The Science Source

This fun and exciting lab allows students to work in teams of 3 or 4 to determine how changing the distance effects how a drop of blood falls. This lab provides practice with identifying variables and graphing as well as an interesting introduction to forensics. You will notice a rubber stamp icon on the lab sheet. My students know that this means that they must receive a rubber stamp of approval of their hypothesis from me before I will let them proceed with gathering their materials. I play ho

Students can work individually or in teams of up to 4 on this lab. By determining mass and volume (using 2 different methods: LXWXH and water displacement method) students determine and compare the densities of various fun-sized candy bars. This lab reinforces how to find mass, volume and density and helps explain their relationship to each other. It also teaches the formula for density and reviews independent and dependent variable. Additionally, this lab incorporates practice with analyzing da

Students will work in cooperative teams to think critically and describe the differences between chemical and physical changes and physical properties. Students will make dough, allow it to rise, bake bread and create butter! Super fun but requires access to kitchen appliances. You rise the dough overnight in a refrigerator. This lab requires 2 days. Materials needed: 1/2 teaspoon salt ���¼ Tbs sugar 1/4 cup lukewarm water (45C) 1 tsp active dry yeast 1 piece of plastic wrap 1

This hands on, interactive, extremely fun lab allows students to determine what objects conduct electricity (conductors) & which ones do not (insulators). It also drives home the concept of how a circuit is made. The materials used are household objects and the lab requires students to think critically by using higher order thinking skills all while learning about electricity! This lab sheet includes photos for students to follow, especially helpful to ESE, ELL and visual learners. If you like

This very fun lab gives students practice with creating a hypothesis as well as determining variables in an experiment. Then students must convert their data into a graph. Practice collecting data, measuring and analyzing data is also accomplished. Be sure to test your brand of gummy bears first...some will just dissolve. You don't want those. CVS's Gold Emblem and Brach's brand work very well. :) If you like what you see and can use it with your students, PLEASE come back and leave me feedback

This worksheet accompanies your students to the bowling alley so that they can use your lessons on the physics of force, power and work in the real world. Students bring along their pencils, calculators and this worksheet for an afternoon of fun physical science work. They will definitely have a good grasp on understanding the concepts of force, work and power and probably have the formulas memorized after this trip! Also a little review of volume and density in here too. If you like what you

This tasty lab allows students to create a model of the Earth that shows day and night during different seasons and noting Winter & Summer Solstice as well as diagram it on different hemispheres. Uses common kitchen materials such as marshmallows, toothpicks, cocoa powder & food coloring

This packet includes detailed step by step instructions and a few simple handouts for your first days of school explaining exactly how to lay out a tried and true, tweaked-to-perfection classroom management system. Developed by Stephanie Stipkovich, a National Board Certified Science teacher. Teaching science to middle school students for 15 years and a Science Department Chair for 10 years with an excellent reputation for wonderful classroom management that I attribute to this system. I list p

This fun yet organized lab will allow students to understand that biological adaptations include changes in structures, behaviors or physiology that enhance reproductive success in a particular environment. Using easy-to-get supplies such as paper cups, a plastic bowl, gummy bears and food coloring students will work in cooperative teams in this interactive lesson yet short lesson. Students answer 3 critical thinking questions when activity is complete.

This virtual field trip allows students visit interactive websites geared to exploring the 4 types of fossils & what the ideal conditions are to create each type, view some prehistoric life forms specific to students' local geography, learn more about students' local paleo-environment and explore various time periods. This is a favorite among my students! If you like what you see and can use it with your students, PLEASE come back and leave me feedback. It would be very much appreciated! Tha

With this fun hands-on lab students will infer the presence of a static electric charge and they learn to understand and describe conduction. Students will build the detector using common household goods: a plastic cup, clay, a balloon, tin foil and a paper clip. Then they will test various materials to see if they produce static electricity. They will also be introduced to the concepts of attracting and repelling. Then students will use a rubber and a glass rod to further their understanding of

This lab drives home the importance of accurate record keeping, repetition & replication. Using inexpensive ingredients: borax, water, and white glue students will make slime. Students work in teams of 3-4, acting as a development team, this lab shows students a real-world application. Students will answer critical thinking lab questions after activity is completed.

This very fun lab allows students to work individually or in teams of up to 4. Students learn the 2 different methods to find volume of regular and irregular objects (LxWxH and water displacement method), what the meniscus is and how to take accurate measurements and use the correct units to express the answers. This is accomplished by having students rotate through various stations measuring differnt objects such as marbles, tacks, books, boxes, etc. If you like what you see and can use it wi

Observe the physical and chemical changes occurring in the process of making cheese. Students work in cooperative groups in this fun lab that includes critical thinking questions. Materials required are: Materials: 500mL Milk 50mL Vinegar 1 piece of Cheesecloth 1 pot 1 stirring spoon 2 beakers 1 thermometer 2 paper towels 1 pair of hot hands or oven mitts 1 pair of rubber gloves

A foldable is a 3-D paper student-created tool that allows kids to record and process new words and concepts in a hands-on, visual and kinesthetic way. This electricity Foldable will enhance the study of units commonly used with electricty: the ohm, volt and amp. After learners have been introduced to these concepts, you can facilitate the construction and application of this 3-d organizer. The only materials required are scissors, a glue stick and a piece of colorful construction paper. I tell

This amazingly fun and entertaining lab requires students to observe liquids of various densities & to determine how density affects the behavior of liquids. Students will classify and compare substances on the basis of characteristic physical properties that can be demonstrated or measured. The bubbling concoction is a clever mixture of lessons in density and chemistry by deomonstrating density along with a chemical reaction. This lab also requires students to use their critical thinking skills

This powerpoint lesson introduces students to types of variables and easy to learn ways to identify them as well as scientific ethics, analyzing data, data tables, graphing, how to write a hypthesis and the new "scientifc method". In addition, this powerpoint lesson provides students with many important notes. I follow up this lesson with my various labs on variables and graphing available here. This powerpoint gives them the necessary background information to do the labs. Created by Stephanie

This is a fun yet organized lab that takes about 50 minutes to determine which blood types can donate to each other & be received safely. The materials are pretty simple, eye droppers, a couple beakers, test tubes, water and food coloring.

This interactive manipulative is fun for students to create while learning and researching about Charles Darwin and his voyage on the Beagle. After creating this foldable, students may use it as a study guide.

This is a handout that students can use as a study tool and reference to help learn how to arrange formula problems for work, power and force. These "magic triangles" are the best tools I have for helping students learn how to set up their problems. They really are magic!