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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.
Chemistry Christmas Lab Shaving cream ornaments Middle School Science
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Chemistry Christmas Lab Shaving cream ornaments Middle School Science

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https://youtu.be/UW_Rqr0ebk0?si=_3KWl7jumVeLP7br STEM This is the most incredible chemistry lesson you will ever teach your Middle school students. It is tons of fun, and messy, and will put magic in your subject.Included detailed instructions to follow each step. Templates for cutting and tracing are included at the end of the lesson. Students will be making their beautiful decorations from paper templates. The lesson explains the chemistry behind all this fun. Happy Holidays Materials 1/2 cup Shaving Cream Food Dye or water-based paints A sheet pan, cake pan, plastic food container—even a paper plate will work Spoon Measuring Cups Paint Brushes very soft Paper Templates Cloth to cover lab tables Products contain Reading Lab Procedure
Chemistry Christmas Dinner Dimensional Analysis High School
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Chemistry Christmas Dinner Dimensional Analysis High School

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This is a terrific lesson in dimension analysis. The method applied in high school chemistry to solve problems requires practice. Students will enjoy learning how to become skillful and confident in completing this practice with real-world applications Make chemistry FUN during Christmas Happy Holidays
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.
Back to school Fun Icebreaker for Middle & High School Science
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Back to school Fun Icebreaker for Middle & High School Science

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This is a fun way to get to know your students Each time I reference to Science Teachers on my Facebook page, it consistently prompts a teacher to express disbelief that it’s already time to prepare for the upcoming school year. While it may feel premature, the reality is that the start of the school year is swiftly approaching, necessitating the planning of initial classroom activities. This worksheet serves as a lighthearted and engaging tool to both understand your students better and informally assess their proficiency in the English language. Additionally, included are guidelines on effectively incorporating this enjoyable resource into your classroom activities.
Genetics Super Heros 8th Grade Science PowerPoint
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Genetics Super Heros 8th Grade Science PowerPoint

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This activity has been a class favorite for many years as students get an opportunity to create their own Superhero(or villain) with the use of genotypes, Punnett Squares, and probability. Students will determine the phenotypes and genotypes of their parent heroes, and create Punnett Squares, Once students determine the traits of their super baby, they can begin working on their baby announcement which consists of a labeled poster of their superchild with the inherited traits and an announcement to introduce the superchild and their traits to the world. Learning Standards: Performance Expectation: HS-LS3-2: Make and defend a claim based on evidence that inheritable genetic variations may result from (1) new genetic combinations through meiosis, (2) viable errors occurring during replication, and/or (3) mutations caused by environmental factors. Disciplinary Core Idea: LS3.B: Variations of Traits: In sexual reproduction, chromosomes can sometimes swap sections during the process of meiosis (cell division), thereby creating new genetic combinations and thus more genetic variation. Although DNS replication is tightly regulated and remarkably accurate, errors do occur and result in mutations, which are also a source of genetic variation. Environmental factors can also cause mutations in genes, and viable mutations are inherited.
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.
Geology Mineral lab Streak Test Middle School Science
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Geology Mineral lab Streak Test Middle School Science

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This lab is a great resource to engage your middle school students to discover how minerals can be identified and quickly classified with a streak test. An explanation of why minerals change due to chemistry is included. This lab has been classroom-tested with a discussion question at the end. Students will understand WHY minerals change their color upon completion of this lab MATERIALS Streak plate 6 to 10 labeled Minerals Total Pages 5 pages Answer Key N/A Teaching Duration 1 hour
Chemistry Thermal Energy Transfer Mitten Lab Middle School Mitten Science
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Chemistry Thermal Energy Transfer Mitten Lab Middle School Mitten Science

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Description Grade 8 STEM Your middle school students will love this Hands-on Lab to discover how heat is the energy used to cause the temperature of an object to increase. The lab setup is quick and only requires mittens and a thermometer. This fun activity will have students discover the concept that heat is a form of energy that flows from areas of high intensity to areas of low intensity. Objective Students will discover heat is the transfer of one area of energy to another and is felt as temperature Lesson plan with guided teacher questions are included No Prep Materials Thermometer Mittens Key Terms are included MS-PS1-6 Undertake a design project to construct, test, and modify a device that either releases or absorbs thermal energy by chemical processes. Emphasis is on the design, controlling the transfer of energy to the environment, and modification of a device using factors such as the type and concentration of a substance. Examples of designs could involve chemical reactions such as dissolving ammonium chloride or calcium chloride. Assessment is limited to the criteria of amount, time, and temperature of substance in testing the device. Total Pages 6 pages Answer Key Included Teaching Duration 30 minutes
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
Earth Science Geology TimeLine of Earth's history Middle School Science
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Earth Science Geology TimeLine of Earth's history Middle School Science

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This package contains 2 lessons for the price of one. https://youtube.com/shorts/eVPB20bXn6Q?si=CwnAoyz8_ZHnmvfK The first is the classic timeline which students will create their own timeline. This lesson has been classroom-tested for 40 years!! The second lesson is the Evolutionary Tree which when completed students will discover how each major step in evolution was based on the one before. The third is called Creating Life. This fun lab has students observe unicelled organisms in a water sample. 2 Graphic Organizers Use for early finishers, extra credit, or sub plans This lesson also contains a more challenging reading for your more advanced students 3 Low Prep Labs! MATERIALS Meterstick, Adding machine tape Plaster of Paris (ready to pour) Cardboard Stapler Beach or park Total Pages 18 pages Answer Key Included Teaching Duration 1 Week
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