CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
Activity 1------>Density of Liquids
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.A.1.2.1 measure
SC.H.1.2.1 collect
and record data
SC.H.1.2.2 infer
SC.H.1.2.3 observe
SC.H.1.2.4 interpret
data
SC.H.3.2.2
OBJECTIVE:
Students are introduced to the
concept of density when they compare the mass per unit volume of three
different liquids.
The Students Will:
---> measure the mass and volume of three liquids in order to
determine the
densities.
---> relate the density of a liquid to its ability to keep an
object afloat.
---> observe that density can be different among liquids that
appear to be
similar.
VOCABULARY:
density mass
volume float height
Activity 2------>Pressure and volume of a gas
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.A.1.2.1 measure
SC.A..2.2.1 display
data
SC.H.1.2.1 communicate
SC.H.1.2.2.
SC.H.1.2.3
SC.H.1.2.4
SC.H.3.2.2
OBJECTIVE:
Students explore the inverse
relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas at a constant temperature.
The Students Will:
---> measure the volume
of a gas as the pressure is increased.
---> graph the relationship between the pressure and volume of a
gas
---> discuss the concept of inverse relationships
VOCABULARY:
Boyle's Law inverse relationship
Activity 3 and 4------>Solutions and Suspensions
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.A.1.2.4 compare
SC.A.2.2.1 classify
SC.H.1.2.2 hypothesize
SC.H.1.2.3 experiment
SC.H.1.2.4
OBJECTIVE:
This activity introduces students
to two kinds of mixtures: solutions and suspensions. Students use evaporation and filtration techniques to separate
the components of a mixture..
The Students Will:
---> differentiate between solutions and suspensions
---> separate a suspended material from a solution.
---> separate a solute from water.
VOCABULARY:
evaporation filtrate heterogeneous homogeneous solute solution solvent suspension
Activity 5------>Atomic Structure
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.A.2.2.1 investigate
SC.H.1.2.3 use
numbers
SC.H.1.2.4 interpret
data
SC.H.1.2.5 make
and use models
define based on observations
OBJECTIVE:
Students are introduced to the
structure of the atom and the nature of subatomic particles.
The Students Will:
---> explore the properties of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
---> calculate the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in
an atom
given its atomic weight
---> interpret information
on the periodic table
---> construct model atoms
---> define ISOTOPE
VOCABULARY:
atom electron element energy level isotope neutron nucleus periodic
table proton subatomic particles
Activity 6------>Making Molecules
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.A.2.2.1 investigate
SC.H.1.2.2 make
and use models
SC.H.1.2.3 infer
SC.H.1.2.4 compare
SC.H.1.2.5
OBJECTIVE:
Students are introduced to the
formation and structure of molecules
The Students Will:
---> discover that molecules form through the covalent bond of
atoms
---> learn that the covalent bonding of two or more different types of
atoms
----> forms a covalent compound.
----> observe the symmetrical structure of molecules.
----> build models to demonstrate the three dimensional structure of
molecules
VOCABULARY:
chemical formula covalent bond covalent compound molecule
Activity 7------>Chemical Equations
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.A.1.2.5 communicate
SC.H.1.2.3 compare
SC.H.1.2.4 make and use models
SC.H.1.2.5 investigate
OBJECTIVE:
Students are introduced to
chemical equations as a means of describing chemical reactions
The Students Will:
---> discuss the reactants and products--the chemical
components
of a chemical reaction
---> discover how chemical equations are used to describe chemical
reactions
---> stimulate chemical reactions with their models
---> use their models to help them balance chemical equations
VOCABULARY:
chemical equation chemical reaction product reactant
Activity 8 and 9------>Oxidation
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.A.1.2.5 define
based on observation
SC.H.1.2.1 observe
SC.H.1.2.2 experiment
SC.H.1.2.3 use
variables
SC.H.1.2.4
SC.H.3.2.2
OBJECTIVE:
Students explore a chemical
reaction called oxidation
The Students Will:
---> define oxidation
---> observe an oxidation reaction(rust) over time.
---> experiment to determine the factors necessary for oxidation
to occur.
