All Labs
To schedule a visit, drop off or for additional questions, please contact Leslie Leckvarcik (814-641-3665 or email) for Physical Science.
Click here for a list of our available labs
| Physical Science |
| Chemistry |
| Microdensity of Plastics: The purpose of this experiment is to find the density of a small piece of plastic and to use the density to identify the type of plastic. This lab utilizes micropipettes and analytical balances. |
| Boyle’s Law: The purpose of this laboratory activity is to determine the relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas: Boyle’s Law. |
| Half Life Simulation: Students use M&Ms to investigate the concept of half-life. |
| Mixtures & Compounds : The purpose of this experiment is to show that mixtures and compounds are not the same thing. |
| Accuracy and Precision : The purpose of this experiment is to determine the density of water and calculate the accuracy of the density determination and the precision of the density determination. |
| Spectrophotometer Examination of Chalk: The purpose of this lab is to observe the color of light emitted by the spectrophotometer at various wavelengths. |
| Determination of Boiling Points: The purpose of this experiment is to determine the boiling points of various organic compounds and to use these to identify unknowns. |
| Paper Chromotography: The purpose of this experiment is to separate the inks in magic markers using paper chromatography. |
| pH Testing: The purpose of this activity is to give students hands-on experience in testing the pH of various common solutions with different techniques. Those techniques are litmus paper (blue and red), pH paper and pH pens. |
| pH of Households: The pH of various household substances are determined using litmus paper, a pH meter, and/or the 39 drop method. |
| Red Cabbage Indicator: In this lab students will explore the unique qualities of red cabbage which allow it to be used to find the pH’s of various household products. |
| Periodic Table Game: Interactive activity for students to learn how the periodic table is arranged. |
| Isotopes of Pennies: The purpose of this exercise is to determine the number of pre and post 1982 pennies in a film canister without removing the lid. |
| Chemical Reactions: The purpose of this lab is to show visual evidence of the law of conservation of mass during a chemical reaction. |
| Endothermic vs Exothermic Reactions: The purpose of this lab is to explore chemical and physical changes that release or absorb heat. |
| Mystery Solutions: The purpose of this lab is to determine the identity of six unknown solutions. |
| Demonstrations: These demos are used to teach and show students the interesting properties and uses of liquid nitrogen. Other demos include dry ice, fire, and color demonstrations. |
| Molecular Motion Kit: This kit includes two molecular motion demonstrators and magnets. |
| Properties
of Matter: This STC kit covers the topics listed
below. Lesson 1 - Our Ideas About Matter Lesson 2 - Determining Density Lesson 3 - Density Predictions Lesson 4 - Do Gases Have Density? Lesson 5 - Temperature and Density Lesson 6 - Applying the Heat Lesson 7 - Just a Phase Lesson 8 - Changing Matter and Mass Lesson 9 - The Mystery Object Lesson 10 - Starting the Anchor Activity Lesson 11 - Pure Substance or Mixture? Lesson 12 - What Happens When Substances Are Mixed with Water? Lesson 13 - How Much Solute Dissolves in a Solvent? Lesson 14 - Mass, Volume, and Dissolving Lesson 15 - Separating a Soluble and an Insoluble Substance Lesson 16 - Researching Solvents Lesson 17 - Separating Solutes Lesson 18 - Changing Mixtures Lesson 19 - Assessing Our Progress Lesson 20 - Breaking Down a Compound Lesson 21 - Examining and Grouping Elements Lesson 22 - Combining Elements Lesson 23 - Chemical Reactions Involving Metals Lesson 24 - Countering Corrosion Lesson 25 - Mass and Chemical Reaction |
| Physics |
| Magnetic Field Demonstration: Materials include bar magnets and a magnetic field demonstrator. |
| Simple Circuits: This activity allows students to observe that electricity follows a path from a power source through a light bulb and back to the battery. They also learn to manipulate a switch and observe that it can function as a tool to complete or interrupt a circuit. |
