Teach Engineering
Battle of the Beams
Make the strongest beam possible using taffy? Groups mold a taffy-water mixture into a beam and a reinforcing material of their choice. To finish the final installment of a two-part series, participants test its strength by adding...
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Types of Chemical Reactions
Students conduct labs to gain an overview of chemical reactions. They observe examples of synthesis, decomposition, single displacement and double displacement reactions. They identify certain products by the use of litmus and splint tests.
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An Egg-cellent Osmosis Experiment
Students investigate the problem of osmosis by conducting an experiment. They use eggs with the shells dissolved to tell whether fluid can move across the membranes. The experiment provides high interest for all kinds of students to keep...
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Genetically Modified Foods
Students explain what genetically modified foods are and how they are created. Students use appropriate vocabulary to describe and effectively discuss the benefits of, and potential risks of, genetically modified foods.
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Mining Simulation
Eighth graders put their knowledge of rocks and minerals into perspective by seeing how minerals can be mined and the difficulties and costs of mining. They explore the environmental impacts of mining.
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Acid Rain
Students perform experiments to determine how different acids cause acid rain. They measure the pH of the water to calculate the water's acidity. They discover how acid rain dissolves rock materials.
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A Comparison of Polymeric Liquids with Newtonian Liquids
Students concretely illustrate and define a macromolecule, observe the unique behavior of polymers and relate to their knowledge of molecules, and use the scientific process to determine the difference between Newtonian and non-Newtonian...
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No Bones About It
Students conduct Internet research on the different parts of the skeletal system. Then they create a model arm that demonstrates how muscle and bone work together to create movement.
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Photosynthetic Pictures--Are Worth More Than a Thousand Words
Students observe and examine how carbon dioxide, water, and light produce glucose/starch through a process called photosynthesis.
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Color and Light Spectrum Demonstrations
Students explore the light spectrum. The teacher uses holographic diffraction grafting film on an overhead to demonstrate the true nature of color. After observing a vivid rainbow, students recognize that white light is composed of all...
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"Graphing Your Motion"
Students study the concepts of motion, velocity, and acceleration through graphing their own movement using LoggerPro. They explain the difference between speed and velocity using the weather vane example. They discover the difference...
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Genetics the Easy Way
Students use recyclable trash to construct a Recycle Critter family. They calculate the probability of the phenotype of the offspring that two heterozygous parents produced.
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Waste Management
Students investigate the amount of trash they generate, the problems that result and possible solutions.They complete four activities regarding household trash, biodegradability, packaging, and recycling.
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Introduction to the Scientific Method
Students designs and conduct a scientific experiment that identifies the problem, distinguishes manipulated, responding and controlled variables, collects, analyzes and communicates data, and makes valid inferences and conclusions.
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Heat Transfer
The students construct a heating curve and explain its components. They perform calculations. They review phase changes and quantify Energy differences. They review phases of matter and their energy content.
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Plant and Animal Cells
Students investigate the difference between plant and animal cells. They observe a variety o plant and animals cells by looking at a piece of cork, an onion, elodea, prepared slides of paramecium, human bone, frog blood, and human...
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Physical/Chemical Properties of a Burning Candle
Students investigate the physical and chemical properties of a candle before and after it is lit. They conduct a burning candle experiment, and complete a KWL chart and worksheet, recording the results of the investigation.
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Endothermic or Exothermic That Is the Question
Students conduct an experiment to determine what happens to heat energy during a chemical reaction. They examine an endothermic reaction by observing a chemical reactions.
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Celebrate Black History
Students research African-American mathematicians. In this middle school mathematics lesson, students celebrate Black History by conducting Internet research on an African-American, mathematicians or scientist. Students prepare a...
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Acid Rain
Learners create acid rain using carbonic, nitrous, nitric, and sulfurous acids.
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Boom and Fizz
Learners investigate the differences between a physical and chemical change. They observe various demonstrations involving physical or chemical changes, make predictions, and record what they see, hear, and smell.
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Phases of Matter
Eighth graders practice using correct vocabulary and apply content knowledge related to phases of matter when answering questions about situations or observations from everyday life.
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Ice Cold
Students design and conduct an experiment to investigate what happens when salt and ice come together and to determine if one form of salt is better for melting ice on steps and sidewalks.