VOCABULARY:
constant controlled
experiment oxidation variable
Activity 10------>Plant and Animal Cells
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.A.2.2.1 compare
SC.F.1.2.4 make
and use models
SC.H.1.2.2 infer
SC.H.1.2.3
SC.H.1.2.4
SC.H.1.2.5
SC.H.3.2.2
OBJECTIVE:
Students compare plant and animal
cells and note important similarities and differences
The Students Will:
---> identify the major parts of plant and animal cells
---> distinguish between plant and animal cells
---> observe micro slide images of real plant and animal slides
---> speculate as to the function of cell walls and chloroplasts
in plant cells
VOCABULARY:
cell
cell membrane
cell wall
chloroplast
cytoplasm
nucleus
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Activity 11------>A Compass in a Circuit
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.B.1.2.1 observe
SC.B.1.2.2 compare
SC.H.1.2.2 infer
SC.H.1.2.3
SC.H.1.2.4
OBJECTIVE:
Students make a circuit and observe that electric current
flowing through a wire deflects a compass needle. They observe that electric
current flowing through a wire produces an electromagnetic field around that
wire.
The Students Will:
----> construct a circuit
----> observe
the interaction between electric current flowing in a circuit and a
compass
----> conclude
that the flow of electric current in a circuit creates an
electromagnetic
field
----> conclude
that a compass can be used to test a circuit for the presence of
current
VOCABULARY:
circuit
electric current
electromagnetic field
energy
polarity
Activity 12 N 13------>Plants and Solar Energy
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.B.1.2.1 collect
and record data
SC.B.1.2.2 interpret
data
SC.B.1.2.4 conclude
SC.H.1.2.1
SC.H.1.2.3
SC.H.1.2.4
SC.H.3.2.2
OBJECTIVE:
Students investigate the importance of
solar energy to plant growth.
The Students Will:
----> discuss
photosynthesis
----> plant
two terrariums with grass seed and place one in the
Sun
and one in the dark
----> compare
the rate of growth in the two terrariums
----> conclude
that solar energy is necessary for the growth and
good
health of plants
VOCABULARY:
photosynthesis
terrarium
Activity 14------>Transferring Solar Energy
BENCHMARKS : SKILLS:
SC.B.1.2.2 SC.H.1.2.1
experiment
SC.B.1.2.3 SC.H.1.2.2 compare
SC.B.1.2.4 SC.H.1.2.3 interpret
data
SC.B.1.2.5 SC.H.1.2.4 make
and use graphs
SC.B.1.2.6
SC.H.1.2.5
SC.H.2.2.1
OBJECTIVE:
Students investigate the transfer of solar energy and the
effect that a cover has on the retention of heat absorbed by a solar collector.
The Students Will:
----> discuss
the Sun as an energy source
----> observe
evidence of the transfer of solar energy
----> measure
the change in water temperature in
covered and
uncovered
solar collectors
----> conclude
that a covered solar collector retains more heat
than
an uncovered solar collector
----> graph
their results
VOCABULARY:
energy transfer
solar collector
solar
energy
Activity 15------>Solar Energy and Tray Color155
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.B.1.2.2 SC.H.1.2.1 experiment
SC.B.1.2.3 SC.H.1.2.2 record
and analyze data
SC.B.1.2.4 SC.H.1.2.3 make and use graphs
SC.B.1.2.5 SC.H.1.2.4
SC.B.1.2.6 SC.H.1.2.5
SC.H.2.2.1
OBJECTIVE:
Students investigate the importance of color in the
absorption and reflection of solar energy.
The Students Will:
----> measure
the change in water temperature in black and
white
solar collectors
----> conclude
that the darker the collector, the more energy it
absorbs;
the lighter the collector, the more energy it reflects
----> graph
their results
VOCABULARY:
absorb
reflect
Activity 16------>Solar Energy and Water Volume
BENCHMARKS : SKILLS:
SC.B.1.2.2 SC.H.1.2.1 experiment
SC.B.1.2.3 SC.H.1.2.2 interpret
data
SC.B.1.2.5 SC.H.1.2.3 conclude
SC.B.1.2.6 SC.H.1.2.4 make
and use graphs
SC.H.1.2.5
SC.H.2.2.1
SC.H.3.2.2
OBJECTIVE:
Students investigate the transfer of solar energy and the
effect that a cover has on the retention of heat absorbed by a solar collector.
