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The Lesson Pony

I have developed lessons designed primarily for middle and high school students in science. These labs have been classroom tested for many years. Awards 2007-2005 Professional Learning Grant from the Waltham Chamber of Commerce 2001, and my name is on Mars 2001 Mars Rover for my contributions to NASA educational system.

I have developed lessons designed primarily for middle and high school students in science. These labs have been classroom tested for many years. Awards 2007-2005 Professional Learning Grant from the Waltham Chamber of Commerce 2001, and my name is on Mars 2001 Mars Rover for my contributions to NASA educational system.
Magnetism-2 Labs and Reading Middle School Physics
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Magnetism-2 Labs and Reading Middle School Physics

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The incredible power of magnets is illustrated in two engaging labs hands-on labs. Clear and easy-to-follow editable lab worksheet Included is a reading for students to fully understand the power of magnets Students will discover that magnets are attracted to special metals. Objectives Magnets attract and repel other magnets. What makes some materials magnetic Materials Wide mouth jar Book Magnet Compass Eisco Labs Floating Ring Magnet Set with Wooden Base Total Pages 7 pages Answer Key Included Teaching Duration 45 minutes
Density Beach lab
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Density Beach lab

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Check out this is one period activity/lab to teach students about the concept of density This is a fun lab in which the entire class can enjoy on a hot day. The materials are found at every pool. Included is a worksheet to check the students understanding of the material. They will remember this lab for a very long time.
Lab Safety Ugly Smock Template Middle & High School Science
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Lab Safety Ugly Smock Template Middle & High School Science

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Are you looking for Back to School Activities to teach/review lab safety. Look no further. Here is a fun and engaging way to review lab safety with your students. Also works great to decorate your room. Use it for extra credit or to teach how to act in a lab. Fully editable No Prep! Total Pages 1 page Answer Key Rubric only Teaching Duration 30 minutes
Weather  Thunderstorm Graphic Organizer
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Weather Thunderstorm Graphic Organizer

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This is the perfect resource to help explain to your students the main facts about the inside of a thunderstorm. All the major parts of what causes the storm to develop is explained. Students can use this sheet for A. Homework B. Extra Credit C. Help visual learners understand D. To decorate your room Why use graphic organizers? It helps my students organize their notes, so we don’t need to spend a lot of time on them. Coloring is a technique that should be used in all grade levels because there is research that shows that it helps us to retain information on a deeper level. Coloring activates both sides of the brain’s hemisphere to help us remember, concentrate, solve problems, and use our fine motor skills to fill in each section. Studies show that adding images with notes increases retention by 30% with their study guides Conversations naturally start among the students. When we color, we do not need to concentrate as fully on the task as we would if we were completing a worksheet or writing a report. This frees us up for, well, talking.
Lab: Archimedes’ Principle	 - Don’t Sink the Boat!
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Lab: Archimedes’ Principle - Don’t Sink the Boat!

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Here is a fun lab to teach Archimedes’ Principle using only an empty soup can and water Define buoyant force. State Archimedes’ principle. Understand why objects float or sink. Understand the relationship between density and Archimedes’ principle. This is a terrific resource to teach physics and math.
Physics Runner vs. Bicyclist Speed Acceleration Lab
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Physics Runner vs. Bicyclist Speed Acceleration Lab

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Are you looking for a fun lab with no prep to motivate your high school students to learn about graphing speed. Here it is!! Upon completion of the lesson, students will be able to Define acceleration and velocity. Describe the differences between velocity and acceleration. Identify and utilize the formula for calculating the average acceleration of an object in given scenarios. Students will go to the track and race a person against someone on a bike. Your class will go out on the track and have a student do a 100-meter dash, recording their time at every 5-meter interval. (Have one person stand at each 5-meter mark and use their stopwatch.) Repeat that experiment, but with a bicycle starting from rest, in the highest (hardest to push) gear, and pushing with maximum force on the pedals. After students collect the data, make one correctly labeled position vs. time graph which includes a curve representing the motion of each racer. They will have the opportunity to learn about acceleration and make predictions if the track was longer.
Astronomy Apollo 13 movie guide, Lab and Space Inventions Middle School Science
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Astronomy Apollo 13 movie guide, Lab and Space Inventions Middle School Science

