Thurb's Science Store
29 Followers
Brownsburg, Indiana, United States
About the store
I have been teaching middle school science for 10 years. I was recently hired by Brownsburg Schools, which is the top district in our state. I have taught inquiry, physics, chemistry, biology, earth and environmental science.
My goal with this TPT page is to provide hands-on lab-based activities that are easy for you to purchase, set up and complete with your students. Engagement is the name of the game for me and I hope your kids enjoy the activities as much as mine have over the years.
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How easily do diseases spread? Lab activity
Show your kids how diseases like the flu or common cold are passed by facilitating this fun activity.
Each student is given a dixie cup filled with water. One of the cups has mix of cornstarch and water in a diluted solution. *note - you want there to be just enough cornstarch so that the water isn't cloudy. I also use white plastic cups as opposed to paper.
You instruct students to exchange liquids by pouring the water back and forth between their cups a couple of times.
They repeat this p
2nd - 12th
Biology, Forensics, Physical Education
Frog Dissection Differentiated Stations
Looking for a fun and engaging way to introduce your frog dissection unit? Need a way to review or extend your student's knowledge of your frog or amphibian unit? **NOTE: This is a set of investigative differentiated stations about amphibians and the body parts of the frog. This is not a dissection lab. Give these differentiated investigation stations a try. Students will review and research diagrams, watch a movie clip, read an article, organize the body parts and even create their own questio
5th - 12th
Biology, General Science, Science
Also included in: Frog Dissection Activities Bundles
Frog Hospital
Looking for a new way to introduce your frog dissection unit? Give the Frog Hospital a try.
For years, I was introducing frogs by verbally giving two days of notes. Lets be honest, the kids checked out 10 minutes into day one.
This activity gets kids up out of their seats and collaborating in a mock hospital environment.
Students in each class are put into groups of 3 - 4. Each group is assigned one of the "departments" that is attached. Each "department" page contains information about tha
6th - 12th
Biology, Science
Also included in: Frog Dissection Activities Bundles
Frog Dissection Activities Bundles
I have combined my frog investigation stations, frog envelope hunt, frog hospital project, and frog "I have who has" activity into this frog dissection bundle. All of these activities can be completed a week to a week and a half before you dissect. These activities provide a fun and engaging way for students to explore frogs as you prepare for dissection. Save $5 by ordering the bundle. *Bundle does not include actual frog dissection lab. Activity descriptions: Frog envelope hunt:This fun and
5th - 12th
Biology, General Science, Science
Why we use metrics? Lab activity
This activity shows students why the majority of the world uses the metric system. They use a random object to measure objects around the room. That object then becomes their "measurement unit". For example, if you measure a desk with a toothpick, they may say the desk is 34 and a half toothpicks long. Then, I have them compare their measurements with people around the room. They find out that this is very chaotic and that you can't convert measurements with others. So, we have a standard system
2nd - 12th
General Science, Measurement
Accuracy and Precision Bean Bag Toss Lab
Looking for a fun and interactive way to teach accuracy and precision? Grab some bean bags, hula-hoops and head outdoors with your kids. Students will test their accuracy and precision by tossing bean bags into a hula-hoop from 1 meter, 3 meters and 5 meters. Students will record their data on the answer sheet and analyze their data with the students in their group. What students will learn in this activity: The definition of accuracy and precision How to write a hypothesis, analyze
4th - 12th
General Science, Math, Science
Metric Measuring Scavenger Hunt
Individually or with partners, students measure objects around the classroom. I prefer doing this activity as a review to measurement or as an introduction to the metric/measurement unit. This activity is typically introduced the second week of school, which allows students to not only learn content, but also the opportunity to get to know one another.
*Note: I also have a number of introductory activities that allow students to get to know each other. (Surveys, scavenger hunts and games). The
1st - 12th
General Science, Measurement
Engaging Science Activities for 21st Century Learners Bundle 1 of 3
ENGAGE YOUR STUDENTS IN SCIENCE!!!
This is part 1 of a 3 part bundle of engaging science activities for your scienctific method unit. These activities are designed for elementary school, but also have been adapted for the middle school setting as well. With VERY EASY to follow procedures, these activities allow your students to hypothesize, observe, experiment, graph and conclude. These activities have everything you need to teach the nature of science to elementary and scientific inquiry to mi
2nd - 8th
Basic Principles, General Science, Science
Metric and Measurement Station Lab
This activity allows students to get up and move around the room to measure basic everyday objects. Challenge your older students to convert the measurements to the units that are listed using the metric system. Great half hour activity for all types of learners.
4th - 12th
General Science, Measurement
Engaging Science Activities for 21st Century Learners Bundle 2 of 3
This is part 2 of a 3 part bundle of engaging science activities for your scienctific method unit. These activities are designed may be used for elementary school students, but also have been adapted for the middle school setting as well. With VERY EASY to follow procedures, these activities allow your students to hypothesize, observe, experiment, graph and conclude. These activities have everything you need to teach the nature of science to elementary and scientific inquiry to middle school stu
2nd - 9th
Basic Principles, General Science, Science
Engaging Supplemental Activities 3 of 3
ENGAGE YOUR STUDENTS IN SCIENCE!!!
This is part 3 of a 3 part bundle of engaging science activities for your scienctific method unit. These activities are designed for elementary school, but also have been adapted for the middle school setting as well. With VERY EASY to follow procedures, these activities allow your students to review the scientific process. These activities have everything you need to teach the nature of science to elementary and scientific inquiry to middle school students.
