Less than $5 6th Grade Laboratory (by date, oldest first)

One "mini" lab that will help students observe and make connections that energy cannot be created or destroyed.

These short activities reinforce or introduce concepts to students. I call these activities “mini labs” because they are simple activities that do not take the whole class period. They are also activities that are safe for use in the classroom and do not have to be done in a lab or with any specialty equipment or materials.

Materials Needed

• 1-1.5 m length of string
• Pencil with an eraser
• Meter stick
• Level
• Pendulum Bob (I have substituted a fishing weight or mass with a hook when I did not have these available in my lab)
• Nail or hook above whiteboard (A 3M hook is great for this, no tools needed to install and does not hurt the walls!
• Whiteboard/Chalkboard (I have also used large sheets of paper on the wall for multiple stations)

For Middle School this supports or extends NGSS: MS PS3-5

For High School this supports MS PS2-2

Distance learning or need a digital copy to assign?

• No problem! This activity now includes a Google Slides options! Ready to go, no prep needed from you!

Three Forms of Use Included

1. Printable PDF
2. Google Slides

3 "mini" labs -or shortened activities- to reinforce or introduce concepts to students. These are simple activities that do not take the whole class period. Each activity is meant to help support the following concepts.

• Organism specialization
• Stored energy in plants/producers
• Specialized reproduction of fungi

Packet comes with the following:

Organism races: Teacher Guide & Student Handout (MS-LS1-2)

Plant Stored Energy: Teacher Guide & Student Handout (MS-LS1-7)

Fungi and Spores: Teacher Guide & Student Handout (MS-LS1-4)

Materials needed per group set up:

Organism Races: 20 paper clips, 2 pieces of paper, 1 pencil

Plant Stored Energy: Potato pieces, celery pieces, pear pieces, 3 clear plastic cups, iodine solution, eye dropper

Fungi and Spores: Fresh mushrooms (store bought) sharp knife, clear plastic cup, white paper, hand lens

MS-LS1-7: Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function.

MS-LS1-7: Develop a model to describe how food is rearranged through chemical reactions forming new molecules that support growth and/or release energy as this matter moves through an organism.

MS-LS1-4 : Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.

One "mini" lab that will help students observe and make connections that all objects have energy, even when they are not moving.

Materials Needed

Plastic Bowl

Sand

Assorted rocks and pebbles

Ruler

These short activities reinforce or introduce concepts to students. I call these activities “mini labs” because they are simple activities that do not take the whole class period. They are also activities that are safe for use in the classroom and do not have to be done in a lab or with any specialty equipment or materials. I often use these demonstrations to lead into new content, that way as we cover material I can refer back to the things that my students have experienced first hand.

Distance learning or need a digital copy to assign?

• No problem! This activity now includes a Google Slides options! Ready to go, no prep needed from you!

Three Forms of Use Included

1. Printable PDF
2. Google Slides

Can be used to support NGSS: MS-PS3

FOUR "mini" labs -or shortened activities- to reinforce or introduce concepts to students. I call these activities “mini labs” because they are simple activities that do not take the whole class period. They are also activities that are safe for use in the classroom and do not have to be done in a lab or with any specialty equipment or materials. I often use these demonstrations to lead into new content, that way as we cover material I can refer back to the things that my students have experienced first hand.

This particular lab focuses on introducing the following concepts:

Matter Takes Up Space

Two Substances Form a Mixture

Density and Volume

Change of State

(Indirectly the Properties of Matter)

Includes: teacher information, materials list, procedures, helpful tips for facilitating the activities and student handouts/lab sheets

Materials needed for these Mini Labs:

Balloons, Cups, Water, Sugar, Clay, Small Bowls, Paper Towels, Stopwatch, Chocolate Coated Candies

One "mini" lab -or shortened activity- to reinforce or introduce concepts to students. I call these activities “mini labs” because they are simple activities that do not take the whole class period.

This particular lab focuses on the observation of two chemical changes and reinforces or introduces the signs that a chemical change has taken place.

