This activity is a little lengthy, but I would definitely use it with older elementary students. Students will build their own models of either a plant or animal cell by using Jell-O and fruit (or candy). If I were to use this in class I would modify the activity in a few ways. Making it a two day activity would allow for the students to pour their own molds, which would be kept in the refrigerator over night. Then students can label and stick the fruit into the finished mold on the next day. Either way, this activity is a great way to help students retain the different parts of a cell.

This is a great experiment for students to see the process of crystallization. It's a great way to bring in the idea of crystals being formed by an arrangement of molecules in a pattern. Using household items like borax, food coloring, water, and a few other materials makes it very teacher friendly. I would use this experiment in class to expand on the movement of cold vs. hot water. I could also tie this experiment in while discussing liquids/solids, precipitation, or chemical reactions.

The rock sandwich experiment is a hands-on way to learn about a very long process. The bread acts like two layers of sediment on top of each other that will eventually form metamorphic rock. This experiment is simple, cheap, and quick. It will make for a nice addition to a lesson on the different phases of the rock cycle. I could have pairs of students perform this experiment so everyone is involved and all of them have a chance to do a hands-on activity. It is also a great activity to do lab sheets with and a follow up journal entry on what they learned about the formation of metamorphic rock.

This application is available on iPad and is a great exploration tool for students. The app is like an interactive book that will allow students to gain a more concrete idea of what the solar system looks like, rather than just reading it. Included on the app is a 3D view of the planets along with detailed information and facts about them. I would use the app on an iPad during centers while learning about the solar system in class. It would also be a great way to show the students what the structure of the solar system is instead of simply reading about it. Not only do students get the option to read interesting facts on this app, but there are many pictures included to show different astronomical features. Anything related to technology seems to interest students, especially when they get to be the driver.

This source has a collection of questions and observations students can make while visiting the Botanical Garden. A field trip to the garden is very realistic in the St. Louis area since there is one in the city. The questions could be previewed in class before the day of the trip, so the students are alert and focused on those topics. This is a great lesson to improve the field trip experience and to get students thinking about the fascinating world of plants. Going on a trip like this is great, because many students will not get a chance to see a wide variety of plant life otherwise.

This activity is a great introduction or addition to learning about the rock cycle. By using chocolate, you can show students the difference between weathered, heated, cooled, and compressed rock. The students can use bars of chocolate to create "sedimentary," "metamorphic," and "igneous" chocolate. This is a simple way to effectively show students the difference between the types of rock. The hands-on approach will aid in the students seeing firsthand what the differences look like. It aligns with NGSS focused on the rock formation and cycle, as well as, the geosphere.

This activity will allow students to produce a "marketable" product made from minerals in a product that many people use daily. Students will make their own toothpaste using the minerals, calcium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. Students get to test their product against the basic toothpaste that many people use. The activity and lesson familiarize students will the natural compounds that are used to make many everyday things. Students will see that the combination of these two minerals makes something profitable. Students can also compare the prices of toothpastes to integrate math and to learn about the economy. The activity can be used when we are learning about minerals and natural resources, geoscience, or how communities use science.

This activity allows students to work with genetics that effect human and animal traits. They will use the worksheets to determine which genes will pass on traits to offspring. Punnett squares are used in the activity to aid the students in finding the answers and understanding the difference between recessive and dominant genes. Students can easily work in groups to complete the science activity and use reasoning techniques to understand how their answers are formed. Along with learning about inheritance and genetics, the students will also be working with probability. This lesson can double as a science and mathematics lesson.