NASA
Atoms, Elements, and Isotopes
Rings and golden nuggets contain the element gold, but how small can you break it down before it is no longer considered gold? A helpful presentation explains the basics about atoms, elements, and isotopes through a presentation.
MENSA Education & Research Foundation
Pi Day Fun!
In this multi-faceted introduction to pi, participants perform a bevy of pi-related activities. Ranging from measuring household items to singing pi songs and reading pi stories, this fun and non-intimidating resource serves to bring up...
NEED Project
Calibrating Thermometers
Engage young scientists in the upper-elementary and middle school grades with this collection of simple experiments. Whether you're teaching about heat transfer, density, or potential energy this resource has a lab for you.
Charleston School District
Solving Equations with Infinite or No Solutions
Where did all the variables go? Scholars learn how to interpret an equation when they eliminate all variables during the solving process. They interpret the solution as infinite solutions or no solutions.
Curated OER
Activity #9 A State Debate!
Students list individual properties of solids, liquids, and gases. They examine that some properties have more than one state of matter. Pupils consider whether shaving cream, is a solid, a liquid, or a gas, or some combination.
Curated OER
Chemical Composition of American Coins
Students investigate the chemical composition of pennies dated 1983 or later. In this chemical composition of American coins lesson plan, students scratch the surface of the penny to expose the zinc core. They put the penny in...
Curated OER
Chemistry is Crystal Clear
Students observe crystals and their shapes and formation. In this crystal formation lesson, the teacher prepares crystal gardens for the students to observe, then the class finds examples of crystals in nature and observe a teacher...
Curated OER
Growing Barley for Use in Biosynthesis Experiments
Students attempt to determine the optimum growing conditions for barley. They assess the effects of a number of substances such as ammonium chloride and urea on the plants
Curated OER
Using Thin Layer Chromatography To Identify amino Acids In Solution
Students will work in groups to design and conduct an experiment to identify amino acids found in an unknown solution. This lesson is taught in three sections: (1) Introduction to chromatography (2) Experimental design session (3)...
Curated OER
The Structure of Materials
Students brainstorm what matter is and how they define it. They construct a water molecule with marshmallows and toothpicks. In addition, they watch videos to explore the use the idea of nanoscience to investigate the properties of...
Curated OER
What Can We Do To Change These Materials
First graders perform experiments to investigate property changes that occur in materials or matter. In the science lab, they use heat to explore changes in rice, sand, gelatin, baking soda and more. Learners observe and record the...
Curated OER
Introduce Solids
Students identify and interpret a variety of solid materials - cloth, wood, metal, plastic, paper, and rubber. After a period of free exploration, they then describe the properties of the objects and develop vocabulary in order to...
Curated OER
Natural Indicators: How Do They Work?
Students describe characteristics and common uses of acids and bases. They describe the role of natural indicators in the chemistry of acids and bases after testing and making observations on a variety of plant extracts. Students observe...
Curated OER
Atoms : A Self Guided Computer Activity
"Self-guided Computer Activity" simply means that young chemists read through the slides and take notes about atoms along the way. There is an abundance of text on each slide, making this a comprehensive introduction to atomic structure....
Curated OER
Learning Cycle Lesson Plan
students investigate, develop inferences, and identify general descriptions for each of the three states of matter - solid, liquid, and gas. students investigate water, by observing and stating inferences about, the properties of each...
Curated OER
Solids in Bottles
Learners use funnels to put the five solid materials into clear bottles with caps. They observe how the particulate materials look, sound, and move when they shake and roll the bottle. Finally, students write "sound and touch" poetry.
Virginia Department of Education
Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids
How can one easily classify metals, nonmetals, and metalloids? Pupils answer this question as they experiment with unknown substances and perform tests on conductivity, brittleness, and malleability to determine...
Curated OER
Sounds Like Great Science!
A phenomenal lesson plan on sound is here for your third graders! In it, learners engage in hands-on activities, watch video, take part in Internet activities, and complete tasks in cooperative groups in order to explore the world of...
Cornell University
Density
Certain things just do not mix, including liquids of varying densities. Learners collect data to determine the densities of several liquids. They then use the density information to predict the type of liquid.
It's About Time
Elements and Compounds
Young scientists use electrolysis to separate water into its elements before experimenting with fire to learn about their properties. A helpful resource provides a reading passage and analysis questions.
It's About Time
Polymers
All plastics contain polymers, but not all polymers are plastic. Young chemists make their own polymer and compare the properties to those of other states of matter. After a reading passage, pupils answer analysis questions about natural...
It's About Time
Chemistry and Physical Changes
Engage the class like never before as pupils learn to differentiate between multiple physical and chemical changes by conducting a list of small experiments, most often with household materials. They make observations and...
Curated OER
Inquiry into Consumer Products
Students recognize different consumer products, found in and around the home, that have reactive or denaturing properties when used together. They explore chemical and physical properties of each product by identifying chemical formulas...
Curated OER
Polymers all Over the Place
Young scholars investigate properties of common molecules. In this chemistry activity, students construct polymer models to gain a better understanding of the properties of polymers.