Where was the ice cream cone and 7-Up invented? St. Louis, MO of course. Take a tour of The Arch and then come by and see Lab-Aids at the NSTA National Conference.
We will be at Booth #1581 at the America's Center Convention Complex. Also, don't forget to schedule our workshops into your plans. Workshop Room 127.
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2019:
NGSS Body Systems: Gas Exchange
8:00 am - 9:30 am
Students conduct an investigation to identify the presence of carbon dioxide in samples of their own exhaled breath. The function of the respiratory system in excreting carbon dioxide waste is highlighted. This activity is building towards an understanding of human body systems and to the interacting roles of these systems in providing nutrients and oxygen and removing carbon dioxide wastes from the cells throughout the body. Student Pages | Teacher Pages
NGSS Evolution: Embry-OH!
10:00 am - 11:30 am
What relationships across different animal species can you see in embryological data that you cannot observe by comparing mature animals? Identify patterns in embryological images from different species to provide evidence of closer evolutionary relationships. Student Pages | Teacher Pages
NGSS Chemical Reactions: Designing Better Chemical Batteries
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Students investigate how chemical energy can be transformed via a chemical process into electrical energy. After building a prototype wet cell, students brainstorm improvements and build, test, and evaluate new prototypes to meet a set of predetermined criteria within specified constraints. Student Pages | Teacher Pages
NGSS Weather and Climate: Atmosphere, Climate and Global Warming
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Students look at historical data spanning the past 100 years to try to understand the causes of current global warming. They ask questions related to the data to figure out what the evidence indicates and to better understand how human activities relate to global warming. Relates to MS-ESS2-6 (Earth’s Systems) and MS-ESS3-5 (Earth and Human Activity). Student Pages | Teacher Pages
FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2019:
Cell Differentiation and Gene Expression
8:00 am - 9:30 am
Students often have trouble conceptualizing how selective gene expression works. We will use manipulatives to teach this concept and explain how it is connected to genetic engineering. Innovative activities are selected from the new Science and Global Issues: Biology program from SEPUP and Lab-Aids. Activities focus on ways to integrate selective gene expression as a relevant and engaging sustainability issue. Student Pages | Teacher Pages
Photosynthesis and Respiration Shuffle
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Students have major misconceptions about photosynthesis and cellular respiration, but this content is essential for understanding how matter and energy flows, both at the micro (cellular) and macro (ecosystem) levels. Using a computer simulation, a hands-on activity, and notebooking and discussion strategies, expose student thinking—all from SEPUP's new Science and Global Issues: Biology program from Lab-Aids. Student Pages | Teacher Pages
What is a Species?
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
In this activity from the SEPUP high school biology program, learn about conditions that lead to speciation, including isolation due to temporal, geographical, and behavioral factors, and more. Then determine whether selected animal or plant pairs are in the early, mid, or late stages of speciation. Student Pages | Teacher Pages
pH Scale
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
What does pH actually measure? In this investigation, you will measure pH indirectly using indicators and absorption using the Lab-Master. Using their data, participants generate a graph of absorbance versus pH. This graph can be used to determine the pH of solutions, within the measured pH range. Join us for this activity from The Natural Approach to Chemistry program. Workshop Pages
Distilling Aromatic Hydrocarbons
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
We distill water to purify it, or so we think. So why does the clear distillate from apple cider smell like apples? Join us and find out! Using a clever test-tube distillation apparatus, distill the essence of vanilla and the scent of mint…and even show you how to make brandy from wine! Distillation is a crucial process in chemical engineering and technology, yet few students ever get to explore the process. Workshop Pages
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2019:
Using Climate Proxies to Learn about Earth's Climate History
8:00 am - 9:30 am
How can scientists tell what Earth’s climate was like thousands of years before human measurements? This activity simulates the use of fossil ocean foraminifera, tiny organisms whose growth patterns are different in warm or cold water. Analyze and graph samples of replicas of these organisms to determine relative warm and cold periods in the past 200,000 years. This activity is from EDC Earth Science, a new NSF-supported high school program from Lab-Aids. Student Pages | Teacher Pages
Prospecting for Mineral Ore
10:00 am - 11:30 am
How do geologists look for mineral ore? In this activity from EDC Earth Science, participants search for a layer of rock containing a valuable mineral called molybdenum by testing sediments collected in strategic spots along river systems—gathering data to decide where the deposit is located. This is no "cookie mining" activity! Student Pages | Teacher Pages
Calling All Carbons
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
The element of carbon is critical to life on Earth. All living organisms contain different and essential carbon-based molecules. Several Earth processes work together to cycle carbon from one carbon reservoir to another and to keep the amount in each reservoir stable. Join in to learn about and model different carbon transfer processes. Student Pages | Teacher Pages