If you are looking for video tutorials for your students to use to reinforce concepts, or even explore new concepts, Khan Academy has TONS of videos for science (and math) and they are FREE.
For example, here is a detailed video about Mitosis, Meiosis, and Sexual Reproduction:
The homepage is: http://www.khanacademy.org/
Radon is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. It is formed by the natural radioactive decay of uranium in rock, soil, and water. Radon can cause lung cancer. Without a test, there is no way to know if you have Radon in your home.
Please take 5 minutes to find out the answers to the following questions:
For more information about Radon or how to test for Radon, please see the following website from the EPA: http://www.epa.gov/radon/index.html
Whenever we talk about the atom, the topic of the atomic bomb comes up. This year, I spent a few days talking about it and showed some video clips as well. We read Einstein’s letter to FDR, as well as his response. Reading the letters was a great activity, we talked about letter writing, formal vs friendly, typing, zip codes, WW2, the Manhattan Project, the Cold War, and the kids were really interested. I ended with two video clips: one was “Duck and Cover” and the other was a graphic representation of all the bombs that have been detonated starting with the Trinity Test.
Other resources:
Simple lab using markers, water, jelly jar, and coffee filter paper. (You can use rubbing alcohol instead of water, results are similar). Shows how you can physically separate a mixture, as well as demonstrate capillary action.
39 grams of sugar + 355 mL of water to demo what is in soda
Tried this demonstration at home before I try it in the classroom. It shows how hot and cold water can both mix or not mix together. I used blue food coloring for cold water and yellow food coloring for hot water (didn’t have red handy at home, but will use red at school). It also demonstrates a great surface tension trick with the upside down jar of water and a playing card. I use playing cards b/c the waxy surface works best for either demo. (I used old glass jelly jars, we go through a lot of jelly at my house. I run them in the dishwasher and save them for science experiments.)
For this demo, I am not going to tell the kids that I am using cold and hot water. Want to see if they can figure it out 
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When the cold blue water is on the top, and the hot yellow water in on the bottom, as soon as you pull the card away, they mix and the water turns green in both jars. (purple if you use red). When the cold water is on the bottom, and the hot water is on the top, when you take the card away, it does NOT mix like before. there may be a small zone of mixing where the two meet. Great discussion about density and the effects of temperature on the movement of the water particles.
It is a pretty cool trick and I think the kids will love it when they see it, only b/c it is so unexpected for them .
For more information, check out this website: http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/watertrick.html
Saw this slide and audio presentation about Atomic Bomb testing in the NY Times. I will be teaching my atomic unit soon and love finding different resources to add to my lessons.
This is a first person account by George Yoshitake, now 82, and his work as a camera man during atomic testing.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/09/14/science/20100914_atom.html?ref=science
One of our big labs of the year is the Mystery Powder Lab. I have 6 unknown white powders that the students have to identify by performing a series of chemical tests and observing physical properties. Once they have all their data collected, they use a flow chart to figure out the identity of each powder.
On a plastic tray, I set up the following equipment: one flask of vinegar, one flask of iodine, one flask of cabbage juice, 3 pipettes, cup of clean toothpicks, cup for used toothpicks, microwell plates, 6 numbered plastic knives, and a test tube clamp. I stress the importance of avoiding contamination and proper lab procedures. When the bags are not in use, they should be closed and put back, never put anything back into the bags once its been used or touched any surfaces (besides the knives), to only use knife # 5 for powder #5, not to let the pipettes touch the powders they are testing, if anything spills or breaks to let me know, etc. The plastic trays help keep everything contained, the powders do get messy and some stuff will spill or overflow. Very easy to clean up between classes when it’s all on the trays.
On the side of the classroom, I have the 6 mystery powders in small zip-top bags, 4 of each one. The powders are: baking soda, baking powder, flour, corn starch, sugar, and baby powder (no cornstarch kind). I have pre-cut aluminum foil squares for the heat test next to the bags, the students take one when they are ready to use it. Under the hood, I have candles set up for the heat test.
Students can test the powders in any order, as long as their data is written next to the corresponding number on their data chart. The tests that they perform are: Cabbage Juice to practice pH, vinegar to test for fizzing, and iodine to test for the presence of starch, and the heat test to test for sugar. For the heat test, you want a caramel color and bubbling for a positive test, all the other powders either scorch or don’t do much.
The students perform this lab in groups of 3-4 and it takes about 1 1/2 class periods to complete. Once they have collected all their data and made their observations, I give them the flowchart to identify the powders. As a group they evaluate their data and write down what they think each bag contains. We go over the answers the next class period, or if everyone is done before the end of class, we go over the answers then. Kids really enjoy this lab and work well as a group. They take turns doing the different tests and discuss what is happening during the lab.
Notebook:
Today my 5th graders learned how to use red and blue litmus paper, as well as use cabbage juice as an indicator. In the classroom, I had 6 solutions for them to test. They could test the solutions in any order they wanted. The solutions were: tap water, salt water, baking soda, Comet cleanser, vinegar, and a freshly squeezed lime. The only solution they had to be careful with was the Comet cleanser, everything else was harmless.
Each lab tray had the following set up (1 tray had supplies for 4 people to share, but they worked in pairs):
On the side of the classroom, I had the 6 containers of solutions with a pipette in each solution. I used small take out containers I had at home. I have a habit of saving all types of plastic containers instead of throwing them out. As a teacher, they come in handy! I was able to set some stuff up at home and just add water to make the solutions when I got to school. The tops were pretty secure so it was easy to transport.
To test the solutions, they only needed 3-4 pipettes full of each item placed into their cups. Back at their table, they tested using pH paper first, then added the cabbage juice. When using the cabbage juice, 3-4 pipettes full was plenty to observe the color change.
They were able to complete this activity within one class period. The red cabbage juice has a strong smell, which they were all to happy to comment about it! =) I made the cabbage juice at home using half a head of red cabbage and boiling it for about 45 minutes to get a dark purple color. Once it cooled, I placed it into an empty soda bottle and filled it up about 95%. I added a small amount of rubbing alcohol to the bottle. This helps to keep it fresher longer and stop it from getting rancid too quickly. The rubbing alcohol does not change the properties of the cabbage juice or affect the pH. You can refrigerate it if you want to keep it longer as well.
Notebook:
One of my students recently sent this video clip to me. (Thanks James!) It demonstrates the polarity of water by doing a rather simple experiment, I had never seen this before and can now add this to my bag of tricks! My unofficial theme for this year has been water. Everything we have studied so far this year, relates to water in some way. I tease my students and say that if they don’t remember anything else from 5th grade, they will know the formula for water! =) Enjoy!
