Curated OER
Looking At Variables
Learners predict and test different variables that would effect sugar cubes dissolving in water. In this dissolving lesson plan, students have 4 petri dishes with 4 different variations of sugar cubes and water. They predict which will...
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Science: Conditions for Slime Mold Survival
Students perform experiments to determine the nutritional needs and physical space requirements for slime mold to survive. After formulating hypotheses, they seal the petri dishes and set up the experiment along with two controls. ...
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Dirt Life
Students select and collect soil samples from a variety of locations (schoolyard, home, etc.). They do this lab after an interest-generating discussion about "dirt" and microbes. Students make a dilution in sterile water, plate it on a...
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Backyard Bacteria
Students experiment with different bacterias that they found and make predictions of their growth. In this investigative lesson students use petri dishes to grow their bacteria then summarize what has happened.
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Dusty Air
Students discover the types and amounts of particulate matter found in the air. They collect particulates using a Petri dish coated with Vaseline then classify and count the collection under a stereoscope.
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Flatworms- Observations of a Live Planarian
In this flatworm worksheet, students observe a flatworm in a petri dish. Students describe the flatwork and measure the planarian. Students complete the various charts about the movement and observations of the planarian.
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The Nature and Science of Technology
Fifth graders practice using the scientific method by observing and creating mold. In this bacteria lesson, 5th graders experiment creating their own mold and fungus using petri dishes and oatmeal. Students create an information table...
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Life Traps
Learners participate in a lab activity in which they collect microbes on an agar plate. After discussing microbes and where they might be found, they trap microbes in the Petri dishes following specific guidelines. They observe any...
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Backyard Critters
Young scholars explore the characteristics of invertebrates in their backyards. They observe, describe, and classify specimens. They conclude with a "snail race."
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The Characteristics of Living Things
Eighth graders explore the characteristics of living things. In this living things lesson plan, 8th graders review as a class the cell theory and the characteristics of living things. They answer questions about how to determine if...
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Petri-fied of Bacteria
Students examine the existence of bacteria all around them and consider the roles, both positive and negative, that bacteria play. Over a period of several days, students conduct an experiment in which they predict, determine, log, and...
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Crystals: What Are They and What Holds Them Together
Students are introduced to the characteristics of crystals and what keeps them together. Using the Periodic Table, they examine the various elements and develop a model of an atom. In groups, they place sugar and salt in petri dishes...
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Microscopy Exercises
Students explore organisms and botany by utilizing microscopes. In this microscopic research lesson, students define many plant and organism related vocabulary terms such as conifers, moss and spores. Students view spores and other...
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What Is an Egg?
Students identify the parts of the egg and observe the composition of the egg parts.
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Lab Equipment
In this science lab worksheet, students identify and locate vocabulary terms that can be found when doing a science experiment. There are 42 words located in the puzzle.
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Ecology of the Dump
Young scholars recreate landfills in petri dishes, observe relative biodegradability in a year-long project, and isolate a cellulose degrading bacteria while discovering the need for recycling and the serious problem waste management has...
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Every Breath You Take
Students explore the nature of the air we breathe by observing petri dishes that have accumulated particulate matter from the atmosphere. Students make mathematical calculations and inferences about the effect of this matter on...
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Life Traps - Lesson Plan
Students observe and discuss microbes. In this microbes instructional activity students complete a lab activity where they grow microbes in petri dishes and discuss their findings.
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Diffusion
Young scholars investigate diffusion using different solutions of chemicals placed in agar dishes. In this diffusion lesson plan, students observe 3 demonstrations of diffusion using perfume, food coloring in water and sugar cubes in...
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Investigating the Uses of Backyard Bacteria
Students discover that the answers to some of society's waste and clean-up problems may be no further than the soil beneath their feet. They perform a Gram stain on the colonies to determine some of their characteristics.
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Detecting Magnetic Materials in "Martian" Soil
Students simulate some of the Pathfinder experiments by devising methods of collecting and measuring magnetic substances in pseudo-Martian soil. The efficiency of each of the methods used to collect materials is evaluated in this lesson.
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Sow Bug Habitats
Students conduct an experiment to determine what type of environment sow bugs prefer. They use petri dishes with partially wet paper towels to assess whether they prefer wet or dry habitats.
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Culturing Plants from Embryonic Plant Tissue
Student groups use lima beans to represent dicots and corn to represent monocots, soak the seeds, and separate the embryos from the cotyledons. They then place the seeds in Petri dishes in agar and observe for at least one week recording...
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Active Ingredient Screening Test for Plants
Students determine if various plant materials contain active ingredients which will inhibit the growth of bacteria. They identify plant materials and their degree of sensitivity.