Includes: teacher information, materials list, procedures, helpful tips for facilitating the activities and student handouts/lab sheets

Materials Needed:

Graduated cylinder

Water

2 clear plastic cups

2 eye droppers

Iodine solution

Cornstarch or Potato Starch

Spoon

Vitamin C tablet (Orange Juice Concentrate can be subbed)

MS-PS1-2: Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred.

One "mini" lab that will help students observe and make connections that particles in matter move faster at high temperatures than at low temperatures

These short activities reinforce or introduce concepts to students. I call these activities “mini labs” because they are simple activities that do not take the whole class period. They are also activities that are safe for use in the classroom and do not have to be done in a lab or with any specialty equipment or materials. I often use these demonstrations to lead into new content, that way as we cover material I can refer back to the things that my students have experienced first hand.

Distance learning or need a digital copy to assign?

• No problem! This activity now includes a Google Slides options! Ready to go, no prep needed from you!

Three Forms of Use Included

1. Printable PDF
2. Google Slides

Materials needed:

-Two cups

-Hot water

-Cold water

-Eyedropper

-Food Coloring

-Colored Pencils

Bring the holiday spirit into your science classroom with this engaging and educational “Christmas Candy Science” lesson pack! Perfect for middle school students, these hands-on experiments use festive candies to explore key scientific concepts aligned with NGSS and Tennessee state standards.

Students will love the festive twist on classic science experiments. This is the perfect activity to do the weird days right before Winter break when students are often absent! Each experiment is designed to reinforce important scientific principles and includes clear instructions to make it easy to implement these activities in your classroom.

Included Experiments:

• Candy Cane Dissolution Experiment
• Skittles Color Diffusion
• Chocolate Melting Point
• Gummy Bear Osmosis
• Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Inflation

Includes:

• Teacher tips and directions for each lab
• Materials list
• Student lab worksheets and data recording sheets
• Beautiful Winter themed slides to keep yourself and student on task

NGSS Middle School:

• MS-PS1-2: Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred
• MS-PS1-4: Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed
• MS-LS1-2: Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function

Tennessee State Science Standards:

• MS.PS1.4: Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed
• MS.LS1.2: Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function

Practice the difference between structure and function and bring the excitement of Halloween into your classroom with this engaging and educational lesson plan! Perfect for middle school science classes, this lesson aligns with NGSS and Tennessee State Science Standards, making it a valuable addition to your curriculum.

In this hands-on activity, students will dissect and compare the structures of candy corn and real corn kernels. Through observation, discussion, and a taste test, students will explore the differences between natural and artificial products, and learn about the functions of various seed parts.

Key Concepts Covered or Practiced:

• Practicing making observations and differentiating between structure and function
• Structure and function of seed parts
• Sensory observation and descriptive language

Lesson Includes:

• Lesson Plan Slides: Instructions and tips to guide you through the lesson.
• Lab Worksheet: A comprehensive worksheet for students to record their observations and reflections.
• Slides Presentation: A visually appealing presentation to enhance your lesson and keep students engaged.

Add a Sweet Twist to Your Science Lessons! Make learning memorable with this unique lesson that blends education and fun. Your students will love the opportunity to explore science concepts while enjoying a tasty treat.

NGSS and Tennessee State Standards:

• NGSS MS-LS1-4 and Tennessee 6.LS1.3: Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.

Looking for a ready to go made lesson for ocean density and salinity? This activity include:

• slides presentation to present to students.
• lab/demonstration directions for students and teachers
• handout for student lab worksheet

Great for homeschool or school setting! Videos are included!

Tennessee State Standards

• 6.PS3.4 - Conduct an investigation to demonstrate the way that heat (thermal energy) moves among objects through radiation, conduction, or convection.
• 6.ESS2.1 - Gather evidence to justify that oceanic convection currents are caused by the sun’s transfer of heat energy and differences in salt concentration leading to global water movement.
• 6.ESS2.3 - Construct an explanation for how atmospheric flow, geographic features, and ocean currents affect the climate of a region through heat transfer.

NGSS - Middle School

• MS-ESS2-6 - Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.

Unlock the mysteries of ocean currents with a unique and engaging classroom lesson that brings science to life! This lesson uses adorable rubber ducks to illustrate how ocean currents function and impact the planet. Great for visual and kinesthetic learners.

