Abbe Dirling

SUPER EASY lab prep for the teacher that students love because they get to "see" science. The lab requires minimal materials and do not need exact measurements. Students will be required to look at the chemical equation of breaking down peroxide into water and oxygen with the help of catalase. Students will be able to observe the effect of temperature and pH on the activity of enzymes. **UPDATED VERSION--December 2022

Students will be conducting two mini lab/activities that show hands on, inquiry based experiences regarding the electrical charges of balloons and salt. Formative questions are incorporated into this mini lab/activity handout.

Students first need to brainstorm what classifies an object as "alive." After deciding as a group on the necessary characteristics of life, the group of students must classify 20 objects and defend their classification based. Excellent activity to expose student misconceptions. Answer Key: For the cards, columns 1 and 3 are LIVING and columns 2 and 4 are NONLIVING.

Six stations designed to review and reinforce the concepts presented for enzymes. Station one: overview Station two: chemical reactions Station three: graphing enzyme function Station four: analyzing enzyme function Station five: show video clip Station six: saltine crackers and amylase warm up and exit ticket included no answer key

Easy lab that doesn't require exact measurements for students to observe fermentation

Students can simulate evolution based on natural selection by using different "beaks" on different "islands" with challenges to overcome. Students select a tool (spoon, straw, fork, probe, etc) that represents their beak. Teacher will set up various islands around the room that students will have to collect beads (which represent food) using on their tools. Each island will have different obstacles that are tailored to different beaks. Students go through each island and determine where and why

The activity is a supplemental resource to encourage students to see how Lamarck and Darwin developed their theories of evolution with a scenario of giraffes and snakes. It allows the students to see the flaws in Lamarck's ideas and how they were translated into Darwin's ideas. The assignment ends with an essay assignment that has the students consider what is a "favorable" trait in our culture and to discuss their thoughts on modern medicine and natural selection.

DIRECTIONS: For this activity, you will be utilizing probability in the same way as Biologists and Geneticists do in the “Scientific World.” You will be flipping a coin to determine the number of times you flip for heads or flip for tails. This would be considered a ratio. A ratio is a proportion that expresses the magnitude of quantities in relation to one another. This introductory activity reinforces math skills in the Biology classroom so that students can have a more thorough understandin

After being introduced to guiding questions, hypothesis, data types, and data collections, this fun and easy to do "lab" allows students to have a fun and unique experience while doing science. The activity can be used in the first week of school as an introductory activity to both the course and peers. Updated September 2024 Claim, Evidence, Reasoning along with graphing class data added.

Use candy bars to explore the layers of the Earth and tectonic plates boundaries.

Student Choice = Student Voice This project gives students an option as to what type of product they want to create to highlight their knowledge of biotechnology. "In order to further explore the advancing field of Biotechnology, we will be completing a “dinner-themed” project where you will get to select the different types of projects and research that you would be most interested in conducting. This project will be worth 100 points and a large portion of your final 9 weeks grade. In additi

Students are grouped together to design, build, and modify a marble roller coaster in this multi-day activity using foam insulation pipes.

Students can work individually, in pairs, or small groups to simulate "thinking like Mendel" using the data he collected in his gardens. Students will (hopefully) draw similar conclusions about the fundamentals of inheritance as they work through the assignment. I use this task BEFORE teaching Punnett squares in an effort to have students understand the methodology/logic of Mendel's procedures. Updated March 2025

Quick/Mini activity for students to create a model of the plasma/cell membrane using Q-tips, straws, and pipe cleaners. Students will be able to create and observe the fluid mosaic model while using hands on experience to reinforce concepts presented in class.

Single period lab where students can test various substances (whatever you have on hand!) to see if they are polar or nonpolar. Students will sample 6 different substances and explain how they drew their conclusion about polarity. Aligns as supplemental scaffold for properties of water (universal solvent). Focus on: SEP: Plan and Conduct an Investigation: How can you determine the polarity of a substance?

Introduction to macromolecules with a QUICK review of chemistry concepts (matter, atoms, elements, molecules, compounds). Students use ice cream to represent atoms/elements without being introduced to the periodic table. Quick definitions of nucleus, proton, neutron, electrons, and valence electrons to identify the number of each in a carbon atom. Draw a hydrocarbon chain; build on the previous day's lesson of dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis to draw a sucrose molecule

This format is utilized in a group setting at the college level when students present their results opposed to writing formal lab reports. In this high school version, each student completes one portion of the presentation while the team leader oversees everyone's work. It is a practice in collaboration along with preparation for college level work. This can be used as a guide and across any science curriculum!

This mini unit was presented in two weeks before Christmas break so that the kids didn't have to remember anything over break. This powerpoint does NOT include information on elastic and inelastic collisions. Impulse-momentum theorem, conservation of momentum, and momentum are topics that are covered.

Guided notes with answer key for an introduction into the geosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. It ends with the biosphere to lead into levels of organization and community interactions. Works well for middle school or lower level high school/alt ed. Activity built within the notes to highlight the types of boundaries using candy bars.

This inquiry based activity is student centered. Students explore several concepts of force: balanced and unbalanced forces, friction, and air resistance. This lab lays the foundation for students to have prior knowledge BEFORE you teach that force causes acceleration. Students should know what speed, velocity, and acceleration are before this activity.