Microscopes!

Kindergarten

Students use an exciting science tool - a microscope! We start this lab reading “What is Science” to give students an overview of what science is. Then students look tables, carpets, salt, pepper, sand and more.

STUDENTS LOVE

• Seeing amazing, surprising images of every day objects.

• Using a science tool.

STUDENTS LEARN

• That you can study all sorts of things in science.

• That scientists use tools to learn things.

• How to use a microscope!

Before the lab: look at these microscope images!

All About Air

Kindergarten

Relates to :
DCI: Earth's Systems

Students learn about air in this high energy class. Students watch cans get knocked over with a ball of air and watch a balloon fly around the room. They then get to knock down their own towers and other objects as they explore the power of air. Students then see how air can keep a piece of paper in a cup dry, even when the cup is submerged in water!

STUDENTS LOVE

• Watching cans get knocked over.

• Getting (gently) hit by balls of air.

• Moving items with air.

STUDENTS LEARN

• That air is SOMETHING

• That air takes up space

• That wind is made of moving air

STUDENTS LOVE

• Playing with cars

• Creating ramps of different heights and slopes.

• Creating creative mini-experiments.

STUDENTS LEARN

• About forces, pushes, pulls, and ramps.

• How ramps of different heights and slopes affect the speed of the car.

• How to make comparisons in investigations.

Before the lab watch and discuss pushes and pulls.

Waves of Sound

gRAde 1

DCI: Waves and their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer

A fun class which brings the abstract to life! In this class we study sound and the relationship between sound and movement. Using tuning forks, students make salt “magically” bounce on a salt-trampoline. But it’s not magic, it’s science! Students then explore how tuning forks and water interact, and think about how waves behave.

STUDENTS LOVE:

• Making salt bounce with sound

• Hearing the low sounds from large tuning forks

• Making a splash with a tuning fork and water

STUDENTS LEARN:

• To think about the relationship between sound and movement

• That sound can move things

• What sounds ARE (vibrations)

Science of Shadows

Grade 1: NGSS

DCI: Waves and their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer

Students experiment with light in this illuminating two-part lesson series! We start by reading Moonbear’s Shadow and students consider if Moonbear understands the science of shadows! Students then create shadows at their desk, and then on the "Shadow Wall" (a large sheet). Students study the changes in shadows with a near or far light source, a light source coming from different angles, or multiple light sources!

In the second lesson, students undergo an investigation on whether different materials can “block” light. Like the real scientists they are, students collect data!

STUDENTS LOVE:

• The "Shadow Wall"

• Colored lights

• Investigating like real scientists

STUDENTS LEARN:

• A shadow is created when light is blocked

• Some materials block light, others do not

• The basics of a scientific investigation

Spinning In Space

Grade 1: NGSS

DCI: Earth’s Place in the Universe

SEP: Developing and Using Models

Students learn about day-night cycles in this interactive class. We start with our sun-moon-earth apparatus to demonstrate how the space bodies move in relation to each other. Students then use flashlights and globes to see for themselves how day-night cycles occur. They get awesome “Earth Ponchos” and THEY become the model of the Earth. At the end of the lab, we show students our scaled planets so they can start to get a sense of the vastness of our solar system and universe!

STUDENTS LOVE

• Exploring day-night cycles with flashlights

• Wearing "Earth Ponchos" and acting as the Earth

• Seeing scaled planets

STUDENTS LEARN

• That the earth both spins (rotates) and revolves

• That the earth spinning causes day and night cycles

• That you can use many types of models to study a subject

Materials

Grade 2: NGSS

NGSS: Matter and Its Interactions

Lesson 1: Categorization with Buttons

Students consider properties of materials in a fun why, by playing a version 20 questions to identify particular buttons! Students spend time categorizing their buttons and justify their choices.

Lesson 2: Absorbing Water

Students conduct an investigation to determine how well various materials absorb water. They collect data and draw conclusions from their results.

Lesson 3: Watercolors Absorb

Students use their knowledge of which materials absorb and repel water to make beautiful artwork using watercolors and crayons.

STUDENTS LOVE:

• Playing “7 questions”

• Using water to test materials

• Making beautiful art

STUDENTS LEARN:

• How to categorize objects

• How to identify properties of materials

• How to collect data and conduct an investigation

Plants Growth & Seeds

Grade 2: NGSS

Ecosystems, interactions, Enrgy and Dynamics

Lesson 1: “Planting”

Students “plant” chia seeds in plastic bags and set up their experiments. Each pair sets up a control and experimental condition. Bags are placed on a board so students can watch the seeds sprout over the week.

Lesson 2: Results & Microscopes

Students observe their seeds after a week and see which seeds grew! Students record their results. They look at the sprouts along with unsprouted seeds through microscopes.

STUDENTS LOVE:

• “Planting” their seeds

• Looking at seeds and sprouts through a microscope

• Seeing which of their seeds grow!

STUDENTS LEARN:

• About plant and seed growth

• How to set up an experiment with controls

• What seeds and sprouts look like under a microscope

What Do You Need to Survive?

Grade 3

DCI: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

CCC: Patterns

STEAM! This class blends the sciences and the arts in a fun and creative way. Students learn about adaptations that help animals survive their different habitats. They are then assigned a habitat and a diet for their animal. Using recycled materials, students create their own imaginary animals with features that are best adapted to survive in this new environment.

STUDENTS LOVE:

• Learning about the unique ways animals have adapted

• Imagining their own creatures

• Using recycled materials to make art

STUDENTS LEARN:

• About common and uncommon adaptations

• To look for patterns in animal features and behaviors

• The fun of combining art and science

Thank you to Erin Pennell + ArtFORM for help developing the art portion of the lab.

Magnetic Forces

Grade 3: NGSS

DCI: Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions

Students learn all about magnets and magnetic force in this exploratory class. We first discuss forces in general, and students are then challenged to remove (magnetic) chips from a beaker with water without touching or pouring out the water. Students then see the power and usefulness of magnet with a "paperclip pick-up" demonstration. We move onto a magnet and paperclip "jump test" which is followed by "free-play" (this is one of our favorites!). For our final activity we discuss magnetic polarity, and how this causes "pushing" or "pulling", and students try to match attract/repel patterns of donut magnets on a pole. 

STUDENTS LOVE:

• Picking up items with magnets

• Discovering "magic tricks" and other tricks with magnets

• Watching donut magnets "levitate"

STUDENTS LEARN:

• The scientific definition of "force", and different types of forces

• That forces can work through air or other materials

• Properties of magnets

Electrical Forces   

Grade 3: NGSS

DCI: Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions

Kids learn all about electricity (with a focus on static electricity) in this SHOCKING class. We start with a cool "static stick" demonstration. Students then use wool to make a thin plastic "stick" to their desks. Students then have free exploration using PVC pipe, styrofoams balls, tinsel, tissue paper, ribbon, and other materials that may or may not be moved by a static force! Students write down their observations and questions - perhaps to be explored further after we leave!

STUDENTS LOVE:

• Watching a toy levitate

• Making plastic stick to their desk

• Investigating which objects can be moved with static force

STUDENTS LEARN:

• The definition of "force" and different types of forces

• That electrical forces can move through the air and can't be "seen"

• The types of materials that create and can be moved by static force