During the science labs, we will explore a variety of scientific topics with hands-on experiments. We will experiment with Biology (plants, biomolecules, microbiology and more), Chemistry (pH, mixtures, temperature and density and more), Physics (magnetism, aerodynamics, buoyancy and more), Genetics (DNA extraction phenotypes and genetic drift), and Earth Science (water cycle, weather, and filtration).  

Depending on how the experiments run, there is a possibility the lab may run past the end of the session. 

Please note these labs are similar to the experiments in my week long Science Lab Camps.

Please see the learner supply list for materials in the tab below.  

Schedule:                                                                      Topic

Week 1:   Sep 8-14, 2024                                            Plants
Week 2:  Sep 15-21, 2024                                           Protein and pH                     
Week 3:  Sep 22-28, 2024                                          Aerodynamics 
Week 4:  Sep 29-Oct 5, 2024                                    DNA extraction               
Week 5:  Oct 6-12, 2024                                            Water and Air   
Week 6:  Oct 13-19, 2024                                          Magnets & Motors      
Week 7:  Oct 20-26, 2024                                         Mixtures    
Week 8:  Oct 27-Nov 2, 2024                                    Microbiology              
Week 9:  Nov 3-9, 2024                                             Filtration 
Week 10: Nov 10-16, 2024                                         Biomolecules                          
Week 11: Nov 17-23, 2024                                          Temperature and Density
Week 12: Nov 24-30, 2024                                        Buoyancy 


Lab Details:
Week 1:  
Biology (Plants)
Prior to class, the students is encouraged to collect leaves from their area.  We will begin by setting up our experiments first. While our experiments are running, we will discuss plant structure, discuss what the leaf structure tells us about the plant and share our collected leaves to support what we learned.  From our experiments, we will learn about the function of plant stems and what pigments are within leaves. Finally, we will play a plant trivia game. 

Week 2:
Chemistry (protein and pH)
We will start by making a pH indicator. Then, I will give a brief review of pH and protein structure.  Next, we will determine whether our reagents are acidic, basic, or neutral.  Then, we will use these reagents with egg whites to see what they do to the protein.  Finally, we will discuss our results and play a chemistry trivia game. 

Week 3:
Physics (aerodynamics)
We will discuss Bernoulli's principle and the forces involved with lift.  Then, we will investigate aerodynamic design with paper aircraft.  We will construct 3 aircrafts and compare the time of flight, distance, and accuracy of each.  Finally, we will discuss our results and  play a trivia game with what we learned.

Week 4: 
Genetics (DNA extraction) 
I will have a brief introduction lecture describing the cell, where DNA is located, and what is its purpose.  The learners will crush or puree strawberries before adding commonly available household items to extract DNA.  We will conclude with a discussion about our observations and a trivia game. 

Week 5: 
Earth Science (water cycle and air)
We will discuss and try to recreate the water cycle.  Next, we will talk about our atmosphere and experiment to visualize if air takes up space.  Then, we will play a trivia game with what we learned. 

Week 6: 
Physics (magnets and motors)
We will begin class by discussing magnetism and motors.  We will first construct an electromagnet and see how many metal objects it can pick up.  Next, we will construct a simple motor.   Then, we will share and discuss our results and play a trivia game with what we learned.  

Week 7: 
Chemistry (mixtures)
We will begin class with a brief lecture about mixtures.  First, we will explore the Tyndall Effect.  Next, we will examine emulsions.  Then, we will talk about Newtonian vs Non-Newtonian fluids and make a dilatant fluid (Oobleck).  We will discuss our results and play a trivia game with what we learned.

Week 8:  
Microbiology (culture & yeast test)
We will start by preparing our yeast test and making our culture broth.  Then, we will have an overview of microbiology and talk about aseptic technique.  Next, we will inoculate our broth and store them for incubation.  Then, we will discuss the yeast test results and play a trivia game with what we learned.