| Energy, Machines and Motion Unit: A Science and Technology Concepts (STC) is a unit on energy, machines and motion. Activities include: making a battery, charging a battery, the force of friction, the incline plane, the pulley, the lever, motion of a mousetrap, and the roller coaster. |
| Audio Generator: Comes with an audio signal generator. |
| Rive Ray Set: The equipment for this set includes a rive ray box and optics set. Mirrors , Lenses |
| Intro to Bridges: This K’NEX activity allows the students to build bridges using K’NEX pieces. |
| Roller Coaster Science: The activities for this include working with a preassembled K’NEX roller coaster. |
| Ripple Tank Activity: This activity investigates the motion of waves and its application to reflection, refraction, interference and diffraction in using surface waves in water to variable depth. This activity comes with a ripple tank and wave generator. |
Bell Jar and Vacuum Set: The equipment for this set includes a two stage high vacuum pump with gauge and a universal vacuum plate. |
| Optics Bench Set: The equipment for this set includes 6 student optics benches and one teacher optics bench. Each bench includes an assortment of optic gratings. |
| Pulley Demonstration: The equipment for this demonstration includes a crossbar, numerous pulleys (single sheave, triple tandem and quadruple sheave) and various massed weights (50g, 100g, 200g and 500g). |
| Archimedes Principle: This activity investigates Archimedes principle. |
| Phun with Air Puck Physics: This lab will show elastic and inelastic collision and the physics principles behind them. |
| 2 L Bottle Rocket Launcher: This activity includes a teacher-led manual and self-study manual. |
| Various Physics Demos: These demos include rotating stool, gyroscope bicycle wheel, center of gravity paradox, bed of nails (for balloons), diffraction glasses and diffraction gratings. |
| General Physics Equipment: Conductometer, Oscilloscope, Digital Multimeters, UV Pocket Lanterns. |
| Environmental & Ecology |
| Berlese Funnel: This is a convenient method for collecting and extracting small invertebrate animals from soil and decomposing litter. A rich mix of species, many barely visible to the naked eye, can be found in most soils. In our case, this exercise will serve as a demonstration of soil biodiversity, for display in laboratory classes |
| Exploring Groundwater: Use the ground water model (a large plastic container that simulates ground water infiltration and flow) to explain and predict the flow of ground water. Includes curriculum materials: All supplies necessary to conduct the groundwater experiments. |
| Determining Thermal Conduction of Soil: Various colors of soil samples as well as sand and water can be tested to discover which soil will conduct (and hold) heat the longest. Vernier temperature probes as well as thermometers will be used to determine substrate temperatures. |
| Determining Soil Organic Matter by Ignition: The purpose of this activity will be to determine the Soil Organic Matter (SOM) in the soil. |
| Porosity of Soils and Water Flow: This lab has students measure the amount of water absorbed by three different types of soil. |
What is the Dirt on Soil: This lab is designed for soil texture comparison, including gravel, sand, silt, and clay. |
| Physical
Properties of a Stream: This lab is designed
to be done at streamside to measure flow rate, and physical
properties of a stream and riparian zone. Any or all of the
following equipment may be used for this lab: Equipment for
measuring flow of the stream, pollution and normal chemical
values of a stream with the HACH Kit. *Activities available include the following: • Intro to HACH • Teachers' Notes • Dissolved Oxygen • Carbon Dioxide • Ferrover Powder Pillows • Iron Content • Nitrate Content • pH • Phosphate Content • Sulfate Content • Total Hardness • First Set of Directions • Second Set of Directions • Third Set of Directions •
Oakton pH pens |
