Light Absorbency

PDF

Checking and comparing the light absorbency of different pairs of sunglasses

1-PS4-3. Plan and conduct an investigation to determine the effect of placing objects made with different materials in the path of a beam of light

Our Heart Rate

PDF

Recording heart rate before and after exercise

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A Walk in the Park

PDF

Recording temperature changes at a city’s busy intersection and in a nearby park or garden

K-ESS2-1. Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time

Night and Day

PDF

Examining temperature and light changes over a full day

1-ESS1-2. Make observations at different times of year to relate the amount of daylight to the time of year

How Loud Is Sound?

PDF

Measuring the decay of sound level over distance

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The Temperature Around Us

PDF

Recording the temperatures of different substances

K-ESS2-1. Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time

What Is Distance?

PDF

Examining the relationship between speed, time, and distance, and exploring graphs of distance versus time

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Air Pressure

DOCX

Measuring the air pressure inside a plastic bottle

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All Charged Up

DOCX

Comparing the voltage and current output of different sized batteries

4-PS3-2. Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents

Conductors and Insulators

DOCX

Measuring the amount of electrical current flowing through different types of circuits

4-PS3-2. Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents

Coping with a Warm Environment

DOCX

Measuring environmental temperature and humidity

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Feel the Beat

DOCX

Recording heart rate before and after exercise using an ear clip sensor

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Make Your Own Battery

DOCX

Measuring the electricity produced by four different types of homemade batteries

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Right on Target

DOCX

Recording heart rate before and after exercise using an ear clip sensor and determining target heart rate

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Sources of Heat Other Than Sunlight

DOCX

Measuring heat created by mechanical and electrical sources

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Temperatures Around Us

DOCX

Measuring environmental temperatures from a variety of locations around the school

3-ESS2-1. Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season

The Sun’s Effects

DOCX

Measuring the temperatures of 10 different locations around the school yard

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Weather and Climate

DOCX

Measuring daily weather conditions including temperature, humidity, air pressure, and precipitation

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What’s the Weather Like Today?

DOCX

Measuring daily weather conditions—including temperature, humidity, air pressure, and precipitation—and comparing to measurements taken on other days

3-ESS2-1. Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season

What’s the pHuss

DOCX

Measuring the pH of a variety of substances

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A Walk in the Park

DOCX

Measuring ambient temperature and humidity to see how the presence of “green space” effects these parameters

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Do Seeds Metabolize?

PPTX

Measuring carbon dioxide production in seeds before and during germination

MS-LS2-3. Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem

HS-LS2-5. Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere

Mammalian Diving Reflex

PPTX | INK

Decreasing the heart rate when submerged in cold water to preserve body heat

MS-LS1-8. Gather and synthesize information that sensory receptors respond to stimuli by sending messages to the brain for immediate behavior or storage as memories

HS-LS1-3. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis

City Microclimate

PPTX

Measuring temperature and humidity in green areas and around urban areas

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Acid Rain

PPTX

Determining the pH of acid rain and understanding the effects of it

HS-ESS3-6. Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationships among Earth systems and how those relationships are being modified due to human activity

Beer-Lambert Law

PPTX

Measuring percentage transmittance of solutions at different concentrations

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Sweat Production

PPTX

Measuring temperature and humidity changes relative to perspiration

HS-LS1-3. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis

Our Heart Rate

PPTX

Measuring our heart rate at rest and after physical activity

HS-LS1-3. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis

Temperature Variation Between Night and Day

PPTX

Measuring thermal oscillation and luminosity during a full day

MS-ESS1-1. Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons

Photosynthesis

PPTX

Measuring air pressure inside an active photosynthetic system

MS-LS1-6. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms

HS-LS1-5. Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy

Photosynthesis—Dissolved Oxygen

PPTX

Measuring dissolved oxygen inside an active photosynthetic system

MS-LS1-6. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms

HS-LS1-5. Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy

Titration

PPTX

Using the technique of acid-base titration to find the concentration of a strong acid

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Endo/Exothermic Reactions

PPTX

Performing different measurements to examine which reactions release or consume heat

MS-PS1-6. Undertake a design project to construct, test, and modify a device that either releases or absorbs thermal energy by chemical processes.

HS-PS1-2. Construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, and knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties

Specific Heat

PPTX

Heating different liquids to the same temperature (70 degrees celcius) and comparing their individual cooling curves

MS-PS1-4. Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed.

HS-PS3-4. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that the transfer of thermal energy when two components of different temperature are combined within a closed system results in a more uniform energy distribution among the components in the system

Water Phase Changes

PPTX

Analyzing temperature changes in water as a result of a physical state transition

MS-PS1-2. Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred

HS-PS1-3. Plan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare the structure of substances at the bulk scale to infer the strength of electrical forces between particles.
HS-ESS2-5

Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes

Boyle’s Law

PPTX

Measuring air pressure in a closed container while verifying the relationship between air pressure and volume

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Liquid Conductivity

PPTX

Studying the relationship between dissolved ions and the conductivity of a saline water solution

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Beer-Lambert Law

PPTX

Measuring percentage transmittance of solutions at different concentrations

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Candle Flame

PPTX

Measuring the temperature of a flame according to the “three zones model”

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How Acidic Are the Things We Drink?

