“Plastic made from milk” —that certainly sounds like something made-up. If you agree, you may be surprised to learn that in the early 20th century, milk was used to make many different plastic ornaments —including jewelry for Queen Mary of England! In this chemistry science project, you can figure out the best recipe to make your own milk plastic (usually called casein plastic) and use it to make beads, ornaments, or other items.
Turn Milk Into Plastic
Lesson Plans
Explore the Tides
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,UE.ESS1B.a, MS.ESS1A.a,
Overview: Have you ever built a sandcastle on a beach only to find it washed away a few hours later? Every 6 to 12 hours or so, the water along most coasts rises and falls in...
Full Lesson Plan >Build an Electromagnet
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,UE.PS2B.b,
Overview: Student teams investigate the properties of electromagnets. They create their own small electromagnets and experiment with ways to change their strength to pick up...
Full Lesson Plan >Tree Growth Study
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,HS.LS4A.a, MS.LS4A.b,
Overview: How can the age of a tree be determined? Is there a way to tell a good year of growth versus a bad year? Trees contain some of nature’s most accurate records of...
Full Lesson Plan >Investigating Shadows
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,UE.ESS1B.a, UE.PS1A.c,
Overview: In this activity, students will explore what affects the size of a shadow and compare the shadows of various opaque, transparent, and translucent objects. Part I....
Full Lesson Plan >The Dirty Water Project
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,UE.ETS1B.c, UE.ETS1C.a, UE.ETS1B.b, UE.ETS1B.a,
Overview: In this hands-on activity, students investigate different methods—aeration and filtering—for removing pollutants from water. Working in teams, they design,...
Full Lesson Plan >Drops on a Penny Experiment
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,MS.PS1A.b, UE.PS1A.c,
Overview: Have you ever noticed on a rainy day how water forms droplets on a window? Why doesn’t it spread out evenly over the whole surface? It has to do with...
Full Lesson Plan >Modeling Gravity
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,MS.ESS1B.a, MS.PS2B.b,
Overview: Why can we feel gravity pull us down towards the Earth, but not sideways towards other big objects like buildings? Why do the planets in our solar system orbit the...
Full Lesson Plan >Floodplain Modeling
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,MS.ETS1B.a, MS.ETS1C.a, UE.ESS3B.a,
Overview: Students explore the impact of changing river volumes and different floodplain terrain in experimental trials with table top-sized riverbed models. The models are...
Full Lesson Plan >Build a Waterwheel from Recycled Materials
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,UE.ETS1B.b, UE.ETS1B.a, UE.PS3D.a, UE.PS3B.c, UE.ETS1A.a,
Overview: Students observe a model waterwheel to investigate the transformations of energy involved in turning the blades of a hydro-turbine. They work as engineers to create...
Full Lesson Plan >Entanglement Challenge
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,MS.EVS1B.a, MS.LS2C.b, UE.ESS3C.a, LE.ESS3C.a,
Demonstrate the challenges for marine animals who get entangled in common debris with this 10 –15 minute activity about marine conservation. Pair this activity with a...
Full Lesson Plan >Animal Yoga
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,UE.LS1A.a, UE.LS2D.a,
Stretch your way into different animal movements and poses to learn how they move, get food, and protect themselves. This 5-10 minute full-body activity for young learners...
Full Lesson Plan >Weaving the Web of Life
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,UE.LS2A.c, MS.LS2B.c, MS.LS2B.a, UE.LS2A.b, UE.LS2A.a,
Overview: In this hands-on activity, students construct a food web with yarn to learn how food chains are interconnected. Objectives: 1. construct a food chain and explain...
Full Lesson Plan >Battle of the Beaks: Adaptations and Niches
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,MS.LS2A.b,
Overview: In this simulation game, students learn about adaptive advantage, based on beak function, by simulating birds competing for various foods. Birds equipped with...
Full Lesson Plan >Modeling the Seasons
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,MS.ESS1B.b, MS.ESS1A.a,
This hands-on activity demonstrates and explains how seasons is caused by the tilt of Earth on its axis as it orbits around the sun. Students model the seasons with their...
Full Lesson Plan >Ring and Discs Demonstration
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,HS.PS3A.b, MS.PS3B.a, MS.PS3A.a, MS.PS2A.b, HS.PS2A.a,
Ready, Set, Go! A ring and disc of equal mass and diameter speed down an inclined plane. Which one wins? Not an easy prediction to make, but the victor will be clear. Results...
