Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Chlorine Chemistry: A Building Block of Matter
Students investigate physical and chemical properties of several chlorine compounds such as iron chloride, calcium chloride, and sodium chloride. The students will then discover that chlorine is one of the building blocks of matter and...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: A Tree for All Seasons
The students will observe a maple tree throughout the year and recognize changes in weather and phenology using their 5 senses.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Collecting and Identifying Rocks
Students investigate rocks in an outdoor field trip, and then place them into groups by characteristics. The different groups could be the size, shape, color, and texture of the rocks. After classifying, students are introduced to the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Intro to Chemistry Tools and Vocabulary Through Word Walls and Centers
In this activity, students will be exposed to introductory words along with names and pictures of tools in the chemistry classroom. They will be exposed to the vocabulary by looking at and reciting words from a slide show and then as a...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Le Chatlier's Principle: Determining Color of Nitrogen Dioxide
Students observe the effects of temperature change on the color of nitrogen dioxide and dinitrogen tetroxide by manipulating glass tubes containing the gases at equilibrium. Then, they write a balanced equation for the reaction and...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: A Study of Spider Webs
Many people do not like spiders and consider them pests. However, spiders provide a service to humans. They eat many of the insects that bother people. In this 7th grade life science activity, students will study 4-6 spider webs and...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Conservation of Momentum Using Rollerblades and a Medicine Ball
In this guided inquiry demonstration, a person on rollerblades and a medicine ball are used to teach the concept of conservation of momentum. Various sorts of collisions are used to show how momentum is conserved within a system.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Rock Layers and Fossils to Infer Past
This activity is an inquiry-based field investigation of the sedimentary geology of Lilydale Regional Park's brickyards area, a bluff and slope location near St. Paul Minnesota's Harriet Island and Cherokee Heights Park. Learners...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Analyzing P H: Comparing Citrus Fruits, Stain Removers and a Green Product
The students will analyze the pH of four citrus fruits: lime, lemon, orange, and a grapefruit, and then they will analyze the pH of four different types of stain removers: Shout Advanced, Spray 'n Wash Max, Oxi Clean Laundry, and Clorox...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Best Edible Model of a Cell Contest
Learners build a model of a cell using all edible materials. Students must do an oral presentation of the model.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Brine Shrimp Inquiry
In this lab, students will practice inquiry with some guidance. They will begin by observing brine shrimp that have hatched. They will formulate possible testable questions to investigate about brine shrimp. Then as a class they will...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigate Electric Circuits Through Construction and Illustration
In this physics lesson 4th grade students investigate electrical circuits in greater depth than the FOSS unit used in a prior grade in school. Students become familiar with a computer simulation allowing them greater choices of materials...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Characteristics of Enzymes & Factors That Affect Their Funct
By using inquiry skills, students will design and complete a lab investigation to gain an understanding of the concept of enzymes.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Bending Light
In this physics lab students will observe light bending as it enters a medium. Students will then be able to calculate the angle of the bent light and compare that with other students observations for like and different mediums.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Building a Protein
This hands-on activity is an assessment of the students understanding of peptide and disulfide bonds formed during protein synthesis, and the structure of an amino acid (R-group plus the common structure that all amino acids share)....
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Building 3 D Models of Atoms
Students build atoms of elements 1-20. The entire set can be hung from the ceiling in order of the Periodic Table to be referred to throughout the Chemistry class/unit. This is helpful when teaching bonding and patterns of the Periodic...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Calculating Air Resistance Using the Monte Carlo Method
Learners will use Vernier motion detector and Logger Pro software to first discover if air resistance of an industrial size coffee filter is a vtm or vt2m relationship (vt = terminal velocity). Once this relationship is found it will be...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Classifying Chemical and Physical Changes in Various Materials/substances
In this classroom lab, students will investigate the characteristics of a chemical change. Students will also provide a definition of what constitutes a physical change through observation of several examples. Students will use/create...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Do All Types of Lights Follow Ohm's Law?
In this physics lab students investigate whether Ohm's Law applies to common electric devices. Students submit their findings in a written report or class discussion.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Designing an Experiment to Test the Rate of Photosynthesis
Using spinach leaf disks, students measure the rate at which the photosynthesis process occurs. Students speculate on further investigations that could be done and discuss how the rate at which photosynthesis occurs has vast implications...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Building an Electromagnet
Students will demonstrate how an electric current can make an iron object magnetic by building an electromagnet with a steel nail, insulated wire, a simple switch, a battery/cell, and small metal washers. Students predict the number of...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: An Investigation Into Geologic Mapping: Quarry Park
In this geology field lab, students will map an area around Quarry 12 and Quarry 13 in Quarry Park. Using a field notebook, students will take field observations to later produce a basic geologic map, topographic map, and a...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Bumps and Buckles: A Lesson on Motion
In this physics lesson, the students will be learning that motion can be changed when a car goes down a ramp. By adding "speed bumps" in different lengths away from the ramp, they will observe what happens to their car. Students will...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Candle Drop
By using this discrepant event, students will be guided through an investigation using a burning candle in a jar. The teacher will hold a burning candle in a jar over his/her head. When dropped, the candle will extinguish when caught....