Parachutes!

PARACHUTE RACE LAB
To try this simple and fun lab...

Ask your students to bring in one plastic shopping bag and one penny for homework.

Purpose of the Lab:

To see if the size of the parachute affects the time it takes for the parachute to fall.

Lab Materials:

*penny

*string

*plastic bag

*marker

*ruler

*scissors

*tape

*timer

Procedures:

PART I:

Pairs of students will create two parachutes (1 large & 1 small).

PART II:

Test the parachutes, recording the data in the table and calculating the averages.

PART III:

Complete the analysis and conclusion.

I have done this lab about 15 times (thanks to block scheduling!) and each group of students have enjoyed it every time.  It is a good lab to practice following lab procedures, working collaboratively with a partner, and recording/analyzing data.  Finding the average of the drops to allow you to compare is a good math connection.

Disclaimer:  I warn you to do the "parachute drops" (PART II) inside rather than outside.  I have tried and tried again to have the students drop the parachutes outside, but every. single. time. I've tried, the wind (even a slight breeze) has affected the results.

Check out the three page lab and one page teacher guide HERE.

Exercise and Respiration

LAB REPORT CO2

Today's lab is one of my faves!!

It was their first time seeing an indicator. 

AND the lab really works.  

PRE-LAB:

After a mini-lesson on respiration. And a review of information using brain pop....

The students head to the lab for my CO2 Lab. 

PART I: 

The students time how long it takes for the Bromythyl Blue solution (a CO2 indicator) to change from blue to yellow (due to the CO2 in their exhaling) by blowing bubbles in the container using a straw. (seen above)

Followed by a brief workout.

A minute of jumping jacks should do the trick. Or some jump-roping.

You want their heart rates up and heavy breathing (But not to the point they are gasping for air or exhausted or need to get a drink, they will then be too tired to blow through the straw for part II)

PART II:

The students time how long it takes for the Bromythyl Blue solution (a CO2 indicator) to change from blue to yellow (due to the CO2 in their exhaling) after they have exercised.  (Again they get the CO2 into the solution by blowing bubbles into it through a straw).

RESULTS:
The indicator really works! Before working out it took me 16 seconds to change the Bromythyl blue to yellow.  After working out it only took 6 seconds.

I need to head into fermentation tomorrow....does anyone have any good links?? I am really looking to make some connections to athletics.  

Coming soon...

Why do I have baby food containers in my sink if I don't have a baby, you ask?

Oh, just some lab preparations for tomorrow... sorry to disappoint you. 

I wish I had something more exciting to post tonight. But I don't.

 You'll have to check back later this week 

for the lab pics and the lab freebie!!

Sorry I'm slacking.  But I promise you...by the end of the week I will be sharing THREE items:
1. Math Probability Stations
2. Science Weather Webquest #2
3. The Mystery Lab Report

Materials for the Lab:

2 baby food containers / group

2 rubber bands / group

water (+ something to measure)

steel wool

Confession: I ate two containers of Sweet Potatoes as I cleaned.

Did you know that washing/cleaning the labels off 24 baby food containers is tiring?

Just sayin.  

Can you guess what the lab might be?

oh, what to do with all the leftover halloween candy?

Oh, what to do with all the leftover Halloween Candy? 

Tons of Halloween Candy left?

Consider it a great excuse to practice measurement with the
triple beam balance through massing candy...

using my Triple Beam Balance Practice and Candy Activity.

Here are some of my favorite things to do with this lesson: 

First: 

Some practice on the mimeo board with interactive websites. #1 and #2

Second: 

Independent practice reading triple beam balances.

Third: 
All you need for this lab is a balance and candy!

Using the balance, find the masses of each individual candy piece.

Add up the totals of all the candies.  (Calculators optional, depending on ability level).

Record the total.

Fourth: 

Find the masses of all the candies at once.

Record the total.

Fifth: 

Compare totals. And reflect.
 Are they the same? Did you measure correctly?

Everyday Acids & Bases Lab

Click on the picture above for a copy of my Litmus and pH paper Lab!

[Reflection: Plan an efficient way of pouring all the various substances for the students.  I did not plan enough in advance, wasted a few minutes of class time pouring liquids for the students, and kicked myself for it later.  I had the students stay seated and pass the substances from table to table. The final class, I had the students rotate the classroom for set amounts of time at each station. This worked the best.)

Yummy Gummy Bears!

Click on the links below for my activities!

First, have the students explore diffusion with an inquiry activity:

Diffusion Inquiry Activity & Vocabulary Study

Then, have them investigate what happens to gummy bears in salt water and regular water:

Yummy Gummy Bears Osmosis Lab

Try the lab out yourself first.  It's a matter of personal preference how long you want to leave the gummy bears in water.  I chose to leave them in overnight. 

For your enjoyment:

Had anyone tried this? If you have, I would love to see some comments and suggestions below! :)

Make-Your Own Silly Putty

Want to investigate polymers and make a silly putty polymer with your class?

Help yourself to my worksheet below.

Want to send the toy home with your students?

Print out my "Silly Putty Polymer Disclaimer" to tape to the baggies.

SILLY PUTTY INQUIRY ACTIVITY AND LABELS PRINTABLES

Want to make Glow-In-The-Dark Silly Putty "Slime"...Check out directions HERE!

Lab Safety

Is anyone else bored with their school's 1970's lab safety video and classic tour-of-the-science-lab routine?  I know I am. 

Here's a few of my lab-safety faves:

1. Make a Lab Safety Poster

CHECK OUT THE PROJECT HERE.

Student pairs are given a lab rule and make a poster. Graded with a rubric (and students self-assess).
I love it for a great way to have student work collaboratively early in the year, which is a skill they will need for the science lab.  it is also a great way to decorate the classroom with student work early in the year!

Here is a sample of a student's project hanging in my classroom.  It isn't an example of an A+ project (the project lacked strong communication of the rule verbally...) but it is a great example of creativity with materials and showing the rule visually!

2. Matching Activity

.

Here's a picture of the baggies I pass out to the small groups.

3. Sponge Bob Lab Safety 

Students read the story and list as many broken lab rules as they can can find.  In the end, they should find about 20 broken lab rules.

4. Tell What Rule Was Broken

 Cartoon &  Cartoon Video ...I just use both as warm-up activities during the first week and give the students a written question, such as: "List 3 lab rules that were broken." or "List 3 lab rules that were followed."

5. Interactive Practice Quizzes

Students must pass with 90% to be allowed in the lab.  An example of interactive practices quizzes can be found online here.

6. Fun Lab Safety Videos

Much more entertaining than than the classic lab-safety-videos.