Full Lesson Plan >Fire Syringe Demonstration
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,HS.PS3A.b, HS.PS3B.a, HS.PS3A.a, MS.PS3B.a, MS.PS3B.b,
This is one of the most impressive demonstrations of the heat produced when a gas is rapidly compressed and is the principle behind how a diesel engine functions. How does it...
Full Lesson Plan >Repairing Broken Bones: Biomedical Engineering Design Challenge
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,MS.ETS1B.a, MS.ETS1A.a, MS.ETS1C.a, HS.LS1A.b, HS.ETS1B.a,
This STEM activity incorporates the engineering design process into a life or biomedical science activity. It can be used during an anatomy unit or in a health...
Full Lesson Plan >Modeling Moon Phases
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,MS.ESS1B.b, MS.ESS1A.a,
This lesson on the phases of the moon features just one of several hands-on activities you can do with our adaptable Moon Model Kit. In this activity students will: 1. use...
Full Lesson Plan >Color-Changing Celery Experiment
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,UE.LS1A.a,
This exciting experiment illustrates transpiration, the process of plants absorbing water through their roots. The water travels up tubes in the stems called xylem to all...
Full Lesson Plan >10 Activities To Try With the Magnetic Water Molecules Kit
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,Try out 10 exciting activities related to the properties of matter using our Magnetic Water Molecules Kit! The following topics are covered: Polarity Hydrogen...
Full Lesson Plan >What's Your Blood Type?
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,Overview Realistically simulate blood typing without the hazards of real blood. Using actual blood typing procedures, students classify four unknown samples of the simulated...
Full Lesson Plan >Understanding Natural Selection Through Models
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,Overview With this worksheet, students will explore one of the five mechanisms of evolution: natural selection. Students will analyze and interpret 3 models of natural...
Full Lesson Plan >HIV/AIDS Test Simulation Lab
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,Explore the immunological principle that antibodies bind to specific antigens. Your class will learn how ELISA – Enzyme Linked Immunoassay – is a fundamental...
Full Lesson Plan >Egg in a Bottle
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,UE.PS2A.b, MS.PS2A.b, UE.ESS2A.b,
Overview: In this classic demonstration, students will use differences in air pressure to force an egg into a bottle. This demonstration only takes 10 minutes and leaves your...
Full Lesson Plan >Magnetic Meiosis Model Demonstration
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,Teach the mechanisms of meiosis (and make it memorable!) with this simple and informative magnetic demonstration. Instead of struggling to tell which chromosome is which from...
Full Lesson Plan >Modeling the Effects of an Introduced Species
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,Overview Using a set of Food Web cards, each depicting an organism, students work in groups to model a food web for one of four ecosystems. Students are then given an...
Full Lesson Plan >Natural Selection: Antibiotic Resistance and Engineering the Fastest Fish
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,Overview Immerse your students in this engaging 3-part laboratory activity on evolution by natural selection! Your students will practice important science skills while...
Full Lesson Plan >Estimating Populations
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,Background The size of an animal population becomes newsworthy when it becomes very large (too many rats in one place) or very small (on the verge of extinction). How do...
Full Lesson Plan >Butterfly Wings: Using Nature to Learn About Flight
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,Background Have you ever seen butterflies fluttering around outside, gliding through the air and landing on flowers? While they are delicate and fragile, butterflies are...
Full Lesson Plan >Osmosis and Diffusion Lab
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,This lab allows you to learn about two forms of passive transport: diffusion and osmosis. You will compare and contrast similarities and differences in the processes of...
Full Lesson Plan >Seed Identification Activity
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,This laboratory activity will familiarize students with basic plant anatomy and the basic characteristics and functions of plant seeds. Students will practice using...
Full Lesson Plan >Genetics: The Science of Heredity — Modeling DNA Structure and the Process of Replication
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,This lesson is the first unit of a 5 part module entitled “Genetics: The Science of Heredity” developed by ETA Cuisenaire. Modeling DNA structure and the process...
Full Lesson Plan >Crime Scene Investigation Lab
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,Innovating Science’s crime scene investigation lab is used to study forensic techniques and features an activity to solve the crime of the missing frogs from the...
Full Lesson Plan >Measuring Precipitation of Hurricanes
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,MS.ESS3B.a,
This lesson deepens students’ understanding of how and why we measure precipitation across the globe through the study of rainfall patterns caused by hurricanes. Students...