| Stream in a Bucket : Macroinvertebrate life and other inhabitants of streams are identified to calculate a cumulative index value, stream quality assessment, and a pollution tolerance index. |
Watersheds with the Enviroscape Watershed Model: This model of a watershed is complete with trees to simulate a riparian zone. Point and nonpoint source pollution can be illustrated. Kit comes with Instruction manual with 12 activities and all materials necessary to perform activities. There is also a lab on watershed delination. |
| Trouble in Fruitvale: The study of groundwater contamination SEPUP Kit comes with an activity manual with 12 activities and all chemicals and supplies necessary for activities. |
| Soil Texture: The purpose of this lab activity is to determine the amount of clay, silt, and sand particles in a given soil. Soil class will be determined, based on the USDA soil survey manual. |
| Discovering Soil: Examine the chemical properties of soil as well as the physical properties associated with the soil profile. Students learn to identify various types of soil. The following items are included in this kit: LaMotte Complete Soil Analysis including Nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, pH and soil Probe21" Regular, sorting sieves, Soil Analysis Field Guide, Geotechnical Gauge, Sand Grain Sizing Folder, Sand Gauge, USDA Soil Flow Chart. |
| Can’t See the Forest for the Trees: Identify trees of PA, measure the age and growing condition, diameter or height and board feet of trees, and identify the major pests of trees. Kits includes: Tree Identification manuals, Biltmore sticks, Tree and Log Scales, 100 ft. measuring tape, Tree Calipers, Activity Manual. Inquire to find out the availability of tree samples for growth rings, common pests of trees. |
| Environmental Footprint: Calculate your individual effect on the environment by calculating the impact of your lifestyle by everyday energy usage. Compare the overall energy usage of Americans to other people of the world. Included with this kit: 1) Kill-a-watt meter (calculates the wattage used by various light bulbs); 2) New energy efficient light bulbs (fluorescent); 3) Chart (wheel) of typical water consumption; and 4) Information about typical electrical energy per appliance. |
| Owl Pellets: Owl pellets are dissected and bones of prey are identified. Discuss predator prey relationships, food chains and food webs, as well as anatomy and niches. |
Populations
and Ecosystems: Foss Kit with 10 activities: Habitat,
Ecosystems and populations, Miniecosystems, Monolake (functional
roles of 12 organisms in an alkaline lake ecosystem), Finding
the energy, Population size, Ecoscenarios, Adaptations,
Genetic variation, and Natural selection •Among
The Wild Chimpanzees (Jane Goodall) |
| Environmental
Videos: All five modules of the EnviroTacklebox video
series. They come with worksheets and activities. Click
here to view the EnviroTacklebox website. Some of the
modules include the following. •Of Ice and Fire A Portrait of the Mono Basin (A field trip to Mono Lake) |
| Life Science |
|
Animal Tracks: Make casts of the tracks using
plastic molds then Use a key (Petersons Field Guide) to identify common animal tracks found in PA. |
| The Effect of Osmosis on an Egg - Hypotonic and Hypertonic Solutions : The selectively permeable membrane you will use to study osmosis is the membrane within an eggshell. It allows water to pass through in response to concentrations of the solutions on either side of the membrane. |
| DNA Extraction of Strawberry: This DNA extraction results in a large quantity of white spoolable DNA. It is an easy investigation and there is almost no way for students to make a mistake that would affect the results. It is much more effective than extracting DNA from any other source. |
| K'nex DNA: Using the DNA K’NEX kit students can perform any number of lessons dealing with the following subjects: the structure of the DNA molecule, replication and transcription, coding, translation and mutations. |
| Born Fighters: This investigation requires students to explore antibodies and immunity. The students analyze the blood serum of a family in order to determine who in the family has Tuberculosis and who has the antibodies. |
