Hands-on, inquiry-based, and relevant to every student's life, "Gourmet Lab" serves up a full menu of activities for science teachers of grades 6-12. This collection of 15 hands-on experiments--each of which includes a full set of both student and teacher pages--challenges students to take on the role of scientist and chef, as they boil,…

The International Boiling Point Project is an online, collaborative project for students in grades 6-12 in which they investigate the impact of four factors (room temperature, elevation, volume of water and heating device) on the boiling point of water. A detailed procedure is provided for students in order to limit the number of variables…

Presents a laboratory exercise on photosynthesis suitable for high school biology. Allows students to perform the experiments with easily obtainable materials and within a lengthened period. Includes photosynthesis lab prep notes for teachers. (JRH)

Describes an alternative technique for determining the molar volume of hydrogen from the metal-acid reaction in which the metal sample is encased in a specially prepared cage and a pipette filler is used to fill an inverted burette with water. Eliminates some difficulties encountered with the conventional technique. (JRH)

Presents activities that involve the separation and identification of dyes from mouthwashes and the determination of their alcohol content. Provides a review of various analytical techniques and shows students that more than one instrument or technique may be required to analyze a product. (JRH)

Presents 6 short experiments with liquid nitrogen that 12- and 13-year-old students can safely perform under close supervision. Helps the students in learning a number of basic chemical principles while spurring their curiosity and showing them how much fun chemistry can be. (JRH)

This publication is part of a larger project involving partnerships between high school biology teachers and neuroscientists. It contains neuroscience laboratories and classroom activities, most of which provide opportunities for students to design and conduct their own experiments. Each lab contains directions for both teachers and students and…

Describes a very simple and effective method of DNA extraction from dried peas. Presents information on the Green Machine Science Education Center that promotes education in gene technology. (JRH)

Presents activities that use a simple homemade apparatus called "the cannon" to demonstrate Newton's Third Law. Reviews the chemistry concepts behind the ignition of the cannon and presents the Momentum Lab and the Projectile Motion Lab. (JRH)

Details a laboratory experiment focusing on the relationship between the structure and function of the tracheary elements of the xylem. (MKR)

Discusses enzymes, catalysts, and factors that affect the rate of a chemical reaction. Presents activities based on enzyme action on hydrogen peroxide and lactose intolerance. (Author/JRH)

Describes a simple exercise in percolation theory that can be performed easily and quickly in a laboratory using paper and a hole punch. (Author/MM)

The effectiveness of science experiments often are partly dependent upon the amount of classroom time available for implementation. This factor alone has frustrated many teachers who attempt to complete laboratory assignments in the allotted time period. This document provides experiments that were designed for the middle year in a 3-year biology…

Describes a DNA fingerprinting simulation that uses vegetable food coloring and plastic food containers instead of DNA and expensive gel electrophoresis chambers. Allows students to decipher unknown combinations of dyes in a method similar to that used to decipher samples of DNA in DNA fingerprint techniques. (JRH)

Compares the nature of student thinking in confirmation and open-inquiry laboratory activities. Reports that student thinking processes exhibited in confirmation laboratories emphasized procedures and techniques--making sense of and doing the laboratory, whereas student thinking in open-inquiry laboratories emphasized data analysis--making sense…