Understanding Half–Life : Simulating the process of a radioactive material decaying according to the concept of a half-life. part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In this activity, students will learn the concept of half-life of a radioactive material. Students will create and be able to recognize a graph representing the half-life of an imaginary radioactive element.

Investigating Light: A Form of Energy You Can See part of 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.

Investigating Motion: What Causes Objects to Move? part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a structured inquiry into why objects move and why some objects move farther than others. Students will make predictions on how far an object will move when blown on, blow on the objects, measure the distances they moved and record their findings.

Lab: Conservation of Mass part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This investigation is a lab where students find out if mass is created or destroyed in a closed system. Students will balance the chemical equation to re-enforce their findings.

The First Law of Motion: The Tower of Coins part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity will provide the students with an opportunity to use inquiry. This activity will also help them to begin to understand friction and inertia,.

Hot Wheelin' with Speed, Acceleration, and Data Graphs part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a lab investigation where students observe, record, and gather data on the speed, acceleration, constant speed, and average speed of toy cars. This activity allows for futher investigation of speed, time, and distance of objects to calculate speed and acceleration.

Investigating Inertia part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an inquiry investigation where students manipulate a variety of objects in a variety of situations to develop an understanding of inertia.

How Enzymes Work: Investigating their specificity and susceptibility to environmental factors using Jell-O. part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a lab investigation in which students design and conduct experiments using pineapple juice containing the enzyme bromelain and its affect on the substrate gelatin found in Jell-O. The focus of student driven investigations are on enzyme specificity, activity and the impact of environmental factors on enzyme functioning.

Investigating Photosynthesis: Discovering what plants need for photosynthesis part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In this inquiry lab, students design and conduct simple experiments using elodea and Bromothymol blue to determine whether plants consume or release carbon dioxide in the process of photosynthesis. Students will record their data which will be used to conclude whether carbon dioxide was consumed or released by the elodea.

The Optimal Bottle Rocket Lauch part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is a computer and outdoor lab based activity in which students design two bottle rockets that are designed to reach maximum height. Students will calculate maximum height and terminal velocity for each rocket launched.