Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Discovering Plate Boundaries
A classroom activity designed to introduce students to the process of observing and classifying data, in addition to the fundamentals of plate tectonics.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Chesapeake Interactive Modeling Project
Understand the basic characteristics of circulation in the Chesapeake Bay, by allowing students to change the wind speed and velocity, and the freshwater forcing through a number of subestuaries, and observe the resulting surface height,...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: An in Class Experiment to Estimate Binomial Probabilities
This hands-on activity is appropriate for a lab or discussion section for an introductory statistics class, with 8 to 40 students. Each student performs a binomial experiment and computes a confidence interval for the true binomial...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Exploring Distributions and Graphs Using Cooperative Learning
Using cooperative learning methods, this lesson introduces distributions for univariate data, emphasizing how distributions help us visualize central tendencies and variability. Students collect real data on head circumference and hand...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Coke vs. Pepsi Taste Test: Experiments and Inference About Cause
The Coke vs. Pepsi Taste Test Challenge has students design and carry out an experiment to determine whether or not students are able to correctly identify two brands of cola in a blind taste test.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc:interactive Study: Laws of Conservation of Mass and Definite Proportions
Dalton's Playhouse is an interactive concept simulation meant to convey fundamental concepts in chemistry, including the law of definite proportions, the law of multiple proportions, and the law of conservation of mass.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Using Ph Et Simulations in High School Open Ended Pendulum Labs
These labs provide examples of using very open-ended questions to guide students in exploring a simulation and designing their own experiments. These labs can lead to a high level of quantitative thinking about data analysis.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Determining Bulk Density of Different Soil Samples and Data Analysis
A field based lab experiment where students work in groups to come up with a collection strategy and lab analysis to test differences in soil bulk densities. Students bring soil samples back to the classroom to conduct a test that...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Detect a Magnet's Field
In this physics lab students discover the invisible magnetic field where the magnet can exert its power to push or pull.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Minnesota River Valley Rocks: Outdoor Observational Investigation
In this investigation, young scholars will observe, record and compare the differing landscapes and rocks located at three sites along the MN River Valley.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Conservation of Mass Gum Lab
Students investigate whether or not chewing gum should be considered eating using the law of conservation of mass to reason that the portion lost of the original mass of gum must be swallowed.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Classroom Phenology: The Environment a Source of Data and Observations
A unit where students record daily temperatures, precipitation amounts, observations of weather patterns, shadow length of a set object, and other observations. In addition, they will complete a season-long weekly observation of a...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Acid Base Titration of an Eggshell
In this lab, students are scientists from the Department of Agriculture and presented with the problem that a farmer has brought to them. The farmer believes the problems are due to illegal dumping of PCB's and other chemicals that...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: A Rocking Walking Tour: Investigating Architectural Rocks in St. Paul, Mn
This is a guided inquiry field investigation in an urban setting. This investigation focuses on the identification of the rocks used on and in the buildings and other structures in downtown St. Paul, MN. The questions asked are based on...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Duckweed Bioassay
This lab was designed with the intent to mimic the effect fertilizers can have on plants in a lake or pond ecosystem. Students determine the effect different fertilizer concentrations have on the growth rate of duckweed plants, as...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Discovering Velocity Outside of the Classroom
A physics lab activity where students gather data from classmates running at different rates on a football field. They then share their gathered data and transfer it to a graphing program to ultimately calculate average velocity.
NOAA
Noaa: Ocean Explorer: Aerial Photography & Mapping Lesson Plan: Images of Katrina
This activity from NOAA Ocean Service is about using aerial photographs to assess the impact of extreme weather events such as Hurricane Katrina. The activity features aerial views of Biloxi, MS post-Katrina and enables students to see...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Buoyancy, Density, and Fluid Principles: Make Mini Submarine
In this lab, students will use the scientific method to design an experiment that explains how/why a submarine floats and sinks.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Design an Experiment Testable on 50 People Dealing With Your 5 Senses
Young scholars design an investigation about one of the five senses using the process of the scientific method.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Dissecting Soil
In this environmental field lab, students dissect soil to see what components makes up the soil.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Tree Identification: Compare and Contrast Deciduous and Evergreen Leaves
Students observe differences in tree leaves leading them to an understanding of the terms deciduous, evergreen, and coniferous. Children will compare and contrast leaves and then, viewing a chart key, use what they know to help them...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Comparing Two Leaves
Working in pairs, students compare and contrast two different types of leaves through observations.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Cloud Study Final Art Project
Students use home-made puffy paint to create clouds and correctly describe them.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Collection of Place Introduction to Biology
Students explore how much of the world involves biology and examine what areas of biology will be covered during a course. Students practice planning and group work skills.