| Mysterious Disease: The year is 1854, hundreds of people in London, primarily in the Soho district, are dieing of a horrible disease with an unknown origin. The students use this activity to investigate a fast spreading disease in order to determine its origin. |
| Contagious Town Meeting: This lab is intended to generate questions about the spread of disease. Students will simulate a town meeting using plastic cups and colorless liquid. |
| Lactose Digestion - By the Enzyme Lactase : In this investigation you will observe the effectiveness of a milk-treatment product that contains lactase by testing milk samples for the presence of glucose. |
| Observing Water Transport in a Celery Stalk: As water evaporates from the leaves of a plant, more water is drawn up by osmosis from the tissues below to replace it. By observing this, students will be able to calculate the rate of travel in a celery stalk. |
| Leaf Chromatography: The mix of pigments in a leaf may be separated into bands of color by the technique of paper chromatography. |
| Population Estimate by Random Sampling: In this lab, students will calculate a population estimate using random sampling then compare their estimate to the actual population count. |
| Measuring Plant Transpiration: Transpiration is the movement of water molecules from the plant into the air. Most water loss is through the stomata when they are open for photosynthesis. Environmental conditions can cause changes in the opening and closing of the stomata. Some environmental conditions will increase the rate of transpiration, while others will slow it down. Students will investigate four environmental conditions. |
| Light Intensity and Photosynthesis: In this experiment you will measure the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis. You will expose Elodea samples to various light intensities, and determine the relative rates of photosynthesis by observing changes in pH. |
| Finding the Optimal Salt Concentration For Hatching Brine Shrimp: Brine shrimp are small arthropods which live in tidal pools, estuaries, and salt lakes.The salt concentration of these environments can vary greatly. In this experiment, you will hatch brine shrimp eggs in different salt concentration solutions to find the optimal salt concentration for brine shrimp eggs to hatch. This lab will take 5 days to complete (not including the solution preparation). |
| Intro to Microscopy with Microviewers: Let you students have the experience of using microscopes (almost) and viewing prepared slides. Slides come with fact sheets and a worksheet to be completed while using the microviewers. We currently have the following slide sets: Mitosis, Meiosis, Chromosomes & Genes, Cell structure, Cells of the Body, Cells of plants, Life in a pond, Five Kingdoms |
| Insect Biodiversity (Not appropriate for winter): Use the insect bait trap to capture insects and use the keys to identify them. Supplied with this lab: Insect trap, Butterfly nets (needed), Bug houses (needed), Small containers for holding captured insects (needed), Forceps, Calipers, Petersons Field Guide to Insects, Petersons Field Guide to Butterflies Supplies are still needed for this lab. |
| Who Will Survive: Students perform investigations of natural selection with models to calculate which insects will survive in a variety of environments. This lab relates to camouflage and adaptation. Colored paper insects are dropped on a variety of material samples. Students compute predator prey relationships and breeding patterns for the insects in their sample environment. |
| Symmetry in Nature: Students will investigate if a species or object is symmetrical or merely contains a pattern. |
| Natural Selection in Woolyboogers: Students perform investigations of natural selection with models to calculate which species is the most fit in a given environment. The lab requires students to use various utensils in order to simulate the different mouth parts of woolyboogers. |
| Catalase - Observing an Enzyme : Students will study the catalase found in liver cells. |
| Measuring
Lung Capacity : A spirometer is the instrument
used in the health profession to accurately measure lung capacity.
