, students participate in 2 activities that demonstrate physical and chemical weathering. Students also play Jeopardy with topics including volcanoes, earthquakes,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

DC Motors

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders build simple electromagnets and small motors using a motor kit in order to illustrate how magnetic fields are produced by a current carrying wire and how an external magnetic field produces a force on a current carrying...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How to Make Water Run Uphill

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners observe science demonstration. In this science lesson, students watch an experiment showing water moving up from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, due to a change in atmospheric pressure.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Advertising's Hidden Messages

For Teachers 3rd - Higher Ed
Students explore the hidden messages in advertisements. In this business lesson, students discuss the role that advertisements play in our lives. Students locate advertisements that use various advertising techniques. Students create an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lift and Drag: Principles of Flight and the Soaring Imagination

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students construct models of early gas balloons and gliders. In this balloon and glider lesson, students create models of early gas balloons and gliders, discover how the forces of lift and drag effect aircraft in flight, and put on...
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Lesson Plan
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Shake, Rattle and Roll

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students compare the weathering of materials. in this weathering lesson, students experiment with the chemical and physical weathering of different materials. Students use salt and water as an example of how weathering occurs.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Critical Analysis Leads to Global Action

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discover the interconnectedness of the world. In this global studies lesson, students identify challenges the world faces and craft solutions to the problems they identified. Students present their findings in a PowerPoint...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Only Thing We Have To Fear...

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the appeal of fear in today's society and beliefs about the paranormal, specifically ghosts. They create a survey to be distributed throughout the school regarding beliefs in ghosts and other supernatural beings and forces.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Balloon Rocket

For Teachers K - 4th
Students observe a balloon rocket and how it relates to Newton's Third Law of Motion. In this balloon rocket lesson plan, students make a balloon rocket out of balloons, clothespins, straw, fishing line, and duct tape.
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Lesson Plan
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Solar System: Let's Take a Trip

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders consider outer space. In this introductory solar system lesson plan, 3rd graders complete a KWL chart and listen to the story The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System, by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen. They will...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mesoamerican Mystique

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students gain a better understanding of the cultural diversity in the northern region of Central America. They engage in a lesson which focuses on research, archaeology, historical videos, and travel highlights.
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Lesson Plan
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To See or Not to See: The Colors of Light

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders describe and conduct an experiment that identifies the physical properties of light. They explore sources of visible light and an electromagnetic spectrum. Students explain the conversion of one form of energy to another.
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Lesson Plan
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Walking for Water Mini-Unit

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students participate in an activity that requires them to consider the availability of water. In this "walking for water" lesson, students read "Women Bear the Weight of Water," and respond to discuss questions regarding the article....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Take a Rock Apart

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Pupils take a crushed rock and sort the remains of the rock minerals into different categories based on the different properties. In this sorting lesson plan, students learn what makes up a rock and how to sort something into categories.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Modeling the Process of Mining Silicon Through a Single Displacement/Redox Reaction

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study silicon and where it comes from.  For this solar mining lesson students complete an Internet search of mining and a lab activity.