Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Classification: Minnesota Vertebrates
This lesson serves as an introduction to classification. The students will place animals into its proper vertebrate group according to certain characteristics that the animals have in common.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Maximizing Kinetic Energy: An Investigation Using Marbles
Using marbles to construct a marble run, students will learn about projectile motion, kinetic energy, potential energy, final velocity, and forces.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Buoyant Force
In this Physics lab, students learn about Archimedes' Principle. An object is submerged in water and vegetable oil and the buoyant force and height are measured at different levels. The slope of the graph Buoyant Force vs. Height is the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating River Flow: Calculating the Discharge of a Stream
Before going to the stream students will need to understand depth, velocity and discharge. Students will at first be given minimal instruction and no materials. Students will be asked to try and decide the velocity and depth in order to...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Measuring Discharge and Flow in the Rum River
Students will travel to a small stream and make predictions regarding stream discharge at the point bar and cut bank. They will make conclusions about how velocity affects erosion and discharge.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Popping Up Some Fun!
In this hands-on activity, students will investigate the properties of popcorn and discover what makes popcorn pop. They will compare popped and unpopped corn and hypothesize about why popcorn pops, discovering that popcorn pops because...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Local Stream Discharge
This activity's purpose is to introduce hydrology to eighth grade middle schoolers by investigating stream discharge of a local stream. The students will make observations about the stream, determine the velocity and discharge of the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Color of Salts Flame Test
This laboratory exercise is designed to introduce students to salts and their unique color given off while burned. Students will obtain several salt solutions to observe the color of flame when burned.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Charles' Law and Ivory Soap
With this activity students will observe and record the properties of various types of bar soap. They will discover that due to the ingredients some soaps are denser than others, and ivory soap will actually float. Students will see a...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Critter Catalog Creating a Field Guide to Minnesota Animals
Using communication skills, research skills, and thinking skills the students collaboratively create a field guide to Minnesota Animals.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: How Can You Speed Up Mixing?
Students investigate mixtures and how they are formed, and then predict which factors increase the rate of mixing a sugar cube in water.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Examining Topography Stream Discharge Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
Students problem solve stream discharge by estimating, measuring, and collecting data. Students graph actual contour lines, and use these measurements to hypothesize stream discharge and sediment load from a restored wetland using a dry...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Water Color Mixing
In this classroom lab activity, students will experiment with mixing the primary colors together: red, yellow, and blue, to determine what new colors may be observed.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Changes in a Monarch's Life Cycle
Students will observe and work with monarch larva. Once they have experienced the life cycle we will go outside to observe milkweed and identify the stages of monarch that are seen on the plant. Back inside the classroom we will discuss...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Freezing and Phase Change: How Do You Make Ice Cream?
Students will be expanding a study of phase changes after experiences with exploration of the three phases of matter. They apply what they have learned through freezing water and create a tasty ice cream treat.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Liquids: Color Changing Milk
In this chemistry lab, the learners will investigate what happens to the liquids: milk and food coloring, when dish soap is placed on a Q-tip and then put into the solution.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Sinking Water: Glaciers, Ocean Currents and Weather Patterns
A lesson where learners learn how warm water is less dense than cold water, and what this means for global climate change as ice from the polar regions melts. Students will do experiments in buoyancy and water density when hot or cold,...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Chromatography: Selecting Variables
In this lab, learners will demonstrate observation skills as they design an experiment to separate colors of various water-based pens in order to learn about mixtures and solutions. Students will determine a variable to test and complete...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Environmental Education: Reading Poetry Fluently
Student groups prepare and present a reading of the poem "Our Big Home: An Earth Poem." Adding impact to the cooperative group work, learners use a variety of word study strategies to more deeply understand its vocabulary and the message...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Birds: How Do We Increase the Bird Population at Our School?
This is a lesson of how to improve our environment as well as how to enjoy it. The learners will sit in the schoolyard, study pictures of birds and then compile similarities and differences. Students will observe live birds in the yard...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Radioactive Dating: Looking at Half Lives Using M&ms
In this activity, students gain a better understanding of radioactive dating and half-lives by using M&Ms to demonstrate the idea of radioactive decay. They will be able to see how scientists can determine the age of rocks by looking...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Geologic History Field Investigation Minnehaha Falls
An inquiry-based geology field investigation where middle schoolers investigate sedimentary geology, stream processes, topography, rock layers, and land surface features as well as study past changes in the depositional environment in...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Air Resistance
In this lab, students will investigate what factors affect air resistance while introducing gravity and other forces.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Motion: Speed of Automobiles
In this activity, students will determine the speed of a moving vehicle using a stopwatch and meter stick, then convert the measurement from meters/sec to miles/hr. After completing this activity, students should understand average...