Basic Principles Laboratory

Halloween Creatures Dichotomous Key – A Spooky Classification Challenge

Created by
TWFScience

The classroom lights flicker. A chill skims across the lab tables as ten mysterious creatures shuffle, flap, and ooze into view. Your students have one tool to survive the night: a dichotomous key. With each YES/NO choice, they narrow the suspects—bat or crow, wisp or witch’s familiar—until every mo

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Biology

Also included in: Halloween Science Activities & Investigations | Labs, Stations, STEM, Readings

Marble Ramp: Height vs Average Speed STEM Investigation | Scientific Method

Created by
TWFScience

Give students a fast, hands-on motion investigation: set up a simple marble ramp, change only the ramp height, and measure how height affects average speed. With clear test rules and simple materials, students plan a fair test, collect multiple times for each height, calculate average speed, and cre

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Clean Water Filtration STEM Investigation | Scientific Method 6th, 7th, 8th

Created by
TWFScience

Give students a fast, hands-on engineering investigation: build a low-cost water filter, change only one design choice at a time (layer order, thickness, sealing, or adding charcoal), and measure which design makes the clearest water the fastest—all while staying under a classroom budget cap. With t

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Beetle Genetics STEM Investigation | Scientific Method | 6th, 7th, 8th

Created by
TWFScience

Give students a fast, hands-on genetics investigation: simulate beetle heredity, change only the parent genotypes, and use Punnett squares to predict and compare offspring outcomes. With print-and-cut genotype cards and clear scaffolds, students run multiple monohybrid crosses, extend to one dihybri

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Adaptations by Design - Extreme Environments | STEM Investigation 6th, 7th, 8th

Created by
TWFScience

Students will design a biologically plausible organism, choose one extreme environment, and justify how its adaptations solve real environmental pressures. With a trait bank, word bank, a structured CER, and a Survival Index that rolls into a class bar graph, students connect structure → function →

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2+1

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER

Newton 1st Law of Motion STEM Investigation | Penny and Index Card Inertia Test

Created by
TWFScience

Students will investigate Newton’s First Law of Motion by testing how different masses behave when the support beneath them is removed rapidly. Using an index card, a coin, and a cup, students flick the card to observe whether objects of varying mass drop straight into the cup or move with the card.

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-1, MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1+2

Also included in: Newton's Three Laws of Motion STEM Investigations Bundle — Scientific Method

Newton's Second Law of Motion STEM Investigation | Balloon Rocket, 2nd Law

Created by
TWFScience

Students will investigate Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion by testing how changing the mass carried by a balloon rocket affects its acceleration. Using a taut string track, a straw, a balloon, and removable mass clips, students run repeated launches to measure travel time and calculate average speed. Thro

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-1, MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1+2

Also included in: Artemis Missions, Moon Bases, and Future Space Colonization Unit Bundle

Newton's Third Law of Motion STEM Investigation | Thrust vs Nozzle Size, 3rd Law

Created by
TWFScience

Students will investigate Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion by testing how changing the nozzle opening of a water-powered bottle jet affects the distance it travels. Using a plastic bottle, interchangeable bottle-cap nozzles with different hole diameters, and a simple launch cradle, students observe how th

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-1, MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1+2

Also included in: Newton's Three Laws of Motion STEM Investigations Bundle — Scientific Method

Mythical Creature Dichotomous Key Activity

Created by
TWFScience

The classroom hum fades into a hush. A warm breeze rustles imaginary leaves as ten fantastical creatures drift, stomp, slither, and shimmer into view. Your students have one tool to navigate this enchanted encounter: a dichotomous key. With each YES/NO choice, they rule out the possibilities—drake o

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Biology

Electromagnet - Coil Turns vs Magnetic Strength STEM Investigation

Created by
TWFScience

Students will investigate electromagnetism by building their own classroom-made electromagnets and testing how changing the number of wire coils affects magnetic strength. Using an iron nail, insulated wire, a battery, and paper clips, students observe how electric current creates a magnetic field a

6th - 11th Basic Principles, Physical Science, Physics

NGSS MS-PS2-3, MS-PS2-5, MS-ETS1-1+2

Also included in: STEM Investigations Growing Bundle — Scientific Method, Design, Data & CER