Free Science Inquiry Lab for Grades 7-10: Solar System Simulation

 Free Science Inquiry for Grades 7-10: 
PhET Solar System Simulation

We've been up to a lot of science lately! I've been trying to fill our lessons with inquiries and experiments - but the older my kids get, the tougher those lessons are to find online! So I've been making my own.😀

This lab is an inquiry using the free solar system simulator made available online by PhET. You can see that here. It's a really cool way to see the effects that certain changes could have on our own solar system by changing the mass, velocity and speed of planets or the star they revolve around. 

Want more science freebies? Take a look at my Science Printables page!

Students will start by making a few hypotheses and sharing their knowledge. Before introducing this inquiry, I highly recommend learning about the solar system, how the planets orbit each other, and how gravity, mass and velocity work together in planetary orbits. If you're teaching the 'learn as we go' model, you could use one question per day and have them experiment, then research the topics online.

The booklet then leads students through the experiment along with guiding questions - basically it asks them to think about why something might happen, then experiment to find an answer.  

You can download this free booklet by clicking on the link below. It's great for teachers, homeschoolers and online learning! Please be sure to leave my webpage on each page when you are using it, however, per my terms.

Download the Free Science Inquiry Lab Here

 

Free Science Experiment for High Schoolers: Measuring Light Speed with Chocolate

I have another fun and free science experiment to share with you today - and this one is aimed at the older kids (but easy enough for younger siblings to follow along too!)

Want more science freebies? Take a look at my Science Printables page!

I found this experiment for my 8th grader who is currently studying space and astronomy. I wanted to make up an experiment we could include to go along with her unit on light and space, but nothing too complicated or requiring any outdoor time (it's cold here this time of year!). 

All you'll need is a microwave, a plain chocolate bar, a calculator and a ruler! I have also included a pre-knowledge sheet for this experiment that explains how light is measured, how microwaves use light waves and even included a video from Youtube about how microwaves were invented and work.

Since the experiment follows the scientific method, this means that kids will need to come up with a question for their experiment. If they get stuck, I have included some that they can use or to help get them thinking up their own questions.

Of course, the best part of this experiment is that your kids will get to eat some chocolate afterward!

You can download this freebie below by clicking on the link - it will take you to the file on dropbox. You can feel free to use this in your homeschool, classroom or online classes as long as you leave my website on each page and follow my terms.

Enjoy learning - and some chocolate!

Download the Free Light Waves Experiment Here

Free Science Experiment Asthma Effects on the Respiratory System

 Free Science Experiment 

Asthma's Effects on the Respiratory System

I have recently been doing a human health and body systems unit with my youngest kiddo (in 4th grade) and wanted to include some fun experiments for her to make the textbook a little more interactive, and to practice using the scientific method. So I thought while studying the respiratory system it would be interesting to study asthma's effects on the respiratory system and how that can make a person feel. \That's what this experiment is all about!

It's a fun experiment to use while learning about the respiratory system and even gets kids up and moving - perfect for this time of year when we're all stuck inside a little more! I made this for my 4th grader but it can be used with kids to cover biology units from 3rd through 8th grades - elementary and middle school.

I wanted to be sure that we could practice using the scientific method while doing the experiment, including forming a question, making a hypothesis, taking notes and making a conclusion. So I have made sure to include all of those steps. 

I have also included a page of question prompts that students/learners can use if they're stuck on how to form a question - which is pretty common! I find this gets them thinking and can even help them come up with brand-new questions of their own.

Download the free science experiment below:

You can download this freebie by clicking on the link below and use it in your homeschool, classroom, school or online teaching (just be sure to leave my website on each page please as per my terms). I really hope that you and your students enjoy it!

Download the free respiratory system experiment here!

New Situational Math Problem for Elementary Cycle 2

 A new situational math problem for cycle 2 elementary (grades 3-4). Want more situational math problems? Check out my free math resources page!

In this unit, students will use their number sense skills to help figure out the problem. This unit is best done at the beginning of the year after you have covered the basics of numbers, decomposing numbers and reviewed basic addition (if necessary)

The problem focuses on a group of students who are part of an astronomy club and need to keep track of how many stars they have observed over a month. It would go great with a fun space-themed day or during a week when you'll be studying some astronomy together.

I've made sure to include an answer key to make grading easy, as this problem has one definite answer. I have also included a page going over how to solve a situational problem so that both you and your learners can show their work in a way that will be useful to them on future exams and tests.

You can download the unit for free using the dropbox link below. Enjoy learning!

Grab the Free Situational Math Problem Here