Physical Science Experiments

In this lesson, students use mathematics and computational thinking to determine the charge of an ion, identify valence electrons, and calculate the mass number of an isotope based on the number of subatomic particles. Students practice research-based strategies by navigating an interactive PhET simulation and manipulating physical atomic model kits to strengthen their reasoning, analyze periodic trends, and support evidence-based learning practices.

In this lesson, students carry out investigations and use results to compare and contrast the physical and chemical properties of matter by testing the conductivity, malleability, and chemical reactivity of various elements. Students practice research-based strategies by participating in an inquiry-based candle demonstration, executing an element card sort to mimic Mendeleev's discovery of periodic law, and using data-driven reasoning to predict elemental properties based on an atom's number of protons and valence electrons.

In this lesson, students analyze and interpret data to predict properties of ionic and covalent compounds by investigating characteristics such as appearance, solubility, electrical conductivity, and relative melting points. Students practice research-based strategies by comparing a series of known chemical compound cards, performing hands-on laboratory tests on unknown samples, and constructing particle diagrams to strengthen their reasoning and support evidence-based learning practices regarding chemical bonding.

In this lesson, students will analyze and interpret data to explore the principles of radioactive decay and half-life, using these concepts to determine the age of organic artifacts and detect art forgeries. Through hands-on simulations involving probability chips and multi-sided dice, students will model random decay patterns, calculate decay constants, and graph exponential decay rates. Finally, students will apply their findings mathematically to real-world forensic scenarios, evaluating the carbon-14 levels in canvas and paint to expose fraudulent historical masterworks.

External Resources: ASIM provides links to external resources to support science instruction. These resources remain the property of their respective creators.

In this lesson, students use mathematics and computational thinking to identify types of radioactive decay based on balanced chemical equations, penetrating power, identity of emitted particles, and charge. Students practice research-based strategies to strengthen their reasoning and support evidence-based learning practices.

External Resources: ASIM provides links to external resources to support science instruction. These resources remain the property of their respective creators.

In this lesson, students use models to explain how nuclear fission and fusion reactions can be used as energy sources. They also generate and defend a data-based claim regarding the use of radioactive materials as an energy source. Students practice research-based strategies to strengthen their reasoning and support evidence-based learning practices.

External Resources: ASIM provides links to external resources to support science instruction. These resources remain the property of their respective creators.

In this lesson, students analyze phase change diagrams to determine the phase of matter and the motion of particles. They use particle diagrams to illustrate particle arrangements at specific temperatures and pressures. Students practice research-based strategies to strengthen their reasoning and support evidence-based learning practices.

In this lesson, students predict how changing pressure, volume, or temperature affects the behavior of a gas using mathematical and computational thinking. They use particle diagrams to model gas behavior while controlling one variable. Students practice research-based strategies to strengthen their reasoning and support evidence-based learning practices.

External Resources: ASIM provides links to external resources to support science instruction. These resources remain the property of their respective creators.

In this lesson, students utilize multiple types of models to support and verify the claim that matter is conserved during a simple chemical reaction. They use observations and evidence to explain how mass is accounted for in chemical processes. Students practice research-based strategies to strengthen their reasoning and support evidence-based learning practices.

External Resources: ASIM provides links to external resources to support science instruction. These resources remain the property of their respective creators.

In this lesson, students plan and carry out investigations to determine how factors such as temperature, surface area, and stirring affect the rate at which a solute dissolves in a solvent. They develop and use particle diagrams to illustrate diluted and concentrated solutions and describe how adjusting the amounts of solute and solvent impacts solution concentration. Students practice research-based strategies to strengthen their reasoning and support evidence-based learning practices.

In this lesson, students use indicators and pH to determine whether a solution is acidic or basic. They explain how the concentrations of hydronium (H3O+) and hydroxide (OH-) ions indicate acidity or basicity. Students practice research-based strategies to strengthen their reasoning and support evidence-based learning practices.

External Resources: ASIM provides links to external resources to support science instruction. These resources remain the property of their respective creators.

In this lesson, students explain how pH changes when acids and bases are mixed. They describe the reactants and products of neutralization reactions and plan and investigate neutralization. Students practice research-based strategies to strengthen their reasoning and support evidence-based learning practices.

External Resources: ASIM provides links to external resources to support science instruction. These resources remain the property of their respective creators.

In this lesson, students will explore essential skills in graphing.

In this lesson, students will explore potential energy, kinetic energy, and mechanical energy of falling and bouncing balls. They will drop four different types of balls from different heights and measure the bounce height. Students will then make energy calculations and generate graphs to analyze the Law of Conservation of Energy.

In this lesson, students will explore the physical and mathematical relationships between work and power.

In this lesson, students will collect, analyze, and use data to explain how thermal energy is transferred by conduction, convection, and radiation.

in this lesson, students will analyze experimental data to determine the specific heat of a material and explain how the specific heat value affects the ability of a material to absorb and release heat. Students will use this information to justify the use of different materials in real-world applications.

In this lesson, students will experiment to determine how mass and velocity affect an object’s momentum. Additionally, they will explain the concept of impulse and its relationship to changes in momentum.

In this lesson, students will investigate the relationship among wavelength, frequency, and wave speed and determine how this relationship can be used to explain the Doppler effect.

In this lesson, students will investigate how light behaves when it bounces off a surface and passes through an object.  They will create ray diagrams and measure angles.

In this lesson, students will analyze the ways in which different media and their characteristics affect the speed of light.

In this lesson, students will investigate how the properties of a medium affect the behavior of sound waves and compare/contrast this to the behavior of light.

In this lesson, students will explore how objects interact through electrical, magnetic, and gravitational forces. By collecting data and conducting investigations, students will observe how charged objects, magnets, and gravity influence the motion and behavior of objects without direct contact. They will use evidence from their experiments to predict how objects behave in different force fields and make connections between the three fundamental field forces.

In this lesson, students will explore how series and parallel circuits work by building and testing different circuit designs. They will investigate how the arrangement of light bulbs affects their brightness and will use their observations to compare the behavior of each type of circuit. Through hands-on experimentation, students apply scientific principles to construct, modify, and analyze electrical circuits while making connections to how electrical systems are used in everyday life.

In this lesson, students will learn how to use a digital multimeter to measure voltage, current, and resistance in electrical circuits. Students will identify the meter's settings and functions, collect accurate circuit data, and analyze the relationship between voltage and current. 

In this lesson, students will investigate the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance to discover Ohm's law. Students will use a digital multimeter to measure voltage and current, calculate resistance from the data, and analyze how changes in voltage or resistance affect the flow of current in an electrical circuit.

In this lesson, students will investigate how electricity can be induced by changing magnetic fields. They will identify under what conditions an electric current can be induced and they will use the brightness of a light bulb or LED to determine the strength of the current.

In this lesson, students will explore the major sources of electricity in the United States, compare renewable and nonrenewable energy sources and evaluate their roles in energy production. They will also examine the economic and environmental advantages and disadvantages of each major energy source.