Lung capacity provides information about the general health
of the lungs. In this lab, you will measure three indices of lung capacity using a balloon. |
| It's in the Genes: This lab involves survival of the fittest for the Black Footed Ferret. It is from the Project Wild Curriculum. Students use different colored beads to determine with traits will be passed on to offspring to enable the species to survive. Students answer questions and plot data for the experiment. |
| Turkey Trouble: Characteristic traits of the wild turkey will be investigated to determine which traits will be passed on to off spring to enable the species to flourish or be "in trouble." Colored beads will be used to support this data. Students answer questions and plot data for the experiment. |
| Visualize the Ear: 3D model of the Ear. Provided with a worksheet involving labeling the parts of the ear. |
| Visualize the Eye: 3D model of the Eye. Provided with a worksheet involving labeling the parts of the eye. Here is a more advanced activity for visualizing the eye. |
| Visualize the Heart: 3D model of the Heart. Provided with a worksheet involving labeling the parts of the heart. |
| Visualize the Plant Cell: 3D model of the plant cell. Provided with a worksheet with a cell related activity. |
| Visualize the Animal Cell: 3D model of the plant cell. Provided with a worksheet with a cell related activity. |
Teach with the Teaching Tanks: These are clear acrylic tanks 12 X 12” and ½ “ wide. Three books of activities involve many areas of science. The following are examples: life science activities, such as growing plants or unicellular life, earth science or weather, physical science and chemistry. Expansion foam for widening the tanks is also available. |
| Roots Activity Set: Includes a large model of the root and activity guide |
| Flower Model Activity Set: Includes a large model of the flower and activity guide |
| Germination Activity Set: Includes a large model of seed germination and activity guide |
| Teeming with Life: This activity is suitable for the youngest middle school students as an intro to diversity and similarities and differences in life. It involves various sound producing materials in film canisters. Two students match similar sounds to find their mate. |
| StarLab – The Cell Cylinder: Portable Planetarium for Life Science with cylinder to visualize the parts of the cell. |
| Effects of Chemicals on Daphnia: This lab is used to investigate the affect of over the counter drugs on Daphnia motility and heart rate. |
Digital Stereo Dissecting Microscopes: Use these microscopes to look at anything from pond water to rocks. Includes microscopes, laptop computers and all necessary equipment. You may request these scopes with any lab. |
| Earth & Space Science |
| Geology |
| Exploring Earthquakes – Shake Rattle and Roll: Use a seismograph to analyze earthquakes generated by the earthquake board. Record your results in a designated laptop to demonstrate the arrival of the various types of waves generated by earthquakes. |
| Earthquake_Resistant_Structures: Using the earthquake boards and lincoln logs, this demonstration explores the difference between building a structure on soft soil versus bedrock. |
Stream Table: This kit will allow students to investigate the process of water erosion as it changes the surface of the earth. It includes a large teacher demonstration stream table and individual plastic student stream table simulators. Students will be able to evaluate running water and its related processes, mass wasting, coastal processes and oceanography, glaciation, and structural processes as well as best management practices for slowing the processes and effects of erosion due to natural and man-made factors.Soil Erosion by Water Stream Erosion |
| Student Seismographs From Catastrophic Events Curriculum: Make student seismographs to use with the earthquake boards. Includes Activity manual, supplies necessary to make student seismographs, paper, pen, and earthquake boards. |
| StarLab Portable Planetarium for Geology: Use the portable planetarium to support your Earth science curriculum with the following cylinders: Plate tectonics, The Earth |
| Landform Discovery Pack: This activity consists of a set of land forms that fit together like a puzzle. Each lab group can explore a different landform or they can exchange. Kit includes 3D models of the landforms and all supplies necessary. |
| Landform Demonstration Kit: This kit demonstrates types of faulting that might result for tectonic plate interaction. It includes cardboard 3D models to demonstrate faulting. |
| Find your way with Compasses: Kit includes a classroom set of compasses and a book of activities for use with compasses, maps and map cd. |
| Find your way with GPS: This kit includes a classroom set of Gamin GPS units and instruction manual and as well as an activity for using the GPS units |
| Plate
Tectonics with Drift Globes: These globes will
demonstrate the appearance of the Earth from Pangaea to the
present. Includes Drift globes, necessary supplies and activity manual. |