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https://classful.com/product/astronomy-apollo-13-movie-guide-lab-and-space-inventions-middle-school-science/ Description NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy Part 1 STEM This lesson can be used during the movie or as a WebQuest prior to watching the 1995 film starring Tom Hanks. This movie is played at the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium by NASA for my 8th-grade students on field trips. The answer key is included and written in red to make grading easier. Part 2 Students will learn the contributions to their everyday life from the Space Program Part 3 Lab How do astronauts feel when they are working in space Materials Nuts and Bolts Rubber gloves Big Bowl Water
Astronomy Stars and Constellations Huge Unit for Middle School Science
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Astronomy Stars and Constellations Huge Unit for Middle School Science

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https://youtube.com/shorts/RvZXELdSQJY?si=6VKU4MYVBceTJkCp Description Are you having a hard time teaching your students about the constellations in the night sky? Here is your answer. Classroom-tested for many years. Students have informed me years later that they still look at the night sky. Complete discussion questions with answers to engage your students! Objectives Become familiar with the constellations visible in the Northern Hemisphere Observe the constellations visible on a particular night. Your students will learn how to make an astrolabe and star charts. Included also 3 labs. Detailed instructions on how to make star grazing safe. 2 Graphic organizers which students can complete for extra credit or keep as emergency sub plans. Materials Large Index Card Protractor String 30 cm Large Metal Hex Nut Tape Plastic Drinking Straw Magnetic compass Drawing compass Construction paper Colored pencils Protractor Metric ruler Tennis ball Basket Ball or soccer ball Bunsen burner Googles Picture Wire Pliers SCI.K.8.C Earth and space. The student knows that there are recognizable patterns in the natural world and among objects in the sky. The student is expected to: observe, describe, and illustrate objects in the sky such as the clouds, Moon, and stars, including the Sun. Total Pages 19 pages Answer Key Included Teaching Duration 2 Weeks
Astronomy Black Hole 2 Fun Labs for Middle School Science
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Astronomy Black Hole 2 Fun Labs for Middle School Science

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https://youtube.com/shorts/X8T_-fDsUZE?si=BxXuYq8KPBzpLaEq Description Are you trying to teach your Middle School Students about Black Holes in an engaging manner? This product is for you! Students will be able to explain how scientists are able to A. Find Black Holes B. Determine the chemical composition of stars Contains 2 No Prep Labs MATERIALS Glow Sticks Index Cards You can use this lesson during your Astronomy unit or chemistry!! It connects chemistry with space science. Total Pages 4 pages Answer Key N/A Teaching Duration 1 hour
Astronomy Black Hole 2 Fun Labs for Middle School Science
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Astronomy Black Hole 2 Fun Labs for Middle School Science

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https://youtube.com/shorts/X8T_-fDsUZE?si=f2gO-RI5gNmzAsXu Description Are you trying to teach your Middle School Students about Black Holes in an engaging manner? This product is for you! Students will be able to explain how scientists are able to A. Find Black Holes B. Determine the chemical composition of stars Contains 2 No Prep Labs MATERIALS Glow Sticks Index Cards You can use this lesson during your Astronomy unit or chemistry!! It connects chemistry with space science. Total Pages 4 pages Answer Key N/A Teaching Duration 1 hour
Weather Temperature How does Evaporation effect it Middle School science
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Weather Temperature How does Evaporation effect it Middle School science

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https://youtube.com/shorts/bMBWzRklgBE?si=c9fnLKkL2_9DUdSm The following standards are listed PS3.A: Definitions of Energy PS3.B: Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer PS3.C: Relationship Between Energy and Forces PS3.D: Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life This lab can be used in chemistry, health, physics, or Earth Science class. Students will learn the effects of evaporation on cooling. Materials are items found in every science class. They will fill in a chart with their data to discover the information for themselves. A worksheet is included to check your students; understanding. Materials 2 Thermometers 2 Pieces of dry cloth Water *Answer key is provided
Astronomy UV beads Solar Beads Lab Help Stop Skin Cancer Middle School Science
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Astronomy UV beads Solar Beads Lab Help Stop Skin Cancer Middle School Science

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Need an engaging activity to investigate UV radiation and its effect on your students’ health. Keep your young scientists safe this summer with the knowledge gathered with this fun lab. Your students will be surprised to see white beads change color with exposure to UV light. Great to encourage the use of sunscreen. This lab is perfect for end-of-year, camps or part of your health lessons. I have also used it during my unit on Astronomy MATERIALS UV beads Sunscreen 15,30, 50 Ziploc bags Contains Lab Instructions Worksheet to learn the importance of sunscreen
Astronomy, Biology Concave/Convex Lens 6 Engaging Labs Middle School Science
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Astronomy, Biology Concave/Convex Lens 6 Engaging Labs Middle School Science

