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  • Learning About Acids and Bases

    Book Chapter |

    The chemistry of acids and bases is a fundamental area of study in the physical sciences. The following activity is really two exercises in one. First, students learn to distinguish between acids and bases using various…

  • Digging Into Soil

    Book Chapter |

    For this Earth science investigation, students examine the composition of soil samples taken from three different depths at the same location. Students answer questions such as “How do the three samples compare? How…

  • Observing and Sorting Rocks

    Book Chapter |

    In this activity, students examine garden variety rocks, classifying them based on observable properties. This lesson teaches students not only about rocks but also about how to take a closer look at objects and…

  • Exploring Evaporation

    Book Chapter |

    Students learn what evaporation is and how various factors—time, heat, surface area, and wind—affect it. They also discover that water does not always evaporate at the same rate and saltwater leaves something behind…

  • Examining Colors, Color Perception, and Sight

    Book Chapter |

    Students of all ages are fascinated by color and how we perceive it. For the main activity in this chapter, your class explores colors and visual perception by mixing colors in several ways. Students learn more about…

  • Exploring the Mysteries of Fingerprints

    Book Chapter |

    This activity combines a variety of processes and skills into an investigation of something near and dear to your students—their fingers. Math and science blend seamlessly as students observe, compare, and apply their…

  • Making Prints From Fruits and Vegetables

    Book Chapter |

    Students may be familiar with eating fruits and vegetables, but have they ever taken a really close look at the anatomy of those specimens? In this activity, students have an opportunity to explore aspects of the…

  • What Do You See? Visual Observation

    Book Chapter |

    The famous New York Yankee catcher Yogi Berra once said, “You can observe a lot just by watching.” This activity helps strengthen students’ skills in a fundamental aspect of mathematics and science: visual observation.…

  • Examining Serial Sections of an Apple

    Book Chapter |

    In this activity, students make serial sections of an apple. Students make cross-section prints of the top portion of the apple, then another print further into the apple, and so on until they get to the bottom of the…

  • Science and Math on Television

    Book Chapter |

    Students certainly enjoy watching television, and they traditionally favor shows about science, mathematics, and technology. Consider the popularity of MythBusters, Bill Nye the Science Guy, National Geographic Explorer…

  • A One-Sided Paper Loop—The Möbius Band

    Book Chapter |

    What can you make from a sheet of paper that has only one side, where inside equals outside? The answer is a Möbius band, of course, the one-sided paper loop. In this activity, students in grades 3 and 4 explore a…

  • Alphabet Taxonomy

    Book Chapter |

    Students constantly notice the world around them, and to help make sense of it all, they attempt to group and categorize objects and experiences they encounter. In science, the study of classification is referred to as…

  • Your Very Own Museum—Making Collections

    Book Chapter |

    Much more than childish pastimes, collections form the basis for museums of natural history, found object art projects, and personal hobbies. Furthermore, many notable scientists—Charles Darwin, for example—began their…

  • Creating Art Projects From Recycled Materials

    Book Chapter |

    Why not challenge students to design a collage, mosaic, or shadowbox entirely from “found objects”—recycled, natural, and discarded materials? The aesthetic nature of the art of salvage connects students not only to…

  • Experimenting With Force and Motion Using Origami Frogs

    Book Chapter |

    Objects in motion and the forces that move them are the subjects of this lesson. This practical series of activities offers students a dynamic understanding of Newton’s three laws of motion. In particular, the third law…

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