The Students Will:
----> discuss
the Sun as an energy source
----> observe
evidence of the transfer of solar energy
----> measure
the change in water temperature in
covered and
uncovered
solar collectors
----> conclude
that a covered solar collector retains more heat than an uncovered
solar
collector
-----> graph
their results
Activity 17------>Solar Energy and Exposure Time
155
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.B.1.2.2 SC.H.1.2.1
measure
SC.B.1.2.3 SC.H.1.2.2 experiment
SC.B.1.2.5 SC.H.1.2.3 conclude
SC.B.1.2.6 SC.H.1.2.4 make and use graphs
SC.H.1.2.5
SC.H.2.2.1
SC.H.3.2.2
OBJECTIVE:
Students investigate the relationship between the
length of time a solar collector is exposed to sunlight and the amount of solar
energy the collector absorbs
The Students Will:
---------> measure
the change in water temperature in a solar
collector over the course of 45 minutes
---------> conclude
that the longer the collector is exposed to
the sun, the more solar energy the water will absorb
----------> graph
their results
Activity 18------>Solar Energy and Tray Angle
155
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.B.1.2.2 SC.H.1.2.1
measure
SC.B.1.2.3 SC.H.1.2.2 experiment
SC.B.1.2.4 SC.H.1.2.3 make
and use models
SC.B.1.2.5 SC.H.1.2.4 make and use graphs
SC.H.1.2.5
SC.H.2.2.1
SC.H.3.2.2
OBJECTIVE:
Students investigate how the angle of the
sun’s rays in relation to a solar collector affect the amount of energy
absorbed by the solar collector
The Students Will:
---------> measure
the change in water temperature in two solar
trays placed at different angles to the Sun
---------> conclude
that the tray most directly facing the Sun
will absorb the most energy
----------> graph
their results
---------> discuss the connection between the tilt of
Earth on its
axis and the seasons
Activity 19------>Designing a Solar Collector
155
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.B.1.2.2 SC.H.1.2.1
experiment
SC.B.1.2.3 SC.H.1.2.2 control
variables
SC.B.1.2.4 SC.H.1.2.3 record
and analyze data
SC.B.1.2.5 conclude
OBJECTIVE:
Students
apply what they have learned in previous activities to design and construct the
most efficient solar collector
The Students Will:
---------> design
and build efficient solar collectors based on
data from previous experiments
---------> test
the solar collectors to see which produces the
greatest increase in temperature
--------> review the winning design and the
variables that made it
so efficient
Activity 20------>Solar Cells
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.B.1.2.1 SC.H.1.2.2 experiment
SC.B.1.2.2 SC.H.1.2.3 control variables
SC.B.1.2.3 SC.H.1.2.4 record
and analyze data
SC.B.1.2.4 SC.H.1.2.5 conclude
SC.B.2.2.2 SC.H.2.2.1 SC.B.2.2.3
OBJECTIVE:
In this activity ,students use a solar
cell to capture and convert solar energy to electrical energy
The Students Will:
--------> discuss
solar cells and electric current
--------> observe
that a partially obscured solar cell produces
less
electrical energy than does a fully exposed solar cell
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Activity 21------>Doing Work
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.C.2.2.3 measure
SC.H.1.2.1 compare
SC.H.1.2.2 use
numbers
SC.H.1.2.3 collect
data
SC.H.1.2.4
SC.H.3.2.2
OBJECTIVE:
Students begin their investigation of
simple machines by studying the relationship
between force and work.
The Students Will:
---------> measure the force required to move an
object
---------> measure
the distance the object was moved
---------> calculate
how much work was done when
VOCABULARY:
force
joule
newton
work
Activity 22------>Friction
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.C.2.2.2 observe
SC.C.2.2.4 use
variables
SC.H.1.2.1 infer
SC.H.1.2.2
SC.H.1.2.3
SC.H.1.2.4
SC.H.3.2.2
OBJECTIVE:
Students examine friction and how
it affects the amount of force needed to move an object a certain distance.
The Students Will:
---------> observe the effects of friction
---------> examine
variables that increase and decrease friction
---------> discover
one method of reducing friction
VOCABULARY:
friction
lubricant
Activity 23------>Friction
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.C.2.2.2 make
and use models
SC.H.1.2.1 measure
SC.H.1.2.2 observe
SC.H.1.2.3
SC.H.1.2.4
SC.H.3.2.2
OBJECTIVE:
The students examine a type of simple machine—the pulley.
They observe how a pulley redirects force in order to lift an object.
The Students Will:
---------> construct a simple pulley
---------> measure
the force required to lift an object, with and without the use
of a pulley
---------> observe
that a pulley reverses the direction of applied force
VOCABULARY:
pulley
Activity 24------>Moving Masses
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.C.2.2.2 observe
SC.C.2.2.3 form
a hypothesis
SC.C.2.2.4 design
an experiment
SC.H.1.2.1 control
variables
SC.H.1.2.2 compare
SC.H.1.2.3 predict
SC.H.1.2.4 interpret
data
SC.H.3.2.2 conclude
OBJECTIVE:
The students learn that more massive
objects require a greater force than do less massive objects for the same
acceleration. Then use this information
to predict how mass affects the rate at
which two balls fall.