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Are you looking for a fun way to motivate your students to learn about concave/convex lenses and how they work? This is an important concept for both Astronomy and Biology. This product can be used as Observations Stations where they have 15 minutes to experiment before they move to the next table.I have also taught this lesson as a lab one day for a week.They both work equally well and help to keep your students on task. Materials 6 Magnifying Glasses Piece of white paper Window Rolled piece of paper Very sharp knives such as box cutter Tennis Ball The plastic container is just slightly larger than the ball Distilled water (from grocery stores or pharmacies) Flat page with printed words such as a piece of newspaper or a page cut from a magazine. Plastic wrap Large metal spoon The lamp with the shade removed shows just the bare bulb. 2 Lens from a par of drugstore reading glasses (+1.00, +1.25 or +1.50 strength) Painter’s tape or masking tape 1 Sheet of white copy paper Tape measure Magnifying glass Small rectangular mirror Sheets of paper Colored marker pens Magnifying Glass Piece of white paper Window 1 sheet of white copy paper Tape measure
Astronomy Planets Size and Scale 4 Labs Middle School Science
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Astronomy Planets Size and Scale 4 Labs Middle School Science

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Description Are you teaching your students the planet’s size, density, and tO distance from the sun? This interesting hands-on project will motivate your students to learn and apply math concepts to science. This product contains Directed Reading 2 Mini Labs Lab A Compare the size of planets to the size of certain objects in the real world Lab B Pennies and Coke Cans (One of my all-time favorite activities) Walking to the Rocky Planets (Get your students outside, active, and review math skills) MATERIALS Permanent marker 11 clean empty 12-ounce (340g) aluminum soda cans Masking tape or duct tape 1,100 pennies ($11 in pennies coins 1 Full, unopened can of the same liquid Permanent marker 11 clean empty 12-ounce (340g) aluminum soda cans Masking tape or duct tape 1,100 pennies ($11 in pennies coins 1 Full, unopened can of the same liquid 1-meter stick 1 yogurt cup 1 large nail 1 small nail Total Pages 15 pages
Chemistry Significant Figures High School Science
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Chemistry Significant Figures High School Science

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Apply the concept of significant figures to limit measurement to the proper number of digits. Recognize the number of significant figures in a given quantity. Limit mathematical results to the proper number of significant figures. Are you looking for a fun activity to motivate your high school students to learn significant digits? Included Summary of the rules 10 practice problems 3 Engaging Worksheets A complete answer key is provided Keep one of the worksheets as a review or a sub plan! Total Pages 6 pages Answer Key Included Teaching Duration 2 hours
Chemistry Fun labs to learn safety in the lab High School Science
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Chemistry Fun labs to learn safety in the lab High School Science

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Grade 8 STEM labs Are you having trouble explaining the phases of the Moon? PRODUCTS CONTAINS Moon Observations Sheets Directions to find an estimate of the Moon’s angular height Two Classroom Labs Tables of names of Full Moons of the AbenakiNortheast, Maine, and the early English Settlers . Students can see what was important to each settlement . Great lesson to combine history and science. In the labs, your students will understand the reason why we do not ever see the Dark Side of the moon The earth’s position relative to the moon is demonstrated. This lab has been classroom-tested for over 40 with several teachers. There is a very easy setup and no mess to clean afterward. MATERIALS Sheet of newspaper Cup with handle Ball or balloon wrapped in aluminum foil (the Moon) Flashlight (the Sun) Darkened Room Friend In my years of teaching, I have found be the best labs to explain to middle school students the motions of the moon around the Earth. Included is a student worksheet to make sure that your pupils do not leave without an understanding of this concept. Total Pages 12 pages Answer Key Included Teaching Duration 1 Week
Astronomy Taking pictures of the moon with your i phone Middle School Science
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Astronomy Taking pictures of the moon with your i phone Middle School Science

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A fun lesson using your i phone to learn about Moon details and the rotation around the earth Students will learn new technology skills and discover that the sun and the moon has the same movement in our sky. Both rise in the east and set in the western sky. Common core standards are listed Total Pages 5 pages Answer Key Included Teaching Duration 1 hour
Chemistry and Physics Thermodynamic Bird lab High School
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Chemistry and Physics Thermodynamic Bird lab High School

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https://youtu.be/yajQdRwxCi4 Here is a fun lab to use this popular toy to teach your high school chemistry and physics students thermodynamics in simple yet very important experimental techniques in this lab. Included is Explanation of how this bird acts as a heat engine 4 Labs directions on how to make your own drinking bird Lab questions with an answer key