Don’t Quote Me on That: Math Attitude Card Sort
A Carolina EssentialsTM Activity Total Time: 25-45 mins Prep: 10-15 mins | Activity: 15-30 mins Life Science, Physical Science 9-12 High School Total Time: 25-45 minutes [ Prep: 10-15 mins | Activity: 15-30 mins ] Subject: Life Science, Physical Science Grade: High School Overview It has often been said that mathematics is the language of […]
Newton’s Laws, Friction, and Hovercraft
A Carolina EssentialsTM Activity Total Time: 60 mins Prep: 30 mins | Activity: 30 mins Physical Science 6-12 Middle/High School Total Time: 60 minutes [ Prep: 30 mins | Activity: 30 mins ] Subject: Physical Science Grade: Middle and High School Overview Students can engineer a simple hovercraft that illustrates Newton’s laws of motion and […]
The Physics of Vision
A Carolina EssentialsTM Activity Total Time: 30 mins Prep: 10 mins | Activity: 20 mins Physical Science 8-12 Middle/High School Total Time: 30 minutes [ Prep: 10 mins | Activity: 20 mins ] Subject: Physical Science Grade: Middle and High School Overview Understanding vision requires a knowledge of physics, anatomy, and physiology. This activity emphasizes […]
Forces at Work in a Lava Lamp
A Carolina EssentialsTM Activity Total Time: 45-65 mins Prep: 15-20 mins | Activity: 30-45 mins Physical Science 6-12 Middle | High School Total Time: 45-65 minutes [ Prep: 15-20 mins | Activity: 30-45 mins ] Subject: Physical Science Grade: Middle and High School Overview In this activity, students gather evidence of molecular interactions and reactions […]
Carbon-Carbon Multiple Bonds: Structure and Function
A Carolina EssentialsTM Activity Total Time: 45-60 mins Prep: 15 mins | Activity: 30-45 mins | Research: 120 min Physical Science | Chemistry 9-12 High School Overview This is a modeling activity designed for pairs of students where students use molecular models to construct a simple 2-carbon alkane, then convert it to a 2-carbon alkene […]
Carbon Snake
A Carolina EssentialsTM Demonstration Total Time: 15 mins Prep: 15 mins | Activity: 10-15 mins Life Science 8-12 Middle/High School Overview During this teacher-directed demonstration of an exothermic reaction, students observe the dehydration of a carbohydrate using concentrated sulfuric acid. Use the demonstration to illustrate topics such as reaction kinetics, organic reaction types, and energy […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
Elephant Toothpaste
A Carolina EssentialsTM Activity Total Time: 50 min Prep: 30 | Activity: 20 Physical Science | Chemistry 6-12 Middle | High School Total Time: 50 min [ Prep: 30 | Activity: 20 ] Subject: Physical Science | Chemistry Grade: Middle | High School Introduction This quick demonstration showing the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, catalyzed by […]