Investigating joints: Naming and identifying joints in the human body part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Short Description: This activity is a classroom investigation of human joints. Students will identify joints and use their science notebooks to record their findings using drawings and words.

Lichen Hunt--Identifying and Classifying Lichens by their Physical Characteristics part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a guided inquiry where students will find their own lichen and classify it into one of three categories. They will collect, analyze, and present their finding to the class.

Guided Leech Activity and Record Keeping in a Science Notebook part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a teacher-directed investigation where students observe leeches, create questions and determine which ones are investigable. Together, teacher and students design and carry out a test for their question and record the information in a science notebook.

Comparing the Simple Structure of Plant and Animal Cells part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
The lesson is designed for fourth grade students using scientific investigation to identify and compare the basic parts of a plant and animal cells. This activity consists of several steps over a period of several days. It includes student use of microscopes for observations and journals to collect data to identify and classify the basic parts of plant and animal cells. The assessment has an individual component and uses student work.

Investigating What Living Things Need: Space part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In this biology investigation, students will make observations of the growth of bean seeds to determine what plants need to live and grow in a healthy way.

Water Retention - No Problem With The Key (Vertebrates&Invertebrates) Investigation part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This lesson helps grade 3 students understand the difference between Vertebrates and Invertebrates.

A Bug's Life: Under A Rock! part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a biology lab investigation where students create habitats to observe decomposers in a controlled setting.

Exploring A Decomposition Community part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity allows elementary students to construct a decomposition column in order to observe the relationship between living systems and energy sources.

Investigating Plant Life in Our Nature Center part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation where students use a dichotomous key to properly identify trees in our schools nature center.

Investigating oranges - How many sections are inside? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is an investigative lab to provide students with an opportunity to practice observation skills and develop cooperative group proceedures.

Ecosystem Study part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students will explore and create a healthy ecosystem, once established they will then introduce additional variables which may harm the ecosystem and determine which hazards should be avoided.

Bird Characteristics part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an introduction to the study of birds. Students will gain observation and classification skills.

Investigating Iron-Fortified Food part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection

Inquiry-Teaching Students to Ask Questions That Can Be Investigated part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
During this activity, students will investigate leech behavior. Students will learn to ask a question about leech behavior that can be investigated.

Inquiry: How herbs change based on growing conditions part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students will create and investigate testable questions about how basil changes based on growing conditions.