PPTX

Measuring the pH of different beverages

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How Does Atmospheric Pressure Vary?

PPTX

Measuring atmospheric pressure at different levels above sea level

MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions

Exploring Our Environment

PDF

14 hands-on environmental science experiments

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Water Quality

PPTX

Measuring and comparing the turbidity of different water sources and the effect on aquatic life

HS-ESS3-1. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, the occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity

UV and Sunblock

PPTX

Measuring and comparing the levels of ultraviolet radiation through different types of filters

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Cloud Detection

PPTX

Measuring infrared temperature from the environment to characterize the current weather

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Greenhouse Effect

PPTX

Using a greenhouse to model the effects of the atmosphere on Earth’s temperature

HS-LS2-7. Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity

Liquid Conductivity

PPTX

Studying the relationship between dissolved ions and the conductivity of a saline water solution

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Acid Rain

PPTX

Determining the pH of acid rain and understanding the effects of it

HS-ESS3-6. Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationships among Earth systems and how those relationships are being modified due to human activity

Variation of Light Intensity

PPTX | INK

Measuring the light intensity of different light sources

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City Microclimate

PPTX

Measuring environmental temperature and humidity in green areas and around urban areas

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Photosynthesis

PPTX

Measuring air pressure inside an active photosynthetic system

MS-LS1-6. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms

HS-LS1-5. Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy

Photosynthesis—Dissolved Oxygen

PPTX

Measuring dissolved oxygen inside an active photosynthetic system

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Temperature Variation Between Night and Day

PPTX

Measuring thermal oscillation and luminosity during a full day

MS-ESS1-1. Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons

Earth’s Magnetic Field

PPTX

Measuring the Earth’s magnetic field at a given location

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Newton’s Second Law

PPTX

Studying the behavior of a propelled car

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Elastic Pendulum

PPTX

Observing changes in the elastic force exerted by a spring acting as a pendulum

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Biot-Savart Law

PPTX

Studying the magnetic field intensity variations around an inducting coil

MS-PS2-3. Ask questions about data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces

HS-PS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that an electric current can produce a magnetic field and that a changing magnetic field can produce an electric current

Hooke’s Law

PPTX

Studying the elongation produced in springs

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Ohm’s Law

PPTX

Exploring Ohm’s law in parallel and series circuits

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Change in Momentum

PPTX

Demonstrating the conservation of momentum

MS-PS2-1. Apply Newton’s Third Law to design a solution to a problem involving the motion of two colliding objects.
HS-PS2-3. Apply scientific and engineering ideas to design, evaluate, and refine a device that minimizes the force on a macroscopic object during a collision

Speed of Movement

PPTX

Measuring the speed of a moving object in different situations

MS-PS3-2. Develop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system

HS-PS2-1. Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration

Free Fall

PPTX

Observing and analyzing the free fall motion of a bouncing ping pong ball

HS-PS2-4. Use mathematical representations of Newton’s Law of Gravitation and Coulomb’s Law to describe and predict the gravitational and electrostatic forces between objects

Lenz’s Law

PPTX

Verifying Lenz’s law by measuring the electric current flowing through a coil created by an external magnetic field

MS-PS2-5. Conduct an investigation and evaluate the experimental design to provide evidence that fields exist between objects exerting forces on each other even though the objects are not in contact

HS-PS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that an electric current can produce a magnetic field and that a changing magnetic field can produce an electric current

Boyle’s Law

PPTX

Measuring air pressure in a closed container while verifying the relations between air pressure and volume

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Sound Waves

PPTX

Recording sound waves and sound wave interference

HS-PS4-1. Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media

Variation of Light Intensity

PPTX | INK

Measuring the light intensity of different light sources

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Friction

PPTX

Investigating static and kinetic friction of a body on different surfaces

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Project GLOBE

DOCX

Build a student weather station at your school and use the Labdisc to collect ongoing data about the weather conditions in your area

Project Nest Box

DOCX

Collect data on light, humidity, sound, and temperature both inside and outside nesting boxes to find out what features make a birdhouse ideal

Turn Down the Noise

DOCX

Measure the impact of noise pollution in your community and share this information with community leaders to help make your school and community a better and healthier place

What’s It Like Out There?

DOCX

Include a Labdisc GenSci or Labdisc Enviro as part of the payload of a high-altitude, near-space weather balloon to record temperature, air pressure, sound, and GPS location during the balloon’s ascent and descent