101 Questions
Nana's Lemonade
Consistency is the key. One lemon wedge per glass of water makes a nice glass of lemonade. Young scholars must identify the number of lemon wedges they need to make the same lemonade in a big gulp cup. They develop their own solution...
Curated OER
Acids and Alkalis
This PowerPoint progresses slide-by-slide through all the facts you would want to deliver about acids, alkalis, salts, and the related lab tests. Each slide has one or two facts about a physical or chemical property or behavior. The...
Curated OER
Is It Safe To Go In?
Middle schoolers examine acceptable levels of toxins in swimming areas. Working in groups of four, students dilute a salt or sugar solution to 1 part per 1,000,000 (ppm) solution. Middle schoolers taste test their diluted liquids and...
Curated OER
Terrific Tastebuds
Young scholars investigate the four taste regions of the tongue. In this biology lesson, students view a diagram of a tongue and identify the four regions. Young scholars perform a taste test with lemons, sugar, and crackers.
American Museum of Natural History
What's This? Sensing
There is a scallop that relies on sight so much that it actually has more than 100 eyes! There are many species that rely heavily on one sense or another. An online interactive resource has youth read about several of these animals. The...
Curated OER
GM Crops: Friends or Foes?
Genetically modified crops—How do you feel about them? Here, explore the benefits and risks of GM crops to inform your opinion.
Agriculture in the Classroom
Seed Match
Using this resource, your team of green thumbs discuss why plants are a part of a healthy diet and the different ways they are used in daily life. They then observe the characteristics of different seed as they attempt to match them with...
Curated OER
Minnesota-China Connections: Chinese Flavors
Young scholars discuss the foods which are typical of a Chinese diet. They find recipes and observe and sample various Chinese foods. They record their opinions about what they taste and experience in a journal entry.
Teach Engineering
Clay Boats
Clay itself sinks, but clay boats float. Why? Young engineers build clay boats to learn about buoyancy. They test the weight the boats can hold using washers and then tweak their designs to make improvements, following the engineering...
It's About Time
Identifying Matter
High schoolers test wood splints that have been soaked in mystery solutions to identify the different colors it produces when lit. The lesson concludes with a reading passage and analysis questions.
Curated OER
Tongue Map
Young scholars explore human anatomy by conducting a human senses experiment. In this taste lesson, students identify the main purpose of a tongue and how it enhances our eating habits. Young scholars utilize baking coca, lemon juice,...
Curated OER
A Plume of Contamination
High schoolers perform an experiment/investigative simulation regarding the movement of contaminants in groundwater. They test the pH of three water samples, and then use their reasoning skills to determine the source of an invisible...
Curated OER
What's Cooking?
Students investigate solar energy by making sun tea. In this ecology and solar energy lesson, students prepare traditional tea and "sun" tea, then record and graph data comparing color, clarity, smell and taste.
Curated OER
A Tasteless Tasty Test
Students review the inheritance patterns of simple dominant and recessive traits in humans. They use PTC tasting as a model trait. Each student determines whether or not they are a taster using PTC paper then they compile and discuss the...
Curated OER
pH Testing
Students explore the use of variables in the scientific method. They identify the dependent and independent variables through pH testing. Students construct graphs of their data and analyze their findings.
Virginia Department of Education
Acids and Bases
What did one titration say to the other titration? We should meet at the end point! Young chemists perform four experiments: dilute solution, neutralization, titration, and figuring pH/pOH.
Curated OER
Movement Across the Membrane (Diffusion)
Students investigate the concept of diffusion and how materials enter and leave a cell. In this movement across a membrane lesson plan, students use perfume, food coloring in water and a sugar cube in water to observe diffusion. They...
Curated OER
Tracking Pollution - A Hazardous Whodunit
Students read a story problem about the issue of hazardous waste and pollution in a fictional town. In groups, they create a topographical map and predict how the water might flow and determine the place of contamination. To end the...
Calvin Crest Outdoor School
Survival
Equip young campers with important survival knowledge with a set of engaging lessons. Teammates work together to complete three outdoor activities, which include building a shelter, starting a campfire, and finding directions in the...
Teach Engineering
Chromatography Lab
Groups use alcohol and chromatography paper to separate the color components of black ink. The purpose of the activity is to allow the class to become aware that mixtures exist in hidden places.
Curated OER
Taster of Non-Taster?
Students investigate their own inherited traits by using taste papers. In this genetic traits lesson plan, students test their ability to taste various substances, which is determined by inherited genetic traits. They take home taste...
Curated OER
Getting Down to Basics (and Acidics)
Seventh graders investigate acids and bases. In this acids and bases lesson, 7th graders use household items such as coffee, lemons and soap to define acids and bases. They observe a demonstration to show how indicators determine if a...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan Seven: Sensorama
Students identify five senses, and use their senses of touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste to distinguish different objects, sounds, smells and tastes, and write their answers in the booklet.
Curated OER
Determining Acids and Bases
Students test various liquids and identify as acids or bases. In this chemistry and pH lesson, the students use purple cabbage indicator to test a variety of teacher-provided substances, then bring in liquids from home to test acidity....