Marc Smith

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.

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.

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

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