Shrinky Dink Chemistry part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a hands-on activity where students learn about polymers and the science of plastics, while making shrinky dinks.

Investigating Magnetism: What are Magnets and Why Do They Attract or Repel? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a classroom lab in which students observe and investigate how magnets interact with each other and the objects around them.

Why is the Sky Blue? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This hands on lab helps explain why the color of our sky/upper atmosphere appears blue in color. Students will be able to simulate how light from the sun is scattered by our atmosphere to create blue light.

Introduction to Open and Closed Electrical Circuits part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students will act out open and closed circuits and is followed by individual journal writing and a class discussion.

Physics of Sound: How does length affect pitch? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an investigation where students use tools to determine how the length of a sound source affects its pitch.

Mystery Powders: An Introduction to Physical and Chemical Properties part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In this classroom guided inquiry lesson, students will complete a serious of tests using five different mystery powders. Student will develop hypotheses, make observations, and draw conclusions about what each powder is and the physical and chemical reactions that occur when heat, water, iodine, and vinegar are added to each substance.

Newton's First Law (Inertia) part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a classroom investigation where students gather information from observing Newton's first law, develop a definition of Newton's first law and force, and apply to real life situations.

Sponge Lab: Experimenting With Absorption part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity allows students to brainstorm investigable questions, conduct an experiment, and communicate the results related to our invertebrate animal study; specifically sponges and absorption. (Lesson is based on an original activity from "Porifera's Porosity", Holt Science and Technology - Animals, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston 2002, pages 50-51.)

Investigating Newton's 3rd Law: Coin Flick part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a structured inquiry for students to observe how Newton's 3rd law of motion which states that to every action there must be an equal reaction. By flicking a set # of coin into a row of coins they will observe the force of the impact being passed along until the last coin flies off when no other coin prevents it from moving.

Exploring Sound: Length Makes a Difference part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In this introductory physics lab activity, students explore the sounds made by the free-end of a ruler vibrating off the end of a desk.

Catapults: controlled investigations part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a controlled investigation of a catapult system.

Investigation of Pitch & Rate of Vibration part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is an activity demonstrating how pitch varies using water bottles, and allows students to investigate pitch further with rulers, straws, and water bottles.

Investigating Light: A Form of Energy You Can See part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is a short unit (including hands on activities) to expand our study of how light travels and how it behaves when it hits an object.

Force and Motion: Gravity and Wind Resistance part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
The egg-drop activity is designed to help students develop a deeper understanding of the force created by wind resistance and how it interacts with the force due to Gravity. Students will note how surface area affects the resistance of a falling object as Gravity works on it. Students will record and share observations and questions regarding the experiment.

Learning Observation Skills Through Studying Solids, Liquids, and Gases part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an inquiry lesson where students investigate solids, liquids, and gases through a variety of hands on experiments tied into writing and illustration of observable results.

Light & Sound, Light Reflection Relay part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an experiment where students learn about angles of reflection and use that knowledge to reflect a light beam around obstacles to a target across the classroom.

Working with a handmade oscilloscope part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is where students build and use an oscilliscope exploring with sound and sound waves.

Exploring States of Matter - Gases part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
A lesson on states of matter using marbles for molecules expands into 3 more lessons elaborating on properties of a gas.

Investigating Flight with Paper Airplanes part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students will determine a testable question and create an experiment related to flight of paper airplanes. They will gather and record data and present their findings to classmates.

Investigating Sound Waves part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an experiment on how sound is energy and travels in waves. Students will investigate sound using different objects in the room.