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Basic Science Principle Lesson Plans
- Acid/Base Indicators- To show that plant extracts are indicators for acids and bases.
- Balancing Equations- To learn to balance simple equations by the trial and error method.
- Bubbles: Science or Fun?- After blowing bubbles, students will be able to test the effect of four differently shape wands and three geometric figures in a bubble mixture.
- Burning vs Heating- To teach the concepts of chemical and physical changes, and the differences between burning and heating.
- Can Cruncher- Purpose is to show what happens to the pressure inside a container of steam when it is cooled and how the pressure affects the boiling point of a liquid.
- Can You Measure Up!- The students will discover the importance of standards when measuring. The students will learn how to use the meter stick or meter tape.
- Changing the Freezing Point of Water with Salt- To determine the temperature at which water freezes. To understand why salt water freezes at a lower temperature than plain water.
- Computer Software and ACS Materials For Chemistry- Computer software can provide an acceptable alternative to doing experiments and demonstrations involving dangerous and/or expensive materials.
- Conservation of Energy- To demonstrate the law of the conservation of energy(blocks) without counting the units of energy directly.
- Densities- This activity will help the middle school student understand the concept of density. Students will develop and utilize skills in observing, predicting and testing.
- Density- Discover that density is a unique physical property of matter.
- Density And Volume- Identify an unknown liquid substance after finding the density of several known substances.
- Density as a Unique Physical Property- Learn how to determine the volume of an object by two techniques: using volume formulas and displacement of water.
- Density Determination- Purpose is to learn and practice techniques and calculations for determining volume and density of a substance.
- Density of Liquids- Students will learn that the temperature of water affects its density.
- Density: Qualitative and Quantitative- I will measure the mass and volume of three objects and calculate the density of the material in each.
- Density Phenomena - Using the concept of density- I will use the term density to explain three applications of density presented by the teacher.
- Discovering C.A.S.T. (Cohesion, Adhesion and Surface Tension)- This lesson demonstrates the concepts of C.A.S.T. while participating in the experiments.
- Discovering Gravity: What Goes Up Must Come Down- Students will compare how fast objects of different weights fall.
- Dispersement of Particles: Diffusion and Osmosis- Students will be able to describe the many ways in which particles move and transfer from one source to other areas.
- Electricity: Static And Current- Compare conductors and insulators and explain how they are used. Construct a battery to show the electrical flow in order to demonstrate the proper use of electricity.
- Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures- To distinguish and describe the three types of matter: elements, compounds, mixtures.
- Estimation and Significant Figures- This activity will aid the student in understanding the estimation of measurements and the use of significant figures in measurement and calculations.
- Everyone has Problems, but Chemists have Solutions- Relate chemical solutions to everyday solutions.
- Eye Safety- To make the students aware of the need for eye safety in the classroom through three mini labs.
- Grab Bag Experiment- Students will describe: variable, data, axis, horizontal, vertical, manipulate, and respond.
- Indirect Observation- Students will develop an appreciation of indirect observation and make the connection between this activity and the historical determination of the molecular structure of matter.
- Is More Expensive More Absorbent?- Students will find out through experimentation which paper towel is the most absorbent as well as which one is the best cost value for their money.
- Just How Thick Is Aluminum Foil Anyway???- To determine the thickness of a sheet of aluminum foil from the density of aluminum metal.
- Mass/Weight/Data/Graphing - "WHAT IS THE MASS OF A DINOSAUR?"- Students will learn the difference between mass and weight.
- Measurement- The students will learn the necessity for the use of standards.
- Metrics- To familarize intermediate grades 4-6 with the metric system.
- Metrics in the Home and in the Store- Students will be able to compare Metric Measurements used in common household items to their English equivalents.
- Passing The Heat Along- To show fifth graders how heat passes through conductors. To show fifth graders how different materials contain heat.
- Periodicity (The Periodic Table)- Relate chemical properties of elements to their position in the Periodic Table.
- Physical And Chemical Changes- Students identify the different changes as they relate to matter.
- Physical and Chemical Changes In Matter- The student will also be able to recognize the difference, upon sight, when and why one of the changes occurred, and verbally explain what they have seen in their own words.
- Popcorn- Students will learn what causes popcorn to pop.
- Reading The Periodic Table- Categorize a group of shells and unknown elements using different characteristics.
- Relative Masses- The purpose of this mini-teach is to demonstrate the meaning of relative mass and to set up a scale of relative masses.
- Scientific Method: The Big Ahah- The students will be able to use the scientific method, understand it's importance to good scientific experimentation and provide justification for it's use.
- Sewer Lice- Demonstrate forces of adhesion and cohesion and equilibrium density. Explain that if the pressure on a gas decreases, the gas will expand.
- Surface Tension (Soap Boat)- Students will become familiar with surface tension. Students will determine if soap will affect surface tension. Students will determine if water temperature affects surface tension.
- The Amazing Apple- To acquaint students with the phenomenon of using "an apple" to practice inquiry process skills of observing, classifying, inferring, predicting, using numbers, interpreting data, controlling variables and experimenting.
- The Conservation Of Mass (The Mass Of Gas)- This experiment will help students with their understanding of matter in all of its phases. It will show that in a chemical reaction where a gas is produced, the mass does not change.
- The Magnificent Breathing Machine- To become aware of the functions of the lungs in our bodies. To become aware that air is made up of gases.
- The Relationship Between Salinity and the Density of Water- The student will be able to: a) find the density of a liquid b) understand the meaning of solubility and salinity.
- The Scientific Method Using Mystery Powders- Utilize the scientific process to determine the physical and chemical properties of a variety of common substances.
- The World of Molecules- Students will perform phenomological activities related to ionic and covalent bonding.
- Thermodynamics- Endothermic and exothermic reactions.
- Using Density to Identify Metals- To teach the techniques of measuring the density of some common metals. To identify a metal by its density.
- What Objects Sink and What Objects Float- The objective of this mini-teach is to explore the problem of why certain objects sink and why certain objects float with Severe and Profound Non-categorical Special Education students.