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Surface Friction and Wear Characteristics of Common Materials
High schoolers identify the factors affecting friction. In this physics lesson, students construct their own rocket car and race them. They graph the average speeds and discuss how lubricants affect friction between rubbing surfaces.
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Ecosystems Beneath the Surface
Sixth graders create a KWL chart about microorganisms. In this biology instructional activity, 6th graders create and label a diagram on a microbial mat. They investigate the processes involved in the carbon, oxygen and sulfur cycles.
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Static Electricity - Grocery Store Items
Young scholars investigate static electricity using inexpensive "grocery store" items. They view demonstrations with video segments. They graph the data they collect.
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Lights in the Night Sky
Young scholars read about and explore solar winds and spectacular auroras, specifically the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights.
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The Aquatic Environment
Fifth graders focus on the various types of fish living in different water environments. In groups, they research the different methods used to fish and participate in experiments to determine the effects of mercury on fish, the...
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The Path of Electrons
Students engage in an interactive "hot potato" demonstration to gain an appreciation for the flow of electrons through a circuit. They role play the different parts of a simple circuit and send small items representing electrons (paper...
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Vector Voyage!
Middle schoolers use vector analysis to examine the concept of dead reckoning. They listen to a teacher-led lecture, complete a Vector Voyage Worksheet with the teacher, answer discussion questions, and use the Pythagorean Theorem for...
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Pet Rocks
Students complete a variety of activities related to the physical characteristics of minerals. They classify and group candy, classify rocks and complete a Pet River Rock worksheet. Students try to guess which rock goes with each...
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The Water Cycle
Fifth graders investigate evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. They observe a water cycle kit and record their observations, and examine how water condenses on the outside of a cup. Next, they observe an evaporation...
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It Matters
Students use descriptive vocabulary to discuss the attributes of matter. Then, they sort objects or pictures by the type of matter they are comprised of. Finally, students match objects of matter with similar attributes and create a...
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Theories, Hypothesis, Laws, Facts & Beliefs
In this scientific statements worksheet, students are given 35 statements and they are to identify if each statement is a fact, law, hypothesis, theory or belief.
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Marvelous Mixtures
Fifth graders design an experiment in which they separate mixtures. In this mixtures instructional activity, 5th graders define mixtures, solutions, solutes, and solvents. They watch a video, complete worksheets, and perform an...
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The Power of the Plug: How Electricity Will Change Our Lives... Again
Students study electricity. In this physics instructional activity, students review electrical energy by discussing three ways of generating it. Students explore various energy sources used for creating electricity and examine how...
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Relationship between Potential and Kinetic Energy
Fifth graders explore the relationship between potential energy and kinetic energy. For this energy lesson, 5th graders examine objects and describe potential and kinetic energy of the objects. Students complete two worksheets.
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Sunspots
Students examine what a sunspot is and how it is produced. In this sun lesson plan students locate and measure sunspots then view them through a camera.
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Cardiovascular Disease and Fitness: Exploring the Rhythm of Your Pulse
Students explore several examples of cardiovascular diseases. In this anatomy lesson, students explain why physical fitness is very important. They count their pulse rate and record them on a data table.
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Natural Disasters: An Adventure in Non-Fiction
Students study different natural disasters. In this natural disaster lesson plan students read a nonfiction book followed by a discussion, an experiment, then collect illustrations from their experience.
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Molecular Sequences & Primate Evolution: Amino Acids, Hemoglobins in Evolution
Students compare differences in amino acids in the beta hemoglobin from representative primates, complete a matrix of those differences, and from these data, construct and interpret cladograms as they reflect relationships and timing of...
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Growing plants
Students explore plants and recognize that they are living things that require light and water to grow; students identify, name and match the parts of plants.
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Friction
Students explore friction as a force that slows moving objects, explain conclusions in terms of the roughness or smoothness of surfaces, relate results to predictions, and begin to know how to plan a fair test.
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Health and growth
Students examine ways for people to stay healthy, such as exercising and eating right.
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Earth, Sun, and Moon
Students participate in a demonstration and complete an online activity that illustrates the earth orbits the sun once a year, and that the moon takes approximately 28 days to orbit the earth.
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Teeth and Eating
Students examine pictures of different animals and decide if they eat meat and/or plants. They inspect models of pairs of upper and lower teeth and discuss which teeth are most useful for cutting grass and tearing meat.
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Rocks and Soils
Learners compare the properties of rocks and relate these properties to their use. They perform a virtual experiment to describe and group rocks on the basis of their characteristics.