Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities: Metric System Conversions
Using inquiry-based learning, students work in groups to devise metric conversion factors after analyzing example calculations. By finding inaccuracies in the problems given, students zero in on the correct methods of doing conversions.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Determining Interrelationships: Vegetation Type and Small Mammal Activity
Learners design proper field techniques to determine variation in plant distribution within a habitat, and then interpret data, write logical conclusions, while understanding the limitations of field data.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating the Rock Cycle Through Writing and Illustrating
In this writing and illustrating activity, students will be able to follow a simple rock cycle to follow the life of "Rocky the Rock". After investigating the rock cycle, students will then be able to illustrate the rock cycle, along...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Acids and Bases: Strong vs Weak
In this chemistry lab activity, students will study acids/bases before learning how titration data is used to determine an unknown concentration. It is an investigation of the pH curve and an assessment of student's understanding of...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Calculating the Effect of Mass, Length and Displacement
In this physics lab activity learners investigate how mass, length and angular displacement affect the period of a simple pendulum. Students control variables, testing one variable at a time, using manual techniques (stopwatch, human...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Paper Helicopters: Variables and Experimental Design
Introduce scientific design and variables through this simple lesson of building paper helicopters. Activity includes a link to a video on how to make helicopters.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating the Geologic Time Scale: Trends in Geologic Time
In this Earth Science indoor laboratory inquiry, students will create their own geologic time scale based on observation of teacher supplied, historically correct fossil data and also relevant rock samples with the age of the rock sample...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Water Quality Through Quantative and Qualitative Analysis
By looking at the bottom dwelling macroinvertebrates, students will investigate water quality and habitat quality in this field lab. Students will record the number of creatures found at the bottom of a pond, lake, ditch, stream or river...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Static Electricity: Creating Lightning on Much Smaller Scale
In this elementary science activity, learners will experiment with static electricity using balloons. After investigating how balloons attract and repel various objects, students will watch a simulation of static electricity to help gain...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating the Geologic History of Southeast Minnesota
This activity is an inquiry-based, earth science field investigation of the geology of southeast Minnesota. Students will make observations of rock outcrops and landforms in the region using maps, pictures, and field sampling, then use...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Se Mn Geology Incl Rock Layers, Fossils, and Karst Geology
Learners will work at a variety of hands-on learning stations to increase their knowledge of SE MN geology including rock layers, fossils and sink holes. They will also learn how Karst Geology impacts our water quality. Students will...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Kindergarten Inquiry: Investigating Leaves
Students will investigate leaves by using their five senses and journaling their findings in this lesson. Journal will record information in a matrix to enable students to see the how things are related.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating the Stories of the Land
In this biology field investigation, students will use observation skills to describe different types of terrestrial landscapes and compare them with one another. They will utilize these data in order to begin to put together the stories...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Newton's 3rd Law: Coin Flick
In this elementary physics investigation, students explore Newton's 3rd Law of Motion: To every action there is an equal & opposite reaction. Pairs of students will line up 5 pennies, (touching each other), between 2 rulers. The row...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Motion: Understanding Frame of Reference
In this lab activity, learners investigate the concept of frame of reference by observing, describing and drawing the same walking motion from different positions. Additionally, they determine the effect of frame of reference on the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Physical and Chemical Properties of Water
In this lesson students will understand the difference between chemical and physical properties by studying the properties of water. Students will also understand how to perform the different laboratory techniques that go along with the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Rocks: Seeing Your School's Area
In this earth science lab, middle schoolers will find, identify, and create a visual presentation of the rocks that are found around their school. They will determine the mass, volume, density, color, texture, and hypothesize what each...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Periodic Trend Game: Learning to Predict Elements Using Periodic Trends
An activity to introduce the periodic table and the trends. Students will understand the organization of the periodic table with this game.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigation of a Mealworm
A lab activity where students make observations about mealworms to form questions and decide what direction their investigation will take. While studying mealworms, students will choose a variable to change to observe changes to the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Magnetism
In this physical science lab, students will investigate ways to control an electromagnet, how adding coils of wire can change the magnet, and the differences between an electromagnet and a bar magnet. Students will explain in their...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Oranges How Many Sections Are Inside?
In this biology investigation students will be asked to attempt to determine how many sections exist in an orange without having peeled it. Students will work in small cooperative groups. Each group will be able to use a small magnifying...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Motion Graphing Speed
In this introduction to motion activity, students will get a personal understanding of speed and acceleration by experiencing it firsthand. Wheeled office chairs or other cart like devices are used to give one student a ride as a fellow...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Soil Acidity: Comparing P H and Buffering Capacity of Soils
As part of acid rain study, (environmental chemistry lab) students investigate the differences in pH of soil samples. They will collect and dry samples from the local prairie including grassland, transition, forest and riverbank and...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating the Water Quality of the Root River in Lanesboro, Mn
This field investigation will be in collaboration with Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro, MN link to Eagle Bluff. It will include chemical, biological, and physical tests. The chemical tests will include kits where...