Using the movie Star Wars as inspiration, an activity is presented to introduce students to water's cohesiveness and how the surface tension of water can be disrupted. (MKR)

Presents a fun-filled activity in which students create the perfect Kool-Aid recipe. Incorporates chemistry, cooperative group skills, experimentation, and recording of results. (JRH)

Presents a three-week interdisciplinary unit for starting the school year that focuses on the concept of flight. Enables students to acquire knowledge and develop process skills that they need later in the semester. (JRH)

Describes activities for starting the school year that allow students to begin learning laboratory skills and also gives them a chance to meet and interact with classmates in a relaxed atmosphere. (JRH)

Describes a format for experiments where students not only conduct their own experiments but also become part of a model scientific community by writing research proposals, applying for grants, submitting their work to colleagues for scrutiny, participating in a symposium to present their findings, and creating a scientific journal to publish…

Objectives, materials needed, procedures, discussion questions, and follow-up activities are provided for five experiments. They include (1) testing for sugars; (2) comparing sugar to artificial sweeteners; (3) chewing gum scientifically; (4) soap making; and (5) making toothpaste. (JN)

Presents authentic assessment laboratory activities in which students measure the amount of sugar in bubble gum and test the lasting power of soap bubbles. Includes scoring rubrics. (MKR)

Describes an investigation in which students predict and verify the effect that the number of clicks of a toy copter gun has on the height that the copter will attain. Provides follow-up questions for the students. (MDH)

Students explore three-dimensional properties by creating red and green wall decorations related to Christmas. Students examine why images seem to vibrate when red and green pieces are small and close together. Instructions to conduct the activity and construct 3-D glasses are given. (MDH)

Describes an activity for helping students understand and use data tables. (PR)

Describes making a magnetic pendulum similar to those seen in novelty shops. Presents an open-ended activity and a more structured activity using this pendulum. (PR)

Describes the use of Vee maps in helping students understand scientific investigations. (PR)

Presents a class activity in which students use trigonometry to calculate the height attained by a water rocket. Provides a lesson plan that includes a list of materials needed, procedures to carry out the experiment, suggestions to extend the activity, and a reproducible worksheet for the students to register their calculations. (MDH)

Describes having students write lab reports that concentrate more on writing and independent thought. Students take the role of scientists writing about their findings for publication. The teacher acts as a journal editor, reading the reports and either accepting them for publication or suggesting ways for improvement. (PR)

Describes an extra credit science project in which students compete to see who can build the most efficient water rocket out of a two-liter pop bottle. Provides instructions on how to build a demonstration rocket and launching pad. (MDH)