Food Web and Chains Activity using Differentiated Tiering by Level of Challenge and Complexity part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
By using this tiered assignment students at different levels are able to review characteristics of living things by either creating a food web or food chart.

Scientific Observations: A Schoolyard BioBlitz part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a classroom and field activity where students learn about and practice scientific observations in the classroom and then complete a field activity by making and recording scientific observations on school grounds.

Will the cup of water overflow when the ice melts? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an in-class experiment where students predict, observe, and summarize what will happen when ice melts in a cup of water.

Motion - Investigating Motion Graphs part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In this activity students analyze the motion of a student walking across the room and predict, sketch, and test distance vs. time graphs and velocity vs. time graphs.

Dancing Raisins part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an entire-class lab experiment that refreshes the concepts of sinking and floating, while introducing the concepts of bouyancy and density using the fizz from sprite (carbon dioxide gas) and raisins.

Exploration of Shadows in the Earth, Moon, and Sun System: Moon Phases and Eclipses part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This guided inquiry activity has students using models to create variations of alignment of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. By varying their arrangement, students will discover how the positions of the Earth, Moon and Sun interact, how shadows can be cast on the Moon and on the Earth, and how Earth's view of the lit portion of the Moon changes.

Investigating Soil Composition - Soil Soaks Up Water part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a classroom quick lab where students explore sand, soil, and water in relation to absorption and permeability.

What are communicable diseases and how can we prevent some of them? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students will learn that microorganisms can get inside one's body and they may keep it from working properly. Students will learn that vaccinations help to prevent some diseases but not others.

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.

Observing,Comparing and Classifying Rocks part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activitiy is a lab experience where students observe, compare and classify rocks. Close examination of a variety of rocks reveals their differences and can also spark questions regarding their origins.

Creating understanding how metamorphic rock is formed part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity gives a visual representation of how we are able to see the different layers of metamorphic rocks.

Radioactive Dating: Looking at Half-Lives Using M&Ms part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is an activity that students will use M&Ms to gain a better understanding of radioactive dating and half-lives.

Growing & Observing Crystals part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity requires students to design an experiment to determine the best conditions for growing crystals. Students then are asked to conclude what the ideal conditions may be, how this information is useful, and who may want to know it. It is a great way to continue using scientific process skills within a Geology unit.

Investigating simple plants part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students will observe simple plants, develop an investigable question, and form an investigation. They will document their investigation in their science notebooks.

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.

Ontogeny part of Paleontology:Activities
This activity allows even the youngest of learners to understand what the concept of ontogeny is, relative to humans and also applied to learning about dinosaurs.

Chemical Reactions and Pancakes part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students will compare ingredients in two different pancake recipes, then taste the difference. We will talk about the chemical reaction that happened when the recipes are mixed and why there are bubbles in the pancakes.

The Incredible Journey- A Walk Through the Water Cycle part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a classroom investigation where students predict, explore and evaluate what happens to water as it travels through the water cycle.

Physics Motion Activities for Second Grade part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
The activity consists of a story and two experiments demonstrating how push and pull can make objects move.

Make a Model Fossil part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a combination outdoor/indoor lab where students will collect natural materials from the environment and use them to create both a mold and cast model of a fossil. Students will learn how a fossil is formed and why scientists use models to help them understand how things work and develop.