Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Nuclear Synthesis
Start this lesson with a bang! The eighth in a 13-part series of lessons explains the origin of elements beginning with the Big Bang Theory. The reading describes the formation of elements hydrogen through uranium.
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Cling On's
Students define the term static electricity and how to it. In this electricity lesson students design and implement an experiment to show how static electricity affects their daily lives.
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Making An Anemometer
Students discover how to capture the speed of wind. In this science activity instructional activity, students gather materials and follow procedures to create an anemometer to measure wind speed.
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Take Charge!
Students induce an electrical charge on various objects, and experiment with electrical repulsion and attraction. They define related vocabulary, play Bingo and complete a take-home quiz.
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Galvanometers
Students construct their own galvanometer. In this physics lesson plan, students explain how it is used to detect electric current. They conduct an experiment to measure how much electricity flows through the circuit.
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Resistor and Resistance
High schoolers explore electrical resistance through various experiments. For this physics lesson, students calculate resistance using a mathematical formula. They explain how colors identify the resistance value of a resistor.
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Stepper Motor
Students compare a stepper motor from a traditional motor. For this physics lesson, students summarize how it works. They build their own stepper motor and explore its uses.
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Rechargeable Batteries
Students explore how rechargeable batteries work by conducting a series of experiments. In this physics lesson, students discuss the benefits of using rechargeable batteries over disposable ones. They build their own battery charger...
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Van de Graaff Generator
Students explore static electricity using the Van de Graaff generator. In this physics lesson, students construct their own Van de Graaff using simple materials. They explain how charges accumulate on this device.
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Lemon Battery
Students construct their own battery made of lemons. In this electrochemistry activity, students explain why lemons conduct electricity. They perform a series of experiments to investigate its conductivity.
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Conductivity Lessons
"Conduct" some simple experiments with these great lesson plans on conductors and insulators!
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Electric Circuits
Fifth graders build a simple circuit which transmits Morse code using a battery, bulb, wire, switch, and tape. They analyze problems that arise while transmitting their messages to each other.
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Electrical Resistivity
Students examine how materials oppose the flow of an electrical current. In this resistivity lesson students complete several experiments on the differences between resistance and resistivity.
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Electrical Battery
Students investigate the different types of batteries and how they work. In this energy instructional activity students experiment with batteries and see which ones last the longest.
Carnegie Mellon University
Battery Workshop
Introduce your class to the workings and parts of a battery-operated circuit. Pairs of pupils use lemons to make batteries and measure voltage and current with a multimeter. An accompanying worksheet is used for recording values and...
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Focusing Event to Electricity
Students explain how electrical charges behave. In this electricity lesson, students determine how far away lightning is when it strikes. They research how fabric softener reduces static electricity and share their findings in class.
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What Is Electricity
Fourth graders develop an understanding of static electricity and discover how to detect a charge by using electroscopes. In this electricity lesson, 4th graders complete a lab on electricity and discuss the results with the class.
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Measuring Electricity
Students examine electricity, what its uses are and how it works. In this exploring electricity lesson students study voltage, resistance, current and OHM's law.
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8th GRade SCience End of the Year Flip Video Review
Students explore video taping. In this science review lesson, students create a video of an assigned science unit as a peer study tool.
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The Phantom of the Computer Lab
Students calculate the power consumption of computers in school. In this physics lesson, students design an experiment to determine whether the school should unplug computers at the end of the day. They collect data and report findings...
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Go with the Flow
Students gain an understanding of the difference between electrical conductors and insulators, and experience recognizing a conductor by its material properties. They build a conductivity tester to determine whether different objects are...
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Earth's Energy
Students discuss the Earth's energy. In this science lesson plan, students construct a simple circuit, a series circuit, and a parallel circuit.
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How Good Is Green?
Students explore the amount of electricity used and wasted in homes and at school using kilowatt meters. In this environmental energy lesson, students compute power usage by appliances over time and identify ways in which electricity is...
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The Magic of Static
Students investigate static electricity. In this physics lesson, students participate in an experiment with balloons to demonstrate how static electricity works.