Virginia Department of Education
Heat and Thermal Energy Transfer
How does radiation affect our daily lives? Answer that question and others with a lesson that discusses radiation and its use in thermal energy transfer through electromagnetic waves. Pupils investigate vaporization and evaporation while...
Curated OER
Measuring Temperatures
Fourth graders participate in a teacher-led discussion about temperature--hot and cold. Each group of students is assigned specific materials for their lab experiment. They record temperatures measured in their journals and then plot...
Curated OER
Calendar Time
Use circle time to work on counting. Kindergarteners practice the months of the year, say the full date, chart the day's temperature, count to 100, and sing the alphabet song. This kind of daily routine cultivates deep roots for...
Curated OER
WATER QUALITY FOR FRESHWATER ORGANISMS
Students use determination of dissolved oxygen and water temperature changes to determine the environmental impact from thermal pollution.
Curated OER
Use Models to Compare and Order Integers
Students investigate the concept of integers and how they should occur in the realm of irrational numbers. The lesson includes the use of positive and negative integers. The lesson is a good foundation in order to move into calculating...
Curated OER
Earth Systems
Ninth graders investigate biological systems. They summarize relationships between systems. Students determine how systems relate within the biosphere. They analyze the carbon cycle.
Curated OER
Floating on Salt Water
Mixing substances together causes their properties to change. This resource illustrates that concept for fifth graders by having them consider four questions that have to do with buoyancy and boiling point. Learners begin to understand...
Curated OER
How Hot Is Hot In Namib?
Students research and demonstrate the temperatures of the Namibian Desert. They watch and discuss a video, conduct an experiment to demonstrate the desert temperatures, record their results in the form of a graph, and compare/contrast...
Curated OER
Our Desert Backyard
Students make observations of their own backyard. In this environment lesson, students keep records of the plants and animals they see in their home or school yard. Students make notes of how the weather and environment changes over...
Curated OER
Measuring Calories
Learners investigate what a calorie is and how and why we measure them. They conduct an experiment to compare the calories of a peanut and a mini-marshmallow, and explain and discuss how calories are directly related to the amount of...
Curated OER
Dead Body Math
Students solve the mystery of dead Mr. Potato Head using physics and algebra. They discuss Newton's Law of cooling as it applies to the mystery scenario involving a cooling baked potato as the "victim". They manipulate algebraic...
Curated OER
Heat Transfer & Phase Changes
In this heat transfer and phase change worksheet, students experiment with ice, salt, and milk to show the relationship between the temperature of a solution and its phase. Students turn milk from a liquid to a solid and graph the...
Curated OER
Measuring Calories
Students burn peanuts and marshmallows to determine the calories each contains. In this calorimetry lesson, students set up an apparatus with a ring stand and water in an aluminum can. They record the temperature of the water before and...
Curated OER
Death On Board La Belle: Finding Clues from Old Bones
Students practice analyzing skeletal remains for clues by using the Internet. In this scientific investigation lesson, students research the La Belle shipwreck using the Internet and written materials, later completing a Skeletal Report...
Curated OER
HYPOTHESIZE THIS!
Students predict, measure, collect, and analyze data to investigate heat loss in water and in air.
Curated OER
When You're Hot, You're Hot!
Eighth graders examine the development of the different temperature scales. They experiment with hot and cold temperatures.
Curated OER
Sensational Seasons
Second graders explore how seasonal weather patterns affect temperature and their lives.
Curated OER
Mapping a Temperature Field
Students measure and graph temperatures. In this temperature field lesson students use a map to measure and plot field values and construct isolines and interpret the results.
Curated OER
Sunlight and Warm Air
Students discuss radiant energy from the sun, performing a simple experiment with sun glasses and bright light to demonstrate the concept. Students further participate in simple in-class experiments to demonstrate: air density as it...
Curated OER
Ice Ain't Easy
Students are introduced to the laws of thermodynamics. The 1st law of thermodynamics states that the energy must be conserved when two objects of different temperatures come in contact. If one object gains energy, the other object must...
Curated OER
Demonstration of Factors Affecting Soil Temperature
Learners examine the influences of water and mulch on soil temperature. For this investigative activity students complete a soil experiment.
Curated OER
Ocean Layers
Students investigate how temperature and salinity causes ocean layering. In this ecology lesson, students observe and sketch their experimental result. They report their findings in class.
Curated OER
Angle Insolation
In this science worksheet, high schoolers look for the answers that are related to the concept of insolation and measuring different angles.
Curated OER
Big on Blubber: How do Whales Stay Warm?
Learners explore biology by conducting a science experiment in class. In this whale anatomy lesson, students identify the use of whale blubber for the animal to stay warm in cold waters while utilizing ice, vegetable oil, plastic bags...