Curated OER
Thermal Expansion and Sea Level Rise
Placing a thermometer and a glass tube into a flask of cold water and sealing it, you can expose it to heat and very visually demonstrate thermal expansion to your earth science class. Follow it with a discussion about how the increasing...
Curated OER
What is Temperature and How Is It Measured?
Students complete activities to measure temperature. In this temperature lesson, students read Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts the Weather and make a KWL chart about predicting weather. Students discuss folklore about temperature and learn...
Curated OER
Kaboom!
Students identify the three ingredients of weather.. They create weather vanes, thermometers, and rain gauges.
Curated OER
Energetic Citizenship
Middle schoolers analyze how to use less energy. In this energy conservation lesson, students discuss fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs and experiment to examine the energy of both sources using thermometers. Middle schoolers...
Curated OER
The Weather Forecast
Students observe a daily paper to see the temperature forecast looking at a paper thermometer with today's predicted temperature colored in. They predict today's temperature, and paste the second color on the same thermometer to show...
Curated OER
How to Keep Warm in the Arctic!
Students simulate the differences between animals protected by fat and those that aren't. They fill one of the mugs with shortening. Students cut a small hole, and place a thermometer in each piece of cardboard. They position the bulb of...
Curated OER
The Sun, Earth's Angles, and the Seasons
Students determine if the angle of light bombardment is a factor in heat absorption. They correlate these findings to the tilt of the Earth and the seasons. Students fold a pice of black construction paper in half, lengthwise. They tape...
Curated OER
"Keep it cool"
Students comprehend the importance of keeping cold foods cold. They identify the proper way to install and read a fridge thermometer. Students develop the ability to maintain a clean fridge at home.
National Security Agency
Introducing Integers and Their Operations
There's nothing negative about this mini-unit on integers! Engaging young mathematicians in a series of hands-on activities and collaborative learning opportunities, this resource offers an excellent way to introduce your class...
Space Awareness
Greenhouse Effect
A greenhouse provides additional warmth and protection to the plants inside, but what if the greenhouse gets too hot? Pupils discuss and experiment with the difference between natural and anthropogenic greenhouse effect. They measure the...
NOAA
The Oceanographic Yo-yo
How does chemistry help deep-sea explorers? Part four of a five-part series of lessons from aboard the Okeanos Explorer introduces middle school scientists to technologies used in ocean exploration. Groups work together to analyze data...
Curated OER
Freezing Feathered Friends
Learners investigate how penguins stay warm in freezing cold water, how they carry their eggs on their feet, what they eat, and what eat penguins. They list other animals that use blubber to stay warm, and identify a penguin and...
Curated OER
Weather Report Chart
Students complete a weather report chart after studying weather patterns for a period of time. In this weather report instructional activity, students measure temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, wind speed, and wind direction for a...
Curated OER
Ice Ain't Easy
Students are introduced to the laws of thermodynamics. The 1st law of thermodynamics states that the energy must be conserved when two objects of different temperatures come in contact. If one object gains energy, the other object must...
Curated OER
What Makes A Bird A Bird?
Students identify the characteristics of birds and explain how these characteristics are useful in their survival. They explain how both physical and environmental adaptations help birds survive and reproduce. Students create an...
Curated OER
What Stores Solar Energy Best?
Young scholars discuss reasons and methods for keeping a home warm in winter and cool in summer as examples of energy storage. Students participate in a solar energy experiment.
Curated OER
River Study
Young scholars study physical features of a local stream. They study how to identify water features on topographic maps.