Week 9:  
Biology (Vision)
We will discuss the anatomy and physiology of the eye.  Then, we will make a model of the eye to understand how the eye processes the image.  Next, we will discuss how the brain corrects our vision and look at some images where that occurs.  Finally, we will discuss our results and play a trivia game with what we learned.

Week 10:  
Biomolecules (brown paper, iodine, and catalase tests)
We will begin class by discussing lipids and do the brown paper test.  Next, we will discuss carbohydrates and do the iodine test.  Then, we will discuss enzymes and do the catalase test.  Finally, we will discuss our results and play a trivia game with what we learned.  

Week 11:  
Chemistry (Temperature and Density)
We will discuss density of matter and the effect temperature has on some substances, particularly water.  Then, we will do 3 experiments with colored water of different temperatures to see the effect on density.  Finally, we will discuss our results and  play a trivia game with what we learned.

Week 12:
Physics (Buoyancy)
We will discuss Archimedes Principle, center of gravity, and parts of a boat.  We will construct two (or more) boats with aluminum foil.  We will calculate the volume of each boat.  Next, we will test our boats for displacement and density.  Finally, we will discuss our results and  play a trivia game with what we learned.  

Week 13:   
Smell and Taste
We will discuss the anatomy, physiology and perception of smell and taste.  Then, we will experiment with how the order of smelling things can change our perception. Next, we will compare tastes of common foods that may taste different to different people.  Last, we will discuss our results and play a trivia game with what we learned.

Week 14:  
Physics (Levers and Planes)
We will discuss simple machines, the forces involved and the work they do.  We will experiment with planes of varying inclines to understand the forces involved and construct a lever machine.  Finally, we will discuss our results and play a trivia game with what we learned.

Week 15:  
Physics (Hydraulics/Pneumatics)
We will discuss fluids, hydraulics and pneumatics.  Then, we will construct an air pump.  We will discuss our results and conclude with a trivia game.

Week 16:
Earth Science (Weather)
We will discuss pressure and humidity.  Then, we will construct a simple barometer and hygrometer.  We will discuss how to take readings and what the data tells us.  Finally, we will discuss our results and play a trivia game with what we learned.

Week 17
Biology/Physics (Sound)
Sound
We will discuss sound, sound waves and the perception of sound. Then, we will do simple experiments with sound.  Finally, we will discuss our results and play a trivia game with what we learned.

Week 18:  
Chemistry (Conductors)
We will discuss electricity and materials that are conductors or insulators.  Then, we will experiment with various materials to determine if they are conductors or insulators.  Finally, we will discuss our results and play a trivia game with what we learned.

Week 19:
Chemistry (Electroplating)
We will discuss metals, solutions, types of chemical bonds and electroplating.  Next, we will set up an experiment that allows the transfer of one material to another, similar to electroplating.  Finally, we will discuss our results and play a trivia game with what we learned.

Week 20:  
Genetics (Inheritance and Genetic Drift)
We will review some background on mitosis and meiosis and discuss genetic inheritance, Punnett Squares, evolution and genetic drift.  We will tabulate various traits, including fingerprint patterns, and randomly selecting "alleles" from a bag to demonstrate inheritance and genetic drift.  Finally, we will discuss our results and play a trivia game with what we learned.  

Week 21:  
Biology (Touch)
We will discuss touch receptors and the somatosensory system.  We will experiment with different temperatures of water and make a Braille alphabet with glue and a written alphabet that we can touch.  Finally, we will discuss our results and play a trivia game with what we learned.

Week 22: 
Earth Science (filtration)
We will begin class by discussing water filtration.  We will construct 3 filters with material placed in different orders and determine what filters our "dirty water" best.  We will discuss our results, then play a trivia game with what we learned.

Please note this class will cycle back to the first week after we complete the all classes.  I will post in the classroom, as well as make an announcement during class, when we will cycle back to the first week.