Looking for a inquiry based investigation ready to go lesson for teaching ocean currents? This activity includes...

• Google slides to go through with students.
• Student handout link
• Tips in the Speaker notes on the Slides
• Exit ticket to assess learning
• Rubber ducks!

Tennessee State Standards

• 6.ESS2.1 - Gather evidence to justify that oceanic convection currents are caused by the sun’s transfer of heat energy and differences in salt concentration leading to global water movement. 

NGSS - Middle School

• MS-ESS2-6 - Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.

Very fun and interactive activity for students learning about ocean currents and density.

Test your density skills with this fun gummy bear lab!

Do you want to raise awareness for those in wheelchairs? How do you do that in an engineering class? You find instances where ADA is not being followed and you have your students design a new entry way in CAD! That's what this lesson is all about!! Students are made aware of a local building that does not meet ADA requirements and the owner is being sued. Your students work for an engineering firm. They must, first, research the law. Then they design a new entry way that meets ADA requirements.

This lesson includes:
Student Handout
Graphic Organizer
PowerPoint presentation
Google SketchUp rendering of the building front

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Students will use a chair, a board and car with interchangeable wheels (like a LEGO or K-Nex car) to examine the affects of the inclined plane. Students will run experiments, collect data, and do mathematical calculations including mechanical advantage to complete the activity.

The Packet includes:

Materials List

Procedures Instructions

Data Collection Table

Debrief Sheet

Are you looking for an introductory activity to Coding that can easily be upgraded to extensive coding or robotic programming? This will activity will take you step by step to creating a "city" in EXCEL (we actually recreated the city that we built in our classroom, but you can just create it in EXCEL) and then shows you how to CODE out of the city. With the help of snip tools and pens, you have numerous coding challenges for Warm-Ups or Coding Extensions. Since we actually built the city, students applied what they coded to actual programs on the robots. It was a great experience!!

Simple machines have been the building blocks of more complex machines throughout the years. The gear is one of the most fundamental of the simple machines. Gears can help transfer power, increase or decrease speed and/or power, and change the direction of movement by simply working together.

Your students can experience gears through this activity as they build FOUR different gear sets .

1. Understanding how connected gears affect direction.

2. Compound Gear Train - gear input and output on the same side of a wall

3. Reverted Gear Train - input and output gears on same plane, but not directly connected

4. Large Gear Train - demonstrates Mechanical Advantage and directions of gears

Student Friendly! Easy to follow build directions!

ZIP File includes Student Handout and Teacher Answer Key

Here's a LEGO robot that I designed using the LEGO NXT robotics kit. It's a quick build for a single class period activity! SIX EASY STEPS!! The beauty of a quick build like this is a quick break down and put away at the end of class!

THis VIDEO Project helps students to answer, "Where will I ever use this?" The project encourages students to look at how they use Math in their daily lives - at home, at school, on the ball field, where ever they go. They gather pictures of math related items and create a short video explaining how they use math with each item. My students have alway found this so enlightening... fun, too!

Here is a quick introduction to Excel. Students gather birth dates of classmates and use the information to learn some of Excel's basic offerings.

UPDATED to Win10 Excel

This scientific method can be used for any grade! It helps students work through a note taking process and practice putting the scientific method in order for the steps and through examples. Students can also create their own experiment to practice putting the steps in order!

This is great for visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners! After this, students can create and practice these steps through an experiment!

What's included:

• Guided Notes
• Vocabulary Words with visuals, definitions, and vocabulary
• Scientific Method Practice
• Scientific Method Review
• Experiment Creator Steps
• Answer Key

Looking to engage your students in an exciting hands-on science experiment? Dive into the fascinating world of earth science with our Stream Table Lab resource.

Watch as your students become geologists in action, simulating natural phenomena right in the classroom!

What you'll get:

• Detailed instructions for setting up and conducting the experiment
• Materials list for easy preparation
• Discussion questions to deepen understanding

Empower your students to think like scientists as they observe, analyze, and draw conclusions from their observations. Spark curiosity and inspire learning with this engaging Stream Table Lab!