Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Topographical Maps, Contour Lines and Profiles
In this mapping field lab students determine the elevation of a given object in a designated area on the school campus using cartography tools. Then they use of these tools to create a contour map of the area.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Minnesota Fish Families
Students will be introduced to Minnesota Fish from their local area, then sort, identify, and classify fish using observations.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Schoolyard Field Guide and Flower Part Identification
For this activity, students observe plants in the schoolyard and record their observations and ideas in a science journal. They will learn the parts of a flower and make a detailed examination of a chosen part.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Describing Fall Leaves Through Words and Music
Students collect, describe, and sort leaves found outside. As a cross-curricular component, they will improvise on musical instruments in a way that they feel describes a dominant leaf characteristic.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Karst Topography and Connection to Se Minnesota Sinkholes
In this field investigation, middle schoolers will be able to observe, record, compare/contrast a variety of sinkholes located in the southeastern Minnesota area, including a significant one at the Harmony Karst Interpretive Site. The...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Geology of the Grand Canyon: Interpreting Its Rock Layers and Formation
Middle schoolers are challenged to interpret the rock layers and formation of the Grand Canyon, to discover what geologic processes took place to form the rock layers of the Grand Canyon.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Determination of Chlorophyll in Olive Oil Using the Vernier Spectrometer
In this activity, students investigate how much chlorophyll is in olive oil using a Varnier Spectrometer.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: What Factors Influence How Efficiently the Work of a Cell Is Carried Out?
In this biology simulation, students discover what factors influence the action of enzymes on cellular work. Students will first explore the action of enzymes through a simulation in which their hands are the enzyme "toothpickase" and...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Plant Succession Field Investigation
This lesson is to be used as an introduction to ecosystems and plant succession. Learners will observe both biotic and abiotic features of a selected site on a plot of wild land. They will take notes, make drawings, and collect samples...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Local Plant Growth: Structures and Functions
In this biology lab, students investigate structures and functions of local plants. Students will include a detailed drawing of their particular plant with labels and include functions of each of the plant structures.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Indentification of Earth Materials
Students identify the fossils and materials, and form a hypothesis as to how they were formed and what it was before preservation.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Exploration of Shadows: Earth, Moon, Sun System: Moon Phases Eclipses
A guided inquiry where middle schoolers participate in the simulation of moon phases and eclipses.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mini Lab: Investigating Gas Laws
In this activity, students investigate two gas laws: Charles and Boyle's. They will determine the relationship between gases and certain variables (temperature, volume and pressure), then watch a demonstration and determine what...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Acceleration and Velocity Through Walking Using Paces and Excel
This has been used for the physics portion of a ninth grade physical science course. This lab experience is designed to give students a conceptual sense of the relationship between one-dimensional distance, velocity and acceleration.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Views of the Universe: Telescopes, Starlight, Electromagnetic Spectrum
Students visit the websites of various world-renowned telescopes, view images of the universe, read how the images are made, and determine reasons for the different locations, different wavelengths of light detected, and general design...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Moon Phases: Making a Lunar Flipbook
After investigating the lunar phases as part of the Foss Kit on the Sun and the Moon, an additional activity would be to make a moon flip book to illustrate the different phases. Learners will cut out pre-printed pictures of the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Floating Foods and Underwater Eruptions: An Exploration of Density
Students explore the concept of density by investigating how several solids and liquids interact. Through hands-on activities and a teacher demonstration, they develop a greater understanding of density by using their observational...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Scientific Method and Variables
In this activity, learners are instructed to build a tower using kitchen sponges and toothpicks. They draw their tower in detail, then deconstruct it. Next they build it again using the drawing, but must change one variable, e.g., use a...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Batteries: Building an Electrolytic Cell
For this inquiry, students will attempt to build an electrolytic cell which will cause a bulb to turn on then diagram the set-up. Included in this lab, students will experience voltage, solve a problem using the Nernst equation, and...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Experimenting With Angular Diameter and Distance (Study of Outer Space)
In studying the solar system, students compare the relative sizes of the sun and the moon, and experiment with angular diameter, apparent diameter and distance.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Projectile Motion: Creating a Catapult
This lesson is for 9th grade physical science learners. It begins with an inquiry-based lesson using a projectile motion computer simulation. It culminates with students building a catapult; applying and connecting science knowledge from...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Exploring Freezing Point Depression Using Freeze Pops
This lab activity is used to introduce colligative properties in solutions, concentrating primarily on the effects of nonvolatile solutes on freezing point.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Proton Neutron Rotation and Nuclear Stability
In this activity, learners will review and investigate the stability of the nucleus of various elements and determine factors that affect that stability. Students will get an understanding of why certain nuclei are unstable and what type...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: The Microenvironment Project: Featuring Phenology
A field lab for biology that focuses students on the study of nature and its changes over time. Students are asked to observe and acquire knowledge of trees and the interdependence that a tree shares with other organisms.