Mentos and soda eruptions- lessons on explosive volcanic eruptions part of NAGT:Our Resources:Teaching Resources:Teaching Materials Collection
Students participate in a popular experiment with Mentos candies and soda. This helps them learn about the scientific method, gas saturation, bubble nucleation, and explosive volcanic eruptions.

Modeling Valence Electrons part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a guided practice and scaffolding activity in which the students learn how to configure electrons of elements and determine the number of valence electrons.

Properties of Cations: Flame Test Lab part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In this lab students will make qualitative observations of flame color, a property of metals, to identify unknown metals in salt compounds.

Consumer Testing and the Scientific Method part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Using paper towels this activity introduces using the scientific method to set up and test and experiment.

The Three Bears Heat Investigation--It's Just Right part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is a classroom lab investigation where students use the story of the three bears to discover inadequacies in the story and discover how to make them correct. Convection, conduction and radiation are involved.

Lab Investigation Mixture Separation part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is a lab that is designed to have students write a lab procedure and separate out mixture of substances with different properties. It is also a good introduction to the different lab equipment that they will be using through out the year.

Introducing Ionic Bonds: How does the string hold together? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an introductory activity where students observe the characteristics of ionic compounds and crystals They also work on making observations and writing hypotheses.

Chemical Reactions: Investigating Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an inquiry-based investigation where students discover the indicators of chemical reactions (endothermic and exothermic) by collecting data and using that data to develop a testable question for further experimentation.

Investigating Motion: Calculating and Graphing Students Walking Speed part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation where students gather data on their motion and how it compares to another person.

Overnight Crystals to illustrate solubility concepts part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This quick-lab provides a concrete experience with crystal formation from saturated salt solutions that can help students make solubility problems more relevant to their experience.

Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a lab investigation where students collect data concerning and endothermic and exothermic reaction.

Water Bottle Rockets- Understanding Energy part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This lab activity is an exploration of Newton's Three Laws, forces and energy. Students will design, build, launch and analyze rocket data.

Newton's 3rd Law: Explosive Reaction Pairs part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an in-class laboratory that uses projectiles and small explosions to illustrate Newton's 3rd law of equal and opposite interactions.

Adjusting Your Water Heater to Conserve Energy part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
- In this lab-based activity the students will use their knowledge about the law of conservation of energy to explain the loss of heat by warm water to cold water. Then, the students will use these concepts to design and carry an experiment to determine the unknown temperature of a hot water sample.

First Class Levers: Investigating the Relationship Between the Force of Effort, Force of Resistance, and the Placement of the Fulcrum part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is an exploratory activity where students in small groups discover the relationship between the force of resistance, the force of effort, and placement of the fulcrum in a first class lever.

Conservation of Mass Gum Lab part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students develop and conduct an experiment using the law of conservation of mass to determine whether or not gum should be considered food. Students will compare the mass swallowed for sugar and sugar-free gum. This could be used to discuss solubility.

Building 3D Models of Atoms part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a hands-on building of atoms of elements 1-20.

Penny in cup - Bernoulli's Principle part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Fun demo to show Bernoulli's Principle in action.

Combustion or Oxidation part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a lab designed for students to combust magnesium and use results to explain oxidation/reduction reactions.

Physical and Chemical Properties of Water part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a method of tying a multitude of physical (and chemical) properties together showing what makes a substance unique and identifiable. This activity is a great way to lead the students into developing their procedures, their further investigations, and yet giving them the feeling of responsibility and ownership for their learning.