Curated OER
Investigating What Makes Fruit Go Brown
Is there anything that can be done to slow the browning of fruit once it has been cut? High schoolers determine the answer through five different investigations involving apples, potatoes, and chemical reactions. After each experiment,...
Curated OER
Acid Rain
Simulated acid rain, a dilute sulfuric acid solution, needs to be prepared for this demonstration. After a condensed lecture on acid rain, you will apply the solution to a sample of granite and a sample of limestone. Your young...
Nuffield Foundation
No Stomach for It: Investigating Antacid Medication
You won't get a stomachache doing an investigative experiment. Pupils simulate the effect of antacids on stomach acid. Obviously, they won't be using real stomach acid; diluted hydrochloric acid serves this purpose.
Nuffield Foundation
Effect of Size on Uptake by Diffusion
Cell size is limited by the surface area to volume ratio, but why is this true? Scholars measure the surface area and volume of cubes before placing them into liquid. After a set amount of time, they measure the uptake by diffusion for...
Nuffield Foundation
Investigating the Effect of Temperature on the Activity of Lipase
How does temperature affect lipase activity? Young scholars conduct an experiment to collect data on the interaction of lipase at different temperatures. They add lipase to a solution of milk, sodium carbonate, and phenolphthalein and...
Virginia Department of Education
Greenhouse Gas Modeling Activity
Why are greenhouse gases called greenhouse gases? Young Earth scientists learn about greenhouse gases though experimentation in the second installment of a 3-part series. They use lamps to model radiant energy as well as warming through...
NOAA
Deep-Sea Ecosystems – Chemosynthesis for the Classroom
Photosynthesis was discovered in the 1770s, but chemosynthesis wasn't discovered until 1977. While many have performed an experiment to show how photosynthesis works, the activity allows pupils to observe chemosynthesis. Scholars set up...
Curated OER
CTBS Mechanics Practice #1
Use this CTBS mechanics learning exercise to reinforce the correct use of commas, punctuation, italics, letter writing, and capitalization. Middle schoolers are given information on each of these areas and then answer a total of thirty...
Virginia Department of Education
Go with the Flow
How does nature's hierarchy relate to our local human environment? Answer this question, along with others, as the class visually depicts the natural hierarchy provided by nature. Pupils discuss each piece of the pyramid and its energy...
Nuffield Foundation
Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria in Root Nodules of Leguminous Plants
Fixin' to add a great resource to your plans? Scholars perform an experiment to investigate nitrogen-fixing bacteria from plant roots. Along the way, they learn about the concepts of symbiosis and mutualism.
Curated OER
DNA Isolation
Pupils use scientific methods to investigate the concept of DNA. They observe the DNA of human cheek cells. This is done with the use of a lab experience. Students record their observations and reflect upon on how each organism is unique...
Curated OER
DNA Extraction From a Variety of Tissue Samples
Students, working in cooperative groups, extract very impure samples of DNA from a number of tissue samples. They determine how the samples can be preserved and how they are similar.
Curated OER
Urinalysis
Students participate in a lab experiment that explains why doctors take urine samples. They participate in a discussion about the urinary system and have already studied the functions of the organs involved in the urinary system along...
Curated OER
Terraqua Column
Sixth graders create a TerrAqua column. In this ecosystems lesson, 6th graders build a TerrAqua column to conduct investigations on how living things impact the ecosystem.
Nuffield Foundation
Modelling the Human Ventilation System
Why is breathing so difficult for asthma sufferers? To find out, learners build their own lung models in the investigation (from a British website, hence the term ventilation system instead of respiratory system). Using different-sized...
Curated OER
Investigating Mitosis in Allium Root Tip Squash
Preparing the root tip samples is the most challenging part of the mitosis-viewing lab found here, but the directions help ensure you have everything you need. There is no worksheet included; however, there is a sample data table....
Nuffield Foundation
A Closer Look at Blood
Here is a lab that has teenage scientists examining samples of their own blood under a microscope. Learners carefully prepare slides, then make detailed observations and identifying different types of cells using a key.
Curated OER
Testing Leaves for Starch: the Technique
Like good scientists, kids often want to see first-hand why things are as they are; they can do just that in the starch-testing photosynthesis activity found here. Depending on the age of your pupils, you may wish to do the investigation...
Curated OER
Hippocratic Medical Rounds
A very interesting way to model Hippocrates allows your clas to to compare world views and to illustrate how ideas have changed at key times throughout the history of science. This simulation has students role play patients and physicians.
Curated OER
Where Are The Dinosaurs?
Students examine the concept of extinction in relationship to the dinosaurs. In this elementary science lesson students become familiar with dinosaurs and that they are extinct. Students differentiate between different types of dinosaurs.
Curated OER
Demonstration of Cheese-Making Enzyme Magic
Students watch a demo which is a modification of an enzyme lab which is done as a "magic show". It's primary purpose is to tickle the curiosity of the student and grab interest before discussion of enzymes. It is also used to stimulate...
Curated OER
Demonstration of Cheese-Making Enzyme Magic
Students participate in a modified demo enzyme lab, a "magic show." The purpose of the demo is to tickle the curiosity of the student and grab their interest before discussions of enzymes. Its purpose is also to stimulate problem solving...
Curated OER
Observing Reactions
Students use the scientific method to complete to experiments that have visible reactions. In this visible reaction lesson, students participate in an experiment with melting ice and one with inflating a balloon. Students record their...
Curated OER
The Artemia Hatchery
Learners, in groups, develop their hatcheries, working cooperatively in its design and construction. The lessons begin with the introduction to Artemia as a primary food source of many aquaculture species during their larval stages.