Search results

Density of common liquids

Each lab team will determine the density of water and one of the sample liquids. The class will then compile their information.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Mathematics and Science)

By Sansia Coble.

Submarines: Using mass, volume and density to create a working submarine

The students will design a submarine that will float, subsurface, sink, and return once again to the water's surface by external manipulation of the submarine outside of an aquarium. In order to accomplish this, the students will use not only the concepts of mass, volume, and density but will also integrate buoyancy and ballast in their submarine design.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Mathematics and Science)

By Amy Koonce.

Does it float? Exploring density

Density is a property of matter that requires abstract understanding from your students. This lesson plan is a hands-on lab for exploring the concepts of mass, volume, density, and their relationship. This lab achieves several 8th grade science objectives and incorporates mathematical objectives as well. The lab can easily be used as an introductory lab for the year, thus covering not only the content objectives, but also procedures for completing labs throughout the course of the year.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)

By Trish Loudermilt.

Exploring properties of matter with submersibles

This inquiry-based learning activity allows students to explore the relationships between mass, volume, density, and buoyancy as they manipulate various materials to construct a submersible “vehicle” for deep-sea research.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)

By Miriam Sutton.

Magic water and convection

This lesson will give students a demonstration of how heat affects water particles.

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

By JoAnne Pearson.

Superfund in science class

In Bringing current science into the classroom, page 2

Four Web-based activities let students identify Superfund sites, define hazardous waste, see how aquifers work, and explore cleanup solutions.

By Michele Kloda.

Forensic scientists: Identifying unknown substances

In CareerStart lessons: Grade eight, page 5.10

In this lesson, students use the physical properties of three mystery substances to determine their identities. Students discuss how these skills apply to careers in forensic science.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)

By Tammy Johnson and Martha Tedrow.

Float, sink, flink!

In this lesson, students will learn to make things flink, meaning they neither float to the top nor sink to the bottom of a fluid. They will discover that whether an object floats or sinks depends not only on the properties of the object itself, but also on the properties of the fluid (either gas or liquid) in which it is situated.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Science)

By Erin Denniston.

Africa: Interpreting physical maps

In CareerStart lessons: Grade seven, page 4.1

In this lesson for grade seven, students look at a physical map of Africa and use it to speculate how the geography of a given region might affect human culture in that area.

Format: lesson plan (grade 7 Mathematics)

By Mary B. Taylor.Adapted by Kenyatta Bennett and Sonya Rexrode.

Water and Weather

From just looking at cloud formations to building a weather station, this sampling of resources help students learn all about climate, weather, and the water cycle.

Format: bibliography/help

Discovering elements online

Students will work independently and in small groups to research assigned elements on the internet with sites given in advance. They will then contribute to a class database with their individual information. The database will then be made available for students to again work independently and in pairs to answer questions created from a class discussion to discover relationships about the elements.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)

By Trish Loudermilt.

One room, many uses

Patty Berge converts her eighth-grade science classroom to suit multiple instructional methods. A classroom profile.

By Kathleen Casson.

Confirming and visualizing Lewis dot structures

With this activity, students can calculate and visualize the atomic and molecular structures of bonds and lone pairs in the molecule methanol (methyl alcohol, CH3OH).

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science)

By Bob Gotwals.

The forest people

In Intrigue of the Past, page 3.3

Paleoindian culture died out across North America by 8000 BC. Archaeologists say this was bound to happen. The Ice Age had ended, the megafauna were extinct, and the boreal forests faded as deciduous ones spread across the East in the warmer climate. Faced with significant environmental changes, the Native Americans adapted. Archaeologists call their way of life and the time in which they lived Archaic.

Resources on the web

A look at the population density of the United States

In this lesson from Xpeditions, students learn to "see the world in spatial terms" by analyzing population density at all levels and plotting the information on maps. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 9–12 Science and Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic

Sphere's density dance

In this ARTSEDGE lesson, students relate the science concepts of layering, air density, and particles directly to dance concepts such as level and shape. Students will: relate their own personal body space to the concept of spheres—specifically... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–3 Dance Arts Education and Science)

Provided by: ArtsEdge

Earthquakes and volcanoes

Students compare maps of plate tectonics with population density maps and analyze what these maps imply about the relationship between population and seismic hazards. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

Liquid density and oil spills

Students will conduct a simple experiment demonstrating the variable densities of corn syrup, water, glycerin, and vegetable oil. Students will then transfer this concept to an examination of cleanup methods used in the Exxon Valdez oil spill. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Science)

Provided by: National Geographic

Give me a tall ship

Students compare the similarities and differences of ancient and modern ships, including size, construction, building materials, and uses. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Science)

Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science

How do you like a crowd?

Students consider what it's like to be in heavily and sparsely populated places. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Social Studies)

Provided by: National Geographic