Investigating the Rock Cycle Through Writing and Illustrating part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Leah Campbell, Central Intermediate School, Stewartville, MN, based on an original activity developed by Alissa Naymark, Rochester Public Schools
This activity is a quantative writing activity where students will use writing and illustrations to show their knowledge of the basic rock cycle.

Air Is Matter part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Caroline Sorensen
This is a series of investigations about air and its properties. How air exists all around us, and things it is capable of doing.

Newton's Second: Having A Ball With Motion part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Susan Van Kekerix
This activity is a field investigation where students design and test a gravity ball launcher, record their observations, and share their findings in the large group setting.

The Rock Cycle: A hands on Simulation part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
jill selchow
This activity is a hands-on simulation of the rock cycle.

Investigating Soil Composition - Soil Soaks Up Water part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Carrie Leisch, Centerville Elementary School, ISD 12, Centerville, MN 55038 Based on an original activity from Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, Lesson 2 Soil, p. 315 and 319.)
This activity is a classroom quick lab where students explore sand, soil, and water in relation to absorption and permeability.

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

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

Make a Model Fossil part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Anne E. Flynn St. Charles Borromeo School St. Anthony Village Minnesota Based on an original activity from Harcourt Science 2006. Page 215
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.

Investigation a food web: producers, consumers, and decomposers part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Sandra Ahlberg Prairie Elementary Worthington, Minnesota
This activity is a field investigation where students list plants and animals they observe. Students will organize their data as producers, consumers, or decomposers and create a food web showing how they affect each other. They will predict what will happen if the food web becomes imbalanced by extinction or over population.

Ice Cream Model -- How Glaciers Formed the Minnesota Landscape part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Ginger Baldwin Bert Raney Elementary Granite Falls, MN Based on an activity from: Harries, Kia, Rager, Amy. 1997. Minnesota Living Rivers, Unpublished curriculum, University of Minnesota Extension Service. www.riverwatchonline.org www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/naturalhistory.html (provides good background information)
This activity is a teacher demonstration of an ice cream model representing glacier movement across Minnesota. Teacher/student questions and discussion should be encouraged during the demonstration.