Curated OER
Is It Hot in the Light?
Third graders make observations about the temperature of items in direct sunlight. In groups, they discuss why asphalt, brick and cement are warmer than items surrounding them. To end the lesson, they examine how heat transfers energy...
Curated OER
Natural Refrigeration
Students build a refrigerator that does not require electricity. In this environmental science activity, student consider desert dwellers of Africa who have no access to electricity. Students use flower pots, sand and water to study the...
Curated OER
Green House Effect
Young scholars read about the green house effect and how our environment is deteriorating and what we can do to help it. In this green house effect lesson plan, students conduct a home and school energy audit, and create a rap.
Curated OER
The Energy Debate - Stoichiometry
Students determine crude oil can be separated into useful fractions by a process of fractional distillation. They write a balanced equation for the reaction between a hydrocarbon and oxygen.
Curated OER
Ammonium Nitrate - Heat of Solution
Students quantify the relationship between temperature, energy and heat
and define an endothermic reaction. They measure the energy change caused by dissolving one mole of ammonium nitrate in water.
Curated OER
Energized Peanuts
Students review the process of heat transfer. In groups, they complete experiments in which they determine if a peanut holds enough energy to heat up water. They also calculate how much heat is given off by the peanut and record their...
Curated OER
Adobe
In this adobe worksheet, students read about adobe soil and how it was used for building because of its insulating properties. Students complete 3 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Insulators
Sixth graders examine properties of four types of spoons, record observations, and apply their knowledge by designing the perfect hot chocolate cup.
Curated OER
The Chemistry of Ice Cream
In this chemistry of ice cream learning exercise, learners investigate colligative properties and how they affect freezing points while making ice cream. Students answer short answer questions to determine if freezing is an endothermic...
DiscoverE
Keep-a-Cube
Waxed paper, newspaper, or aluminum foil? Keeping an ice cube from melting may require one or more of these materials. Learners design a box that will provide insulation so an ice cube stays intact for at least 90 minutes.
Colorado State University
Do Cities Affect the Weather? (Making a Cloud in a Bottle)
The dynamics of a city can have a drastic effect on the weather. A hands-on lesson asks learners to build a model to illustrate how city pollution provides a nucleus for condensation. The greater the pollution, the greater chance for...
American Chemical Society
Changing State: Melting
Dry ice is extremely cold — it is -109.3°F or -78.5°C. Scholars observe and explain the molecular motion associated with melting. Then they design their own experiments to speed up the melting process. Finally, a teacher presents a...
Curated OER
Fusion Confusion
Students are introduced to three types of energy transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation. They model the scientific process of fusion to become with the sun and how it produces energy.
Curated OER
Thermochemistry
In this thermochemistry worksheet, students calculate the enthalpy of vaporization as well as the write the thermochemical expression for the production of the chemical reaction.
Curated OER
Ice Energy
Students explore how chemicals change water. In this chemical change lesson, students participate in an experiment to observe how salt effects ice and how ice cream freezes.
Curated OER
Ice Energy
Students learn how science affects foods. In this chemical reactions lesson, students make two kinds of ice cream. They evaluate the different changes based on the ingredients.
Curated OER
More Power to You
Pupils construct a simple galvanometer in order to detect the presence of an electric current as well as determine the amount of the current. Activity is divided into two parts, first part as group work and second as individual.
Curated OER
What is Wind Chill?
Middle schoolers calculate wind chill using a mathematical formula. In this earth science lesson, students compare the wind chill in Antarctica to that of their local area. They explain how this can lead to hypothermia.
Curated OER
A Little Thermo Review
In this thermodynamics worksheet, students define and give examples of state functions. Students review the laws of thermodynamics. Student determine the standard formation reactions for given chemical species. This worksheet has 10...
Curated OER
Daily Radiation "Balance"
Students explore the amount of radiation in the Earth's atmosphere. They calculate the total amount of incoming and outgoing radiation over a day and determine how "balanced" the radiative system is over a particular location.
Curated OER
Thermal Pollution
In this pollution instructional activity, students read about thermal pollution and how hot water affects wildlife. Then students complete 1 short answer question.
Curated OER
Let the Sunshine in
Students collect and analyze data to study wavelengths of visible light. They cover Styrofoam cups with three different colors of sun filtering products and shine a lamp directly on the cups. They determine the most effective filtering...
Curated OER
Coffee Cooling
Pupils explore the factors that affect how long coffee stays hot. They develop a question and a testable hypothesis for one factor such as initial temperature or size of opening of the container. Then they design and conduct an...
Curated OER
How Effective is Perspiration at Cooling?
Students collect data on the cooling of water in two different test tubes, one that is wrapped in wet newspaper and one in dry newspaper. They then relate this cooling effect to the body's perspiration.