Characteristics of Light: Light travels in a straight line part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity examines the characteristics of light. Students demonstrate that light travels straight and does not bend around an object.

Investigating Magnetism part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a lab investigation where students work in groups to develop their own electromagnets.

Lichen Hunt--Identifying and Classifying Lichens by their Physical Characteristics part of 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.

Investigating Static Electricity: Creating Lightning on a much smaller scale part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a guided exploration of how static electricity works and how it relates to lightning.

Comparing the Simple Structure of Plant and Animal Cells part of 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.

FOSS Variables FOSS Lifeboat Investigation: Developing Investigable Question, Investigation (Experimentation), and Communicating Results part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an extension of the FOSS Variables Lifeboat investigation. Students choose a lifeboats variable to investigate, write up an experiment based on the variable to be tested, test the variable, and create a lifeboats investigation poster to share their results.

Measuring and Comparing Matter part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a lab investigation where students gather data about the masses of various solid objects found in a classroom. The students graph their data, compare their data, and draw conclusions about what kinds of materials contain more matter than others.

Investigating Variables : Passengers Supported by Lifeboats part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Short description This activity is a lab investigation where students develop an investigable inquiry question, construct a fleet of boats, collect data about how many passengers (pennies) each will hold before sinking, interpret their findings, and will share methods and results during a poster session.

Guided Leech Activity and Record Keeping in a Science Notebook part of 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.

Investigating the Water Cycle: Evaporation part of MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an outdoor lab in which students investigate the process of evaporation, record their findings, and use the data to make connections to the environment around them.