Full Lesson Plan >Prey vs. Predator
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,The action in this fast-paced activity may become intense as student “predators” attempt to capture their “prey.” What happens when different organisms, living in the...
Full Lesson Plan >What Is in the Food You Eat?
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,In this activity, students test representative food samples for the presence of certain types of matter (nutrients). This investigation allows students to discover some of...
Full Lesson Plan >The Science of Spherification
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,MS.PS1A.b,
Forget drinking your juice. Instead, try snacking on it! Use the steps and recipes in this food science project to transform drinks into semi-solid balls that pop in your...
Full Lesson Plan >Turn Milk Into Plastic
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,MS.PS1A.b,
“Plastic made from milk” —that certainly sounds like something made-up. If you agree, you may be surprised to learn that in the early 20th century, milk was...
Full Lesson Plan >Proper Hand Washing Can Stop the Spread of Disease
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,LE.ETS1B.a,
People used to believe that disease was caused by miasma, a poisonous vapor which carried particles of rotting materials that caused illness. People knew that eating spoiled...
Full Lesson Plan >How Germs Spread
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,LE.ETS1B.a,
People used to think that angry gods caused disease, or that a poisonous vapor that came from rotting food or bad air caused illness. It took thousands of years for people to...
Full Lesson Plan >7 Van De Graaff Generator Activities
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,A set of activities to show how the generator works and the principles behind it.
Full Lesson Plan >Calorimetry Lab
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,HS.PS3D.a, HS.PS1B.a,
How does the energy content in lipids and carbohydrates differ? Energy content is the amount of heat produced by the burning of a small sample of a substance and heating...
Full Lesson Plan >Owl Pellet Surprise
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,UE.ESS2E.a,
This fun, hands-on introductory dissection is a great springboard for teaching the techniques of using a science notebook while having students engage in the...
Full Lesson Plan >Stream Table Investigation
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,UE.ETS1B.c, UE.ETS1C.a, UE.ESS2E.a, UE.ESS2A.a,
Overview: Students learn about water erosion through an experimental process in which small-scale buildings are placed along a simulated riverbank to experience a range of...
Full Lesson Plan >Boiling by Pressure Drop
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,HS.PS1A.c, HS.PS2B.c,
The goal of this experiment is to demonstrate that boiling is not just a function of temperature, as most people believe. Rather, it is a function of both temperature and...
Full Lesson Plan >How to Make Water Cycle in a Bag
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,LE.ESS1C.a,
https://www.mobileedproductions.com/blog/how-to-make-a-water-cycle-in-a-bag
Full Lesson Plan >How do Antibiotics Affect Bacteria When They are Put Together
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,Plan and carry out investigations: collaboratively, in a safe and ethical manner including personal impacts such as health safety, to produce data to serve as the basis...
Full Lesson Plan >Building a Generator
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,Students work individually or in pairs to follow a set of instructions and construct a mini generator which powers a Christmas light. Best done as a take-home assignment.
Full Lesson Plan >Conservation of Momentum with Vernier
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,HS.PS2A.b,
Teacher leads a demonstration with vernier carts of different/equal mass, equipped with bumpers and magnets to demonstrate a variety of scenarios in which as both carts...
Full Lesson Plan >3rd Law with Vernier
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,HS.PS2A.a,
After learning about the 1st law of motion, students partake in a teacher-led series of questions about 2 carts, and which cart will experience a greater force. The teacher...
Full Lesson Plan >Gravitational Acceleration
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,HS.PS2A.a,
In 2-3 person groups, students take the mass of assorted objects, then hang them from a spring scale to find their gravitational force. Using the F=ma equation, they rewrite...
Full Lesson Plan >Electricity and Magnetism Stations
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,Full Lesson Plan >
Egg Drop Lab
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,HS.ETS1A.a, HS.PS2A.c,
Students work in teams to design a container for an egg using provided materials. Students drop their containers, then analyze factors which can minimize force on the...
Full Lesson Plan >How Does Volvo Keep Drivers Safe?
Environmental Science, Physical Science, Physics, Life Science, Earth Science,HS.ETS1C.a, HS.PS2A.c,
Students watch a series of short videos explaining how cars are designed with crumple zones, airbags, and automatic braking to prevent passenger damage in a collision....
Full Lesson Plan >