The Students Will:
---------> observe the relationship between force and
acceleration
---------> observe
the relationship between mass and acceleration
---------> compare
their results with their hypotheses
----------> predict the falling rate of balls of different masses
VOCABULARY:
acceleration
controlled variable
dependent variable
hypothesis
independent variable
Newton’s second law of motion
Activity
25------>Modeling Moon Phases
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.E.1.2.2 make
and use models
SC.H.1.2.2 compare
SC.H.1.2.3 communicate
SC.H.1.2.4
SC.H.!.2.5
SC.H.2.2.1
OBJECTIVE:
The students will model the motions of the
Moon in relation to Earth and the Sun, to gain an understanding of why we see
phases of the Moon from Earth.
The Students Will:
---------> model the orbit of the Moon around Earth
---------> learn
how the orbit of the Moon results in the phases we observe from
Earth
VOCABULARY:
crescent
first quarter Moon
full Moon
gibbous
new Moon
phase
third quarter Moon
Activity 26 and
27------>Solar Journal
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.E.1.2.2 observe
SC.E.1.2.3 collect,
record, display and
SC.H.1.2.2 interpret
data
SC.H.1.2.3
SC.H.1.2.4
SC.H.!.2.5
SC.H.3.2.2.
OBJECTIVE:
The students keep a daily journal of
sunrise and sunset times and positions for a given location, to gain an
understanding of the relationship between the apparent motions of the Sun and
the actual motions of Earth.
The Students Will:
---------> keep an ongoing record of the times and
positions of sunset and sunrise
---------> recognize
the apparent motion of the Su
---------> prepare data for use in future activities
VOCABULARY:
horizon
sunrise
sunset
Activity 28 and
29------>Reason for Seasons
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.E.1.2.1 make
and use models
SC.E.1.2.3 investigate
SC.H.1.2.2 infer
SC.H.1.2.3
SC.H.1.2.4
SC.H.!.2.5
SC.H.2.2.1
SC.H.3.2.2
OBJECTIVE:
The students learn how the tilt of Earth
is responsible for seasonal changes, as a continuation of their study of
Earth’s orbit around the Sun
The Students Will:
---------> model the tilt of Earth’s axis as it
orbits the Sun
---------> learn
about solstices and equinoxes and the role they play in the Sun’s
apparent motion
---------> explore
how the angle at which sunlight reaches a given location
affects its concentration
---------> infer
the causes of seasonal changes
VOCABULARY:
direct sunlight
equinox
indirect sunlight
solstice
Activity
30------>Constellations:
Stories in the Sky
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.E.1.2.1 observe
SC.H.1.2.3 make
use of models
SC.H.!.2.5 communicate
SC.H.2.2.1
OBJECTIVE:
The students identify several of the
constellations in the night sky. They make models of some of them and then
write their own stories about how certain constellations might have gotten
their names
The Students Will:
--------->observe seasonal changes in the position of constellations
as viewed from
Earth
--------->construct constellation models and identify several
constellations
--------->write a fictional story about the origin of a constellation
VOCABULARY:
Big Dipper (Ursa Major, or Great Bear)
Cassiopeia
Cepheus
constellation
mythology
Orion (The Hunter)
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Activity 31 and
32------>Trash in your
Class
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.D.2.2.1 measure
SC.H.1.2.2 use
numbers
SC.H.!.2.3 predict
SC.H.1.2.4
SC.H.3.2.2
SC.H.3.2.4
OBJECTIVE:
The students expand their study of litter
to the problem of trash disposal
and our overflowing landfills.
The Students Will:
--------->measure the amount of trash produced daily in their
classroom
--------->calculate how long it would take to fill their entire
classroom with trash
--------->explore ways to reduce the amount of trash produced in
their classroom
VOCABULARY:
landfill
Activity
33------>Recycling Paper
BENCHMARKS: SKILLS:
SC.D.2.2.1 observe
SC.H.3.2.4 hypothesize
infer
OBJECTIVE:
Students investigate one method of
recycling paper and then brainstorm additional uses for recycled-paper
products.
The Students Will:
--------->recycle old newspaper into papier-mâché
bowls
--------->examine the properties of paper to
determine its suitability for other uses
--------->brainstorm ideas for other recycled-paper
products
VOCABULARY:
recycle
