Marc Smith

Here is a project for students to demonstrate their understanding of the phases of matter and phase changes. The project includes a visual representation along with an oral presentation component. The project allows students to choose between a variety of methods to produce the project and has an accompanying rubric. Rubric is a separate free download.

Here is a lab for students to hypothesize and test the affect of two variable changes on potential energy. Students in this lab use a ramp to test the affect on height on potential energy and use a marble vs. a golf ball to test the affect of mass on potential energy.

In this Lab, students are asked to design their own experiment to test the affect of different surface types on friction. They will be using previously acquired knowledge about the elements of an effective experimental design to create their own. Fully editable document to customize to your needs.

Here is a student sheet that can be used with an accompanying demonstration. It has the students making hypotheses, collecting data and drawing conclusions associated with three separate demonstrations. The demonstrations look at density and viscosity as well as the effect that temperature can have on viscosity.

This lab is designed to develop skills in students to properly utilize a Triple-Beam Balance Scale. The lab provides directions on how to properly utilize this lab tool and gives students practice massing objects using the scale.

In this combination demo/lab students experiment with how changes in mass and volume can change the density of an object. This lab does require some basic lab equipment (beaker, beam balance, ruler, etc.).

In this lab students are given a set of common objects and use lab tools to find the mass and volume of these items... then calculate volume. Students are also asked to consider buoyancy and think about what they have already learned about the relationship between density and buoyancy to determine if their objects will float. Requires you to have some basic supplies in your science lab (beam balance, graduated cylinders, beakers, etc.) as well as having pre-taught some skills for using this eq

Here is a lab for middle school students. This lab is designed to have students practice with finding the mass of a liquid using a balance scale. Requires some basic lab equipment (graduated cylinders, beakers, triple-beam balance scale, etc.).

Here is a culminating project for a middle school science class. The project asks students to demonstrate what they have learned about the relationship between mass and volume in relationship to density. Specifically, students are asked to show what they know by explaining how changes in volume caused by heat make a lava lamp function. Separate rubric is a free download.

This is a classwork sheet for your students to practice with interpreting data represented on a graph.

Here is a Formative Writing Assessment designed in the C.R.A.F.T. format. This would be used after teaching phase changes (in reference to molecular motion) as a mean of assessing student understanding. I created two levels for these question. The first level includes solid, liquid and gas forms while the second level adds plasma.

This is a sheet for students to practice with the LxWxH = V formula. With three whimsical examples, students have to calculate the volume of objects using this formula. Can be used in class or as a homework assignment.

This is the vocabulary list I give to students prior to the test. These are the definitions we used for the terms that show up on the quiz.

Here is the rubric for the Density Project that has students showing what they know by describing how a Lava lamp operates.

This is a whimsical paragraph designed similarly to Mad Libs. Students have to correctly use their understanding of the vocabulary words to fill in the blanks.

Here is the Rubric that goes with the Phases of Matter Project