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Lesson Plan
Polar Trec

Sea Ice Impact

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The arctic seas contain currents that are both warm (with high salinity) and cold (relatively fresh water) that circulate throughout the year. Through discussion, a lab, and a web quest, participants explore the impacts of melting and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sun as the Driving Force of the Water Cycle

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars study the water cycle and how the sun is an important factor.  In this water cycle activity students investigate how to desalinate water and explore the different densities of fresh versus saltwater.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diaper Challenge

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students compare the absorbency of a regular diaper and a swim diaper in fresh water and salt water. In this absorbency lesson plan, students mass the diapers and place them in water and determine the change in mass. They do the same...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Osmosis

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore osmosis as they watch organisms divide.  In this organism lesson, 5th graders use potatoes to experiment with the effects of salty water in the body.  Students discuss what osmosis is and record what happens in...
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Activity
US Department of Energy

Solar Distiller

For Teachers 4th - 10th
Explore the sun's ability to distill contaminated water with this simple set of classroom experiments. After filling two glass bowls, one with muddy water and the other with salt water, they are covered with plastic wrap and placed in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Capillary Action and Adhesion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students perform classroom experiments to observe adhesion. They perform a second experiment using sand, salt, water, and a heat lamp to observe the principle of capillary action. They also experiment with adhesion in plants.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Factors Affecting Ocean Currents

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students design and conduct an experiment to determine the effect of salinity and temperature changes in the movement of ocean currents. In this earth science lesson, students record observations and collect data. They share their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Stuff Is Put Together (Chemical Bonding)

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders participate in a simple experiment that shows the ratio of elements that make up water.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Identifying Variables

For Students 9th - 12th
In this variables instructional activity, students are given seven experiments that they read and identify the independent variable, dependent variable, control group and standardizing variable.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Experimentation With Plants

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders experiment with different varieties of plants and draw conclusions after performing a series of lab activities. A very helpful student worksheet is given. This is a nicely done introductory lesson for life science.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aquaculture

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students examine an experiment in which 2 types of commercial fish are fed a new type of fish feed and a commercial fish feed which costs ten times as much. They calculate in the fish grow as well with the cheaper fish feed and then...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea and Ice Salinity

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students conduct an experiment.  For this salinity lesson, students learn about sea ice, why it is important and how changing amounts can affect the sea.  Students conduct an experiment to find out the effects of salinity on the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Journey of the Pacific Salmon

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Young scholars examine the journey of the Pacific salmon. In this salmon species lesson plan, students review the stages of the salmon life cycle and conduct an experiment to determine how the water and habitat changes during each stage.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Properties of Salt

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners discuss certain properties of salt and how it is used every day as well as harmful uses. They experiment with salt to see it conduct electricity, form crystals and water freezing temperature. They complete a worksheet to record...
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Presenting the Water Cycle

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders complete a unit of study about the water cycle using both print and Internet based resources. They examine fresh and salt water and complete an online quiz before developing a multimedia presentation highlighting the phases...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Hail

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate the different types of precipitation and conduct a hail experiment. They identify the types of precipitation during a slideshow, and define key vocabulary terms. Next, in small groups they follow the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Estuarine Currents

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students experiment observing a demonstration on models of density-driven currents which are typically found in an estuarine system of water flow. They compare/contrast water temperature and salinity to the formations of estuarine currents.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physical and Chemical Changes

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students investigate chemical and physical changes. In this physical and chemical change lesson plan, students perform 3 experiments in the lab to observe changes in matter. They determine that no new substances are formed in physical...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Fish Tale

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars conduct an experiment. In this fish activity, students discover how fish cells respond to fresh and salty water and if temperature effect the movement of a fish's gills. Young scholars also identify the characteristics of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Slow Rot or Not?

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine how environmental factors affect decomposition. For this decomposition lesson, 5th graders experiment with the decomposition of grapes in five different environmental settings. They look at images of items that have...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dissolving Salt

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders, in groups, complete an experiment/activity in which they dissolve salt in a cup of hot water and then observe what happens as the water evaporates over the next few weeks.
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Making a Battery

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Don't be shocked when your class has a blast making their own batteries! Science scholars examine a dry cell battery, then design and construct a wet cell battery. The activity guides them through the parts of a battery, the variables...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Great Salt Lake

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders are introduced to the Great Salt Lake (GSL) environment and the various components of it. They make observations about algae and its environment and discuss why it is considered a living organism and various components of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Salinity

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Learners define and discuss salinity, conduct classroom experiment to determine salinity of water sample by using hydrometer, record predictions, and demonstrate understanding of how salinity influences object's ability to float in water.