Constructing and Testing a Dichotomous Key Model for Fruit
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 30 mins Activity: 30-45 mins Life Science Grade Level 6-10 Middle/High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Overview Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Overview Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Overview This investigation requires students to create and test a model for […]
Observing Plant Cells
CAROLINA LABSHEETS Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Overview Materials Procedures & Prep Kit Overview Materials Procedures & Prep Kit Overview In this lab students observe Elodea leaves under magnification. They will see cell walls and chloroplasts. From the movement of chloroplasts they will infer that cyclosis, or protoplasmic streaming, is occurring. They also will […]
Introduction to Photosynthesis Using Coleus Plants
Carolina LabSheets™ Overview The simple exercises that students perform in this lab demonstrate that plants produce glucose through photosynthesis, that plants convert at least some of the glucose to starch, and that sunlight is a critical factor in photosynthesis. Students expose Coleus leaves to varying amounts of light. These sample leaves are then subjected to an iodine […]
Ocular Dominance
A Carolina EssentialsTM Activity Total Time: 15-30 mins Prep: 15 mins | Activity: 15-30 mins Life Science 8-12 Middle/High School Overview This short, individual engagement activity introduces the senses, sensation and perception, and evolutionary differences in predator-prey relationships. Students differentiate binocular vison and panoramic vision, determine their own ocular dominance, calculate class data percentages, and […]
Equilibrium and Milk of Magnesia Rainbow
A Carolina EssentialsTM Demonstration Total Time: 15-20 mins Prep: 20 mins | Activity: 15-20 mins Chemistry 9-12 High School Overview This demonstration shows a colorful reaction that is a good introduction to Le Châtelier’s principle, solubility, stoichiometry, neutralization reactions, and reaction rates. The demonstration uses readily available chemicals, is easy to set up and perform, […]
Reaction Time and Practice
A Carolina EssentialsTM Activity Total Time: 15-20 mins Prep: 10 mins | Activity: 15-20 mins Life Science 6-12 Middle/High School Overview Use this short, engaging activity to introduce students to reflexes and reactions, the nervous system, or learning theory. Students work in pairs on 2 different sorting tasks and time their successive attempts. Data can […]
Thermochemistry: An Endothermic Reaction
A Carolina EssentialsTM Demonstration Total Time: 10 mins Prep: 15 mins | Activity: 10 mins Physical Science 6-12 Middle/High School Overview In this thermochemistry demonstration, students observe an extreme, spontaneous endothermic reaction between 2 solid compounds, measure changes in temperature, and make observations. The demonstration may be used with physical science or chemistry students as […]
After the AP® Exam: What Now?
Your students worked hard and were well prepared. The test has come and gone, and there’s still time left on the school calendar. So, what happens now? You have a variety of options—including extending your curriculum, research projects, career exploration, service learning projects, and college preparation projects, to name a few. Ideas for Promoting Learning […]
Inquiry Is Tough, but So Are You
Innovation is tough in any classroom. However, that’s no reason not to do it! Because high school curricula are typically content-driven, students don’t often have the opportunity to practice learning in novel situations. Many teachers using guided inquiry activities (guided inquiry is a teaching technique, unlike true inquiry where the students direct the learning) have […]
A Model for Heat Capacity of Metals
A Carolina EssentialsTM Activity Total Time: 60-70 mins Prep: 15 mins | Activity: 45-55 mins Physical Science | Chemistry 9-12 High School Overview This simple activity models how kinetic energy is transformed into heat or thermal energy on the particle level. Additionally, by comparing data for 3 different metals—aluminum, copper, and lead—students construct a model […]