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Science Resources

Science Resources

Unless otherwise noted, all resources created by Dr. Jonathan Eckert at Wheaton College.  For more information on Jonathan Eckert, click here.  
To view documents, scroll to the right on the document of your choice and click on the maximize/restore icon.  

Inquiry Lesson Plan Example:

Water Lab Template:
Direct Instruction Lesson Plan Template:

Physics Lab Template:

Links to experiments:
Below are a number of the experiments we conducted with links.  The books we used follow.

Discrepant events:

·       Burning $100 bill – alcohol, water, tongs, flame retardant material, lighter
·       Coke Floats – large, clear container, variety of sodas
·       Discrepant event ideas and lessons: http://www.mcrel.org/whelmers/

Physics (physical science):

·       Bernoulli’s principle:
  • toilet paper and leaf blower
  • wind bag http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000062
  • straws and empty soda cans: http://www.mcrel.org/whelmers/whelm12.asp 

·       Colliding spheres http://www.arborsci.com/detail.aspx?ID=578
·       Astro blaster (rubber ball blaster) http://www.arborsci.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=12
·       Magnetic accelerator http://www.arborsci.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=12
·       Rockets: educator bulk packs: http://www.a2zhobbies.com/Estes/Educator_Bulk_Packs/
·       CO2 Cars: http://www.acsupplyco.com/dragsters/dragsters.htm
·       Radar gun: http://www.enasco.com/product/SB44701E
·       Ballistics car: http://www.arborsci.com/prod-Ballistics_Car-1419.aspx
·       Inertia apparatus: http://www.arborsci.com/prod-Inertia_Apparatus-1304.aspx

Chemistry (physical science):

Density cubes: http://www.enasco.com/Search?q=density+cubes&x=0&y=0
Galileo thermometers: http://www.arborsci.com/prod-Galileos_Thermometer_Fahrenheit-946.aspx
Ball and ring: http://www.enasco.com/Search?q=ball+and+ring&x=0&y=0
Aluminum boats (good experiment w/ buoyancy and density): aluminum foil, containers for water, 1” washers
Phantom crystals: http://www.arborsci.com/prod-Phantom_Crystals-549.aspx
Insta-snow: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/category/instant-snow
Hydrophobic sand: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/1331
Mentos and Diet Coke - geyser tube and depth charge: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/soda-geyser-depth-charge-kit
Dry ice: Continental Carbonic – 1743 Paul Ave. Glendale Heights, IL 60139 – 630-858-6560 (Open Mon-Fri, 7:00-4:00) - $10.00 for 15 pounds

Colloids:
·       Elmer’s glitter glue – http://www.amazon.com/Elmers-6-Ounces-Washable-Glitter-Glue/dp/B008M56Z04/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1364843934&sr=8-3&keywords=elmer%27s+glitter+glue
·       Sodium Tetraborate – Borax – at Walmart
·       Lined cups – available at most stores
·       Popsicle sticks
·       Baggies
o   1 tablespoon Borax per cup of water in solution
o   mix half glue, half water, - STIR
o   5mL of Borax solution at a time
o   Don’t over-Borax! (probably need about 15 mL of solution for about 5 oz of colloid)

Ice Cream / Slushies:
·       Gallon and quart-sized FREEZER bags
·       Ice
·       ½ cup table salt for every two students
·       Ice cream or beverage in the quart-sized bag – seal with as much air out of the bag as possible
·       Ice and salt in gallon-sized freezer bag – quart-sized bag in size – squeeze with ice in exterior bag
·       Ice cream mixture – Gallon of whole milk (pour out enough to put 1.5 to 2 cups of sugar) add vanilla or chocolate to taste

Earth science:

Rocks and minerals: http://www.etacuisenaire.com/catalog/product?deptId=&prodId=21140&q=Rocks+and+mineral+sets
Fog machine: http://www.arborsci.com/SearchResult.aspx?KeyWords=fog%20machine
Water Olympics: Project Wet: http://www.projectwet.org/
Cookie mining: variety of chocolate chip cookies, graph paper, paperclips, and toothpicks – good for mining/conservation discussions
Relative distance from space: http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/

Life science:

Owl pellets (good for predator/prey relationships): http://www.enasco.com/Search?q=owl+pellets&x=0&y=0
Smoker’s lung: http://www.enasco.com/Search?q=smoker%27s+lung&x=0&y=0
Decalcified eggs: vinegar and non-boiled eggs – good for osmosis and diffusion – cell membrane
Digestive demo:
  • Objective: 
Students will describe the processes and parts of the digestive system using appropriate vocabulary.
  • Materials: 
Left over foods to constitute “3 meals”
Blender
Bag labeled small intestines
Beakers – one with green water – amylase (enzyme in saliva – breaks down carbs), red water – hydrochloric acid, and yellow water (bile)
Nylon hose
Basin
Scissors
  • Procedure: 
Label parts with one color and processes with another
Where does digestion begin?
Mouth – mastication
Salivary glands – enzyme – amylase
Place breakfast in blender with amylase – masticate
Move food to esophagus – peristalsis
Stomach – add hydrochloric acid and bile – churn
After 4 hours – move to small intestine (baggie)
Lunch – repeat process
Discuss small intestine – approximately 21 feet in adults (15 feet in 10 year-olds) – composed of villi – remove nutrients
Dinner – repeat process
Large intestines – discuss – 3 feet, removes water – diarrhea occurs when not functioning properly
Pour into nylon hose over basin – have student simulate peristalsis, another student cut an anus in the nylon
Total process takes 18-24 hours on average

