Describes an inquiry-based experiment on the heat absorption of color that is developed from a scientific misconception. Uses three cans colored white, gray, and black and observes and compares the temperature changes of water in cans when placed under 100 watt lamps. (YDS)

Offers two activities to help students explore the geosciences during Earth Science Week. Uses a fossil collection simulation that has students digging through strata of newspaper. Presents an interdisciplinary research project that has students investigate the fossils, minerals, and rocks of their home state. (ASK)

Describes an interactive game designed to help students see and understand the dynamic relationship between DNA, RNA, and proteins. Appropriate for either a class or laboratory setting, following a lecture session about protein synthesis. (DDR)

Describes a science lesson plan on starfish based on a hands-on approach. Divides students into committees of four in which students research identified questions and present their reports. (YDS)

Describes a laboratory experiment on the determination of the molecular weights of gases lighter than air. (YDS)

Describes a card game that illustrates natural selection acting on random mutations with or without cumulative selection. (YDS)

Explains Occam's razor which is a guiding principle in scientific methodology. Describes a genetics problem to demonstrate Occam's razor. (YDS)

Uses an inquiry-based, instructor guided teaching approach and presents the activity "Selectivity/Reactivity Principle in Terms of Hammond's Postulate". Includes 17 references. (YDS)

Presents an experimental procedure to measure the volume of a gas more accurately and which requires very common and inexpensive materials. (YDS)

Presents an activity on animal adaptation in which elementary school students create their own animals for a given habitat. (YDS)

Describes a simulation that can be used to give concrete analogies of collision theory and the factors that affect reaction rates including temperature, concentration, catalyst, and molecular orientation. The simulation works best if done as an introduction to the concepts to help prevent misconceptions about reaction rates and collision theory.…

Describes a laboratory activity involving a mathematical model of cooking potatoes that can be solved analytically. Highlights the microstructure aspects of the experiment. Provides the key aspects of the results, detailed background readings, laboratory procedures and data analyses. (MM)

In this classroom activity, students perform a series of tests with deicers to decide which works better at melting ice and then decide if calcium chloride deicer is worth the extra cost. (MM)

Reports an experiment which is suitable for an introductory course in analytical chemistry and which illustrates the importance of matrix effects when selecting a method of standardization. Asserts that students learn how a spike recovery is used to validate an analytical method, and obtain practical experience in the difference between performing…

Describes a laboratory experiment in which common chemical gases are trapped inside soap bubbles. Examines the physical and chemical properties of the gases such as relative density and combustion. (Author/MM)