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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Metric Olympic Games (Intermediate)

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This activity can be used to introduce the metric system to students.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Potential Energy: How Is It Related to Kinetic Energy

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
After creating three different ramps with various heights, young scholars will release toy cars from the tops of each ramp. Based on the elementary age level, students will collect data and analyze it.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: About Magnets (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This site provides a lesson plan which includes a hands-on activity about magnetism and magnetic fields. Parts of the plan would be easily adaptable as a student project (for any grade level).
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Apples a Peel to Me

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st Standards
This lesson plan helps children understand how to graph data by using both real objects, apples, and pictures of apples. Great activity for a variety of themes.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Using Symmetry to Create a Community Quilt

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site provides a hands-on lesson plan to make a quilt using symmetry.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: The Center of Mass

For Teachers 7th - 9th
This site from the Illinois Institute of Technology provides a lab activity in which young scholars determine the location of the center of mass of an irregularly shaped object. Observations are related to the balancing point of the...
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Lab Activity: Helicopter

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The Illinois Institute of Technology lets young scholars investigate the aerodynamics of a helicopter, focusing on the variables which effect the lift, thrust, drag, and weight. Students investigate the effects of aerodynamics on a wide...
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Lab Work: Come Fly With Me

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site by the Illinois Institute of Technology lets students use a vacuum cleaner hose, ping pong balls, straws and other materials to investigate the effect of moving air upon the surfaces which it hits. Principles are applied as...
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Lab Work Forces & Acceleration

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The Illinois Institute of Technology provides this site. The site contains a graphing activity which illustrates that a constant force exerted upon an object results in constant acceleration. Rolling carts and stopwatches are used to...
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Center of Gravity Lab

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This Illinois Institute of Technologysite provides a lab activity in which students find the center of gravity of a box which has nonuniform weight distribution. Complete with directions and discussion questions; answers provided.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Magnets (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A teacher lesson plan which includes six hands-on activities regarding magnets. Pupils will be able to experience magnetism; explain how magnets, magnetic poles and magnetic fields are related; and formulate the force law for magnets.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Lab Activity, Rotational Inertia

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lab activity in which students observe the rolling of objects along an inclined plane. The the rotational inertia of the objects are compared based upon their acceleration along the incline. Directions and assessment ideas are given.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Magnets, Electromagnets & Fields of Force

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A teacher lesson plan which includes several student activities on magnetism, force fields, and magnetic induction. May provide an idea for a student project or lab investigation.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Colliding Spheres

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lab activity from the Illinois Institute of Technology lets students investigate the impact of collisions upon the velocity and momentum of the colliding objects. Requires understanding of vectors.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Simple Machines

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Good combination of teacher demonstration and student interaction for this simple machine lesson. Great for talking about force and work. Plans are for grades 2-4, yet are adaptable.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Electrostatic Models

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A teacher lesson plan which includes several hands-on activities pertaining to static charge, charge interactions, and the induction process. Young scholars use readily available materials to investigate these concepts. Designed for...
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Electrostatics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A teacher lesson plan which includes activities pertaining to common methods of charging objects - induction, conduction, and friction.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Electrostatics

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
From the Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement project at the Illinois Institute of Technology. A teacher lesson plan which includes several Van de Graaff generator demonstrations and some station-style labs....
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Geometry Distance of Triangles Using a Protractor

For Teachers 5th - 9th Standards
Basic exercises are presented to help students understand the concept of the area of triangles and the angles of a triangle.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: To Classify Beans and Peas (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site provides a lesson plan in which students learn about bar graphs by classifying beans.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Magnet Muscles (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
A teacher lesson plan which includes a station lab; students navigate through four stations with separate activities on magnetic principles. Easily adaptable as a student project.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Introduction to Magnets (Classroom Unit)

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
A teacher unit which includes several hands-on activities about types of magnets, magnetism, and electrostatics. An activity designed to suit all grade levels. Many parts of the activity would be easily adaptable as a student project.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: Magnets Tricks (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
A teacher lesson plan which includes a description of 8 different "magnet tricks." Fool your friends or use in a student project.
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Lesson Plan
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)

Smile: The Area of a Circle

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
An investigative approach is given to exploring finding the area of a circle.