1st - 10th
Basic Principles, General Science, Science
First Day Ice Breaker Activity
This is a great activity for the first week of school. Students not only learn where everything is located around your classroom, but they also get to know each other in the process. This is a fun community building activity. I have found that it encourages students to communicate, which is an important skill in my science classroom. I have uploaded this as a WORD document for easy editing to fit the needs of your classroom. Enjoy.
4th - 12th, Adult Education, Higher Education
For All Subjects, Science
Fun with Microscopes
Allow your students to explore the micro-world as they make observations using microscopes. In this lab, they will work with partners to draw photos with the naked-eye, at 4x, 10x and 40x magnification. This activity can be used as basic practice for little ones, for middle school students or even homeschoolers who may have a microscope. My kids really enjoy it.
For extra fun, have them tear off a piece of a plant and observe it under the microscope.
3rd - 9th
Biology, General Science, Science
Scientific Method Vocabulary Worksheets (Bundle)
Students will complete a series of vocabulary worksheets to learn the terms used throughout your scientific method unit. I prefer using these worksheets for reinforcement, to learn vocabulary, for enrichment and to complete as a class. **Answer keys INCLUDED ***Terms included in these worksheets Constants Analysis Control Group Procedures Problem Variable Research Data Independent Variable Dependent Variable Hypothesis Qualitati
4th - 12th
General Science, Other (Science), Science
Scientific Method Vocabulary Matching Worksheet
Students will complete a vocabulary matching worksheet to learn or review the terms used throughout your scientific method. I prefer using this worksheet as a quiz to assess where student's knowledge of our scientific method unit. This could also be given as a review worksheet before a vocabulary quiz or could be used for enrichment for those students who finish early. **Answer key INCLUDED. ***Terms included in this matching worksheet Constants Analysis Control Group
4th - 12th
General Science, Science, Vocabulary
Also included in: Scientific Method Vocabulary Worksheets (Bundle)
The Bubble Lab
Who doesn't enjoy blowing bubbles? This two to three day lab activity is a fun and engaging way to wrap up your scientific method unit. Students will test three different types of soap to see which brand blows the biggest bubbles. They will blow 10 large bubbles on the table and measure the diameter of the residue circle once they have popped. I have included teacher check points to make grading as they go a breeze. In this lab, students will Read background informationWrite a hypothesisExperi
4th - 12th
General Science, Other (Science), Science
Am I Living? Lab
Pick a variety of 10 random items. Make sure that some are living and some are not living. Below is an example of the list that I use:
Myself
Shine a flashlight
Rock
Apple (picked)
Kleenex
I spray lysol spray
Living plant in my room
Expo Marker
Pepper (picked)
A virus
Students record in the data table whether they believe the item is living, nonliving or if they are not sure. Once they have guessed each item, I go over the answers.
This activity allows students to learn what makes something
1st - 9th
Anatomy, Biology, Science
One a penny, two a penny, three a penny, more....
An old classic! Students will use the scientific method to test four liquids (tap water, soapy water, soda and soapy soda). This lab requires pennies, beakers, eye droppers, 2liters of pop and dish soap.
This activity is a great way to have your students create a hypothesis, carry out an experiment, record and analyze their data and graph their results. They will wrap it up by writing a conclusion. This lab can take anywhere from 45 - 60 minutes. I usually print off a student copy and have stu
1st - 11th
Basic Principles, General Science, Science
Outdoor Qualitative and Quantitative
Sometimes you just have to get outside and take the kids for a hike. This activity is a great way for students at the lower level to use their observation skills to view the world around them. For older students, it allows them to also differentiate between qualitative and quantitative observations.
1st - 9th
Science
Characteristics of living things Graphic Organizer
This graphic organizer for the characteristics of living things can be adapted to all levels. For younger grades, I recommend printing it in color, laminating it and allowing your class use an expo marker to fill it out. They could then post or share with the class what they believe living things are. For higher grades, I would print it out as a note guide and explain the characteristics of living things to them. For example, when I do this as a note guide, I scare my kids and we talk about how
1st - 12th
Biology, General Science, Science
Showing 1-20 of 34 results
About the store
Experience
I have been teaching middle school science for 10 years. I was recently hired by Brownsburg Schools, which is the top district in our state. I have taught inquiry, physics, chemistry, biology, earth and environmental science.
My goal with this TPT page is to provide hands-on lab-based activities that are easy for you to purchase, set up and complete with your students. Engagement is the name of the game for me and I hope your kids enjoy the activities as much as mine have over the years.
Teaching style
I am a collaborative facilitator. Kids learn best when they are up and moving around, communicating and problem solving with each other and are excited about the learning. HOWEVER, we also understand that this doesn't appeal to every learning type. So, I typically create activities in a unit that differentiate and allow each student in the class to leave with something. I do not give notes and we rarely work out of the book. Through collaboration and exploration, my students have excelled and have come to understand and enjoy science.
Awards & shining teacher moments
HSE Top 25 Educator
Student-athlete teacher appreciate awards
-too many to count.
My own education history
I attended Ball State University (a college originally opened to educate teachers). I also have several post-grad classes taken through Indiana Wesleyan University.
Additional biographical information
I want this to be as simple as possible for you. I know how busy we can all get. If you ever have any questions, please let me know.
Purchase --> Print --> Copy --> Explain and have fun.
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