Creative Chemistry
What is the Percentage of Copper in "Copper" Coins?
Whether in the UK or the US, the mass of the copper in a copper alloy penny can be determined. If you are in the US, note that on the lab sheet, a penny is identified as a "1p piece." The penny is dissolved by young chemists in nitric...
Teach Engineering
Chromatography Lab
Groups use alcohol and chromatography paper to separate the color components of black ink. The purpose of the activity is to allow the class to become aware that mixtures exist in hidden places.
Royal Society of Chemistry
Electrochromic Polymer—Chemistry Outreach
From windows that tint themselves to OLED technology, electrochromic polymers are redefining our ideas about conducting materials! Introduce your chemistry class to the emerging trend with an exciting lab activity. Budding materials...
University of Georgia
Would Your Cat Eat This Stuff?
Processed foods use inorganic compounds for flavoring and preservation. This take-home laboratory challenges scholars to find 20 different compounds identified on the labels of foods to list on their data collection sheet. The activity...
LABScI
Acoustics: The Sound Lab
If the delay between a sound and its echo is less than 1/10th of a second, the human ear can’t distinguish it. Through the use of a Slinky, rubber band guitar, and straws, scholars explore where sound comes from and how it travels....
Serendip
Is Yeast Alive?
Through two investigations, life science learners determine whether or not yeast is alive. They perform tests for metabolism by providing sugar and observing if gas is produced as a byproduct. They incubate some of the sample for at...
LABScI
The Digestive System: Where Does Food Go?
Would you believe that your digestive system stretches to five times your height?! Help your pupils to understand this relationship as they work through the laboratory exercise. The first instructional activity of a 12-part series is a...
Nuffield Foundation
Investigating Transport Systems in a Flowering Plant
Some weddings have flowers in a unique, unnatural color to match the theme. Young scientists take part in this process to learn about the function of the xylem as they observe colored water moving through a flower. Then, they experiment...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Understanding Wave Motion - Slinky vs. Snaky: Which Spring is Dominant?
Ride the wave to an understanding of refraction! The first in a series of two inquiry-based lessons challenges learners to create transverse waves with two different types of springs. As their wave hits an object, they observe the change...
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Small Scale Sculpting: Etch Lab
Make works of art using a vintage yet effective etching strategy. The surface of a semiconductor chip has specific patterns formed through a process called etching. Through a lab investigation, young scholars recreate that process...
DiscoverE
Electrical Liquids
Liquid or not, here comes the electricity. Scholars test the conductivity of various substances using a circuit that includes a light bulb. If the light bulb lights up, then the liquid is a conductor. What a bright idea!
Technovation
Curiosity Machine: Challenges
Curiosity Machine provides free, high-interest STEM activities for students. This home page provides links to categories of STEM activities.
American Chemical Society
Inquiry in Action: A Dissolving Challenge
A challenge where students are asked to make a lemon soda that holds as much carbonation as possible by using three ingredients. This lab experiment includes a demonstration, challenge, and mini-report. Also, this lab experiment includes...
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad: Build: Top Builder Challenge
Students were challenged to create something powered by rubber bands. Check out the winners and runner ups. Can you recreate theirs or create one of your own?
PBS
Pbs Kids:activities and Videos: Green
This PBS site contains videos and activities that are hands-on challenges that focus on the engineering design process. They use simple materials, allow for multiple solutions, and are ideal for ages 9-12.
PBS
Pbs Kids: Activities and Videos: Force/energy
Videos that accompany activities that are hands-on challenges that focus on the engineering design process. They use simple materials, allow for multiple solutions, and are ideal for ages 9-12.
PBS
Pbs Kids:activities and Videos: Structures
PBS site provides videos and activities are hands-on challenges that focus on the engineering design process. They use simple materials, allow for multiple solutions, and are ideal for ages 9-12.
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad Challenge: Balloon Drive
Hands-on challenge "to make a helium balloon hover in one spot, then move it through an obstacle course using air currents". Provides full list of materials with ideas on how to design, build, and test the balloon's movement. Activity...
Other
Reflection of Light
Educational site provides activities to compliment a unit on the reflection of light. Offers challenge activities that are designed to motivate and stimulate interest in the classroom.
PBS
Pbs Kids: Science Rocks: Air Lift
Through this experiment, students are challenged to lift a book (and other items) with just air. Requires simple household items, gallon-size, zipper-lock plastic bag, book, pencil, drinking straw, and tape.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Activity: Solar Stadium Challenge
A project for students to imagine they are writing a proposal for a bid to design and construct a football stadium that is heated by solar power. As a structural engineering, the students will be creating this proposal for a new NFL team...
Science Museum, London
Science Museum: Spaghetti Challenge
In this race against the clock, students learn the importance of good design technique and distribution of mass as they work in teams to build the highest tower possible out of dried spaghetti and marshmallows.
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad: Build: Speedy Shelter
This challenge is to design and build a sturdy emergency shelter that can fit one person and easy to build. Are you up to the challenge?
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad: Build: Soft Landing
This challenge is to design and build a cushion system that can safely land an egg dropped onto the floor from three feet up. Are you up to the challenge?