Curated OER
Salt and Water Divorce by a Physical Change
Students discuss the definitions of physical and chemical properties and changes. They vaporize a solution of salt and water, observing the sodium chloride that is left behind.
Curated OER
Human Impact on Water Quality
Students identify at least three common repercussions of developing water front property on water quality. They describe three sources of water pollution. They research the organism striped bass and observe it if striped bass is available.
NOAA
What's a CTD?
Why are the properties of the water important when exploring the ocean? Young scientists discover the tools and technology used in deep sea exploration in the fourth installment in a five-part series. Groups work together to...
Nevada Outdoor School
Let It Snow! Let It Melt!
Winter weather offers a great opportunity to teach young scientists about the states of matter. This activity-based lesson includes a range of learning experiences, from experimenting with the rate at which ice melts...
Curated OER
Practice Final
A full-fledged practice final prepares pupils for their general chemistry final exam. If they complete these 57 multiple-choice questions correctly, they will be well-prepared. Note: even though the questions are multiple-choice, there...
South Gloucestershire Council
Animal Classification: A Collaborative Sorting Activity for Key Stages 2 & 3
Introduce the logic behind a dichotomous key or administer a group performance assessment with a fun and challenging classification lesson. With explicit instructions for the teacher and for collaborative groups, as well as engaging...
American Chemical Society
Investigating the Line
Note that this lesson is best paired with the preceding lesson in the unit. In that lesson, elementary physical scientists observed that the color coating of M&Ms® candies do not mix when dissolved off of the chocolate surface. Now...
CK-12 Foundation
The Marina
Breakwaters offer marinas and beaches protection from large ocean waves, but how do they work? Scholars observe wave patterns and wave amplitude during the simulation. They control the number of openings, width of openings, distance...
CK-12 Foundation
Stow Lake
Does the depth of a pond matter to the waves created when rain is falling? Many people assume the answer is no, but interestingly, it does matter. Pupils explore this concept and other variables related to wave behavior through a...
American Chemical Society
Float and Sink
We're not talking about the kitchen sink. Learners explore what types of objects sink and float in water in an inquiry-based lesson. With experimentation, they find similarities between materials that float and those that sink.
Curated OER
Matters of Milk and Marshmallows
Young scholars observe a teacher demonstration o classifying matter by its physical properties of shape and size. After discussing the definition of matter, students describe the state of matter. They sing a song to the tune of "Bingo."...
Curated OER
PA Watersheds, Many Ways to the Sea
High schoolers examine the water cycle and the factors that interact with watersheds. In this watersheds lesson students describe the purification process, trace the flow of infiltrate water through aquifers, and research the...
Curated OER
Kitchen Chemistry
Fifth graders examine both physical and chemical changes, and how to identify the difference between the two. They observe the changes that occur in butter when it is exposed to heat and cold, heat energy. In their notebooks, they write...
Curated OER
Reflect and Refract
Learners explore light. In this properties of light activity, students define the terms refract, reflect, and diffract after listening to the teacher's description. Learners listen to the book Light Magic and observe a spoon in a glass...
Curated OER
Density and Mass
Students experiment to find which liquids are more dense. In this density and mass instructional activity, students predict and then test objects to observe and measure their density. students observe which items sink and float....
Curated OER
Sea Water Mixing and Sinking
Students investigate the role of temperature and salinity in determining seawater density. They use a Temperature-Salinity Diagram to examine the effects of mixing on density.
Curated OER
Physical Science: Festival of Bubbles
Investigate bubbles through the use of scientific inquiry. Pupils blow bubbles using several methods and measure the resulting bubble print. Measurements are recorded on a data table and transferred to a bar graph. Results are discussed...
Curated OER
Physics Post-Lab
Students explore physics. For this science lesson, students discuss physics in their everyday lives. Students complete a physics worksheet.
Curated OER
Liquids in Bottles
Students investigate different liquids to develop their concept of a liquid. They work at a center to tip, swirl, shake, roll, and otherwise investigate seven liquids in small, clear plastic bottles: plain water, corn syrup, liquid...
Curated OER
Fire Triangle in the Forest
Students investigate the physical properties of fire by creating storyboards. In this elements lesson, students view a video clip of forest fires and identify the cause. Students create large storyboards defining the three...
Curated OER
Latent Heat and Clouds
Learners explore latent heat and how it relates to clouds in the atmosphere. In this earth science lesson students investigate how clouds are formed. Learners examine clouds and the water cycle.
Curated OER
Changes in Nature
Fifth graders explore changes in nature. They identify chemical and physical changes in the water cycle, carbon cycle, and weathering. Students explore a chemical or physical change based on a chemical formula. They examine the effects...
Curated OER
Icebergs Ahead!
Young scholars examine icebergs and how they are suspended in water, why ice floats, the melting process of an iceberg, and the floating behavior of ice compared to that of a cork through a lab activity.
Curated OER
What Are Elements?
Students investigate elements by by defining scientific terms. In this Periodic Table of Elements lesson, students utilize a glass of water, and powdered fruit drink to perform a lab activity demonstrating properties of certain...