General science supplies:

Goggles: http://www.enasco.com/Search?&q=goggles&page=1
Beakers: http://www.enasco.com/Search?q=beakers&x=0&y=0
Graduated cylinders: http://www.enasco.com/Search?q=graduated+cylinders&x=17&y=15
Scales: http://www.enasco.com/Search?q=electronic+scale&x=0&y=0
Magnetic stirrer: http://www.enasco.com/Search?q=magnetic+stirrer&x=0&y=0
Pipettes: http://www.enasco.com/product/SB20321M

Books:

Primary

Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World by Robin Page and Steve Jenkins (Hardcover - April 14, 2008)
http://www.amazon.com/Sisters-Brothers-Sibling-Relationships-Animal/dp/0618375961/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258999410&sr=1-1

Eggs by Marilyn Singer and Emma Stevenson (Hardcover - Mar 15, 2008
http://www.amazon.com/Eggs-Marilyn-Singer/dp/0823417271/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258999787&sr=1-4

The Wolves Are Back by Jean Craighead George and Wendell Minor (Hardcover - April 17, 2008)
http://www.amazon.com/Wolves-Back-Jean-Craighead-George/dp/0525479473/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259008861&sr=1-1

What's Eating You?: Parasites -- The Inside Story by Nicola Davies and Neal Layton (Paperback - Aug 11, 2009)
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_2_17?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=what%27s+eating+you+parasites--the+inside+story&sprefix=What%27s+eating+you

(WINNER – METHODS 2010) Where in the Wild?: Camouflaged Creatures Concealed... and Revealed by David Schwartz, Yael Schy, and Dwight Kuhn (Hardcover - Sep 1, 2007)
http://www.amazon.com/Where-Wild-Camouflaged-Creatures-Concealed/dp/1582462070/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258997855&sr=8-1

Vulture View by April Pulley Sayre and Steve Jenkins (Hardcover - Oct 2, 2007)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805075577/sciencebooksfilm/103-9966551-6338213

Intermediate

Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion (Scientists in the Field Series) by Loree Griffin Burns (Hardcover - Mar 26, 2007)
http://www.amazon.com/Tracking-Trash-Flotsam-Science-Scientists/dp/0618581316/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258997778&sr=1-1

Where Else in the Wild? by David M. Schwartz, Yael Schy, and Dwight Kuhn (Hardcover - Sep 8, 2009)
http://www.amazon.com/Where-Else-Wild-David-Schwartz/dp/1582462836/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258998571&sr=8-2

Dinosaur Eggs Discovered: Unscrambling the Clues by Lowell Dingus, Rodolfo A. Coria, Luis M. Chiappe, and Stephanie Abramowicz (Library Binding - Sep 2007)
http://www.amazon.com/Dinosaur-Eggs-Discovered-Unscrambling-Clues/dp/0822567911/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258998679&sr=8-1

Q Is for Quark: A Science Alphabet Book by David M. Schwartz and Kim Doner (Paperback - Oct 13, 2009)
http://www.amazon.com/Q-Quark-Science-Alphabet-Book/dp/1582463034/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258998841&sr=1-1

How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming (About Our Changing Climate) by Lynne Cherry and Gary Braasch (Hardcover - Mar 3, 2008)
http://www.amazon.com/Know-What-About-Changing-Climate/dp/1584691034/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258999514&sr=1-1

Circulating Life: Blood Transfusion from Ancient Superstition to Modern Medicine (Discovery!) by Cherie Winner (Library Binding - April 2007)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0822566060/sciencebooksfilm/103-9966551-6338213

Oh Rats! The Story of Rats and People by Albert Marrin and C. B. Mordan (Hardcover - Aug 17, 2006)
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_0_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=oh+rats+the+story+of+rats+and+people&sprefix=Oh%2C+Rats

Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 (Awards)) by Catherine Thimmesh (Hardcover - Jun 26, 2006)
http://www.amazon.com/Team-Moon-Outstanding-Science-Students/dp/0618507574/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259009854&sr=1-1

Cold Light: Creatures, Discoveries, and Inventions That Glow by Anita Sitarski (Hardcover - Oct 2007)
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Light-Creatures-Discoveries-Inventions/dp/1590784685/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259009067&sr=1-1

A Drop Of Water by Walter Wick (Hardcover - Apr. 1, 1997) http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=A+drop+of+water&x=0&y=0

Young Adult

Welcome to Your Brain: Why You Lose Your Car Keys but Never Forget How to Drive and Other Puzzles of Everyday Life by Sam Wang and Sandra Aamodt (Paperback - Dec 23, 2008)
http://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Your-Brain-Puzzles-Everyday/dp/1596915234/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258999637&sr=1-1

Great Resource for Demonstrations and Experiments

Spangler, S. (2010). Naked eggs and flying potatoes: Unforgettable experiments that make science fun. Austin, TX: Greenleaf Book Group Press.

Spangler, S. (2012). Fire bubbles and exploding toothpaste: More unforgettable experiments that make science fun. Austin, TX” Greenleaf Book Group Press.

Gray, T. (2009). Theo Gray’s mad science: Experiments you can do at home – but probably shouldn’t.  New York, NY: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers.

Baylor School of Medicine Site

http://www.k8science.org/    
  • Home
  • Grad Survey Data
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2010-2017
  • State Requirements
  • Jobs
  • Resources
    • Science Resources
    • General Resources
  • Learn More
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