| Rock Id: Learn to identify rocks by their characteristics and by sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous. Kit includes teacher set of labeled rocks, classroom set of unlabeled rocks for student use, Petersons Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals, Key to rocks and Minerals, worksheet. |
| Fossil ID: Learn to identify fossils by their characteristics and time period. Kit includes: teacher set of fossils, classroom set of student fossils (the same but unlabeled), rulers, activity guide, geological time scale charts, Petersons guide to Fossils, and worksheet. |
| Catastrophic Events (STC curriculum materials): Use any or all of the laboratory assignments or curriculum materials to explore catastrophic events. Chapters of the books and lab activities involve: Storms, heating earths surfaces, heat transfer and movement of air, convection currents in air, temperature, pressure, and cloud formation, ocean currents and global climate, storms assessment, earthquakes, intro to earthquakes, movement of earthquakes, recording earthquakes, plotting earthquakes, using earthquakes to study earth’s interior, investigating plate movements and faults, convection in the mantle, into to volcanoes, volcanoes and landscape, viscosity and volcano types, igneous rock, magma, volcanic ash, effects of ash fall. Kit includes curriculum materials and all necessary supplies for lab assignments. |
| Oceanography |
| Teach with the Teaching Tanks: These are clear acrylic tanks 12 X 12” and ½ “ wide and can be used for Ocean-related activities. |
| Ocean Activity Model: Visualize causes and effects of ocean currents caused by warm water and cold water causing convection currents. This is one teacher demonstration kit only. It is complete with three activities and worksheets. |
| Bottle Aquarium: The purpose of this activity is to maintain a balanced eco-system with minimal human intervention. |
| Map the Seafloor: Individual boxes allow students to sound the ocean floor of their box for topographical features such as guyots, volcanoes, and plains. Kit includes all supplies necessary for laboratory groups to explore the model ocean floor. (this is on back order). |
StarLab Portable Planetarium for Oceanography: Use the portable planetarium to support your Earth science curriculum with the following cylinders: Ocean Currents This lab can be used along with the PowerPoint found Here. |
| Astronomy |
| Flame Tests & Spectroscopy: These kits include a project star spectrometer, an air spectrum tube and spectrum tube power supplies with the following spectrum tubes: Br, Cl, He, H, I, Kr, N, O, Xe, Ne, Ar, H20 and CO2. |
| StarLab Astronomy Portable Planetarium: Explore the cosmos and identify stars and constellations. Have a mobile educator provide a presentation about one of the following topics: Our Northern Hemisphere (Milky Way) Starfield, Solar System, Constellations, Greek Mythology, or Native American Mythology. All necessary supplies for the portable planetarium and appropriate handouts are provided. |
| Plan a Star Party: On a Friday evening we can bring our telescope to help your students discover the closeness of the rest of our universe with our Meade LS200 12 inch telescope. Use the telescope to inspect the moon’s surface, study the rings of Saturn, or observe the other celestial objects. This is the largest portable telescope in the area. It has GPS, Autostar (autotracking), and many lenses and adapters for photography. Includes telescope, tripod, various lenses, supply chest of accessories and solar filter. |
Study
the Sun: Solar telescope study the surface of the
sun with the solar telescope. Count the number and the position
of sunspots. Sunspotter Informatiom: Diagram , Specifications |
| Parts of a Telescope: Use the Meade LS200 12 inch telescope as a visual aid to learn the parts of a telescope and teach how a telescope works. Learn the difference in reflecting, refracting, Cassegrain, and Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. Includes label a telescope. |
| Meteorology |
| Wireless Weather: Use the wireless weather station to analyze local weather. Weather station monitors temperature, humidity, dew point, precipitation, and wind speed. The weather station should be kept in a protected courtyard or similar location. It is mounted on a tripod and it should be staked firmly to the ground. |
| Is it hot or just humid in here?: Students will calculate the relative humidity of their classroom using sling psychrometers, and the Vernier temperature probes. This will be compared to a humidity meter and the wireless weather station. Students will also calculate the heat index of the room. |
| Why Clouds? Cloud Apparatus: Demonstrate the reasons for the formation of Clouds. This can be used in conjunction with the cloud creation lab for students from Catastrophic Events. All materials necessary for lab groups to create clouds in 2 liter bottles. |
| Air Mass and Convection Kit: Demonstrate what air masses are and the movement of air masses. This kit also helps explain fronts. Kit contains everything necessary for lab groups to complete the laboratory assignment, as well as worksheets. |
Catastrophic
Events (STC curriculum materials): |
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