Last Week of School Science Activities

Wondering how to make the last days of school memorable?

Check out my Mystery Science Labs II - an intriguing set of mini-labs centered around Florida 4th Grade benchmarks needed for the 5th Grade Science FCAT. Mystery Science Labs III is a mini set of labs for a shorter class period. The original set of Mystery Science Labs contains 11 mini exploration stations to help students explore the world around them and apply their powers of observation.

Mystery Science Lab

$4.00

Mystery Science Lab II

$4.00

Mystery Science Lab III - Mini Version

$2.00

Or maybe you want to jump into the world of owl pellets! This product is not meant to be a comprehensive unit designed to get your class ready for a test. This is a fun project for the end of the school year – after testing is over, but before you’re allowed to start showing movies and having all day recess.

Then again, you might be trying to collect make up work from a couple of students and need to keep the rest of the class busy while doing so. Try letting the rest of the class create their own investigation using magnets from your physical science kit and using the free template below.

Owl Pellets Lab {Literature in the Lab}

$3.00

Magnets Science Lab Sheets for Elementary {FREE}

FREE

Penny Science Lab Sheets for Elementary {FREE}

FREE

Math Games to Make the Last Days Count!

Looking for a way to keep students engaged (and learning!) during those final days of school? I’ve got you covered with low-prep, high-impact math games that review key skills while keeping the energy positive and productive!

Go Fish: Turn review into fun with themed Go Fish sets.

• Fractions, Decimals, and Percents
• Whole Numbers
• Decimals
• Measurement
• Fact Families

4.NF.5, 4.NF.6 Go Fish: Decimals, Fractions, and Percents {Math Game}

$3.50

3.OA.7 Go Fish: Fact Families {Math Game}

$1.50

5.NBT.3 Go Fish: Forms of Decimals {Math Game}

$3.00

4.MD.1 Go Fish: Converting Measurements {Math Game}

$3.00

Factor Frenzy & Multiple Madness: Perfect for practicing factors and multiples—fast-paced and easy to set up!

4.OA.4 Factor Frenzy {Math Game}

$3.00

4.OA.4 Multiple Madness {Math Game}

$3.00

4.OA.4 Bundle: Factor Frenzy & Multiple Madness {Math Game}

$4.80

$6.00

Bingo: Review decimals and place value in a format students already love. Great for small groups or whole class!

5.NBT.A.3 Decimal Bingo - Word Form to Standard Form {Math Game}

$2.00

4.NBT.2 Place Value Bingo {Math Game}

$3.00

Long Division Games: Turn long division into a themed-challenge.

4.NBT.6 Honey Bee Long Division {Math Game}

$2.00

4.NBT.6 Alien Invasion Long Division {Math Game}

$2.00

Dominoes: Get students matching and comparing.

• Fractions, Decimals, and Percents
• Equivalent Fractions

3.NF.3, 4.NF.1 Dominoes: Equivalent Fractions {Math Game}

$3.00

3.NF.3, 4.NF.5, NF.6 Dominoes: Fractions, Decimals, & Percents {Math Game}

$3.00

These games are great for centers, partner work, early finishers, or a fun math review day. Keep your students sharp while winding down the year in a meaningful way!

Wishing you a smooth and happy end to the school year!

Exploring Mineral Properties: A Hands-On Activity for Hardness

Learning about the hardness of minerals provides an exciting opportunity for students to practice scientific testing and observation. This hands-on activity introduces students to the concept of mineral hardness and how it helps identify different minerals. Using a simple series of scratch tests, students will sort their samples into categories and record their findings, all while deepening their understanding of this key mineral property.

Start the lesson by watching the video clip on mineral hardness, which explains how some minerals can be easily scratched by a fingernail, while others are much harder and resist scratching altogether. Use this as a discussion starter, asking students why hardness might be an important characteristic in identifying minerals. 

After the discussion, students will test the hardness of their mineral samples by following a sequence of scratch tests. First, use a fingernail to try to scratch the surface of the mineral. If the sample is scratched, place it in the Soft column and do not test it further to avoid damaging the sample. Next, test the remaining samples with a penny. If the penny scratches the mineral, place it in the Medium column. For those not scratched by the penny, use a steel nail. Minerals scratched by the nail belong in the Hard column. Any samples that cannot be scratched by any of the tools can be categorized as Very Hard.

As students work, have them record their observations on the Mineral Properties Recording Sheet, noting the tools used and the results of each test. This systematic approach not only teaches the concept of hardness but also reinforces the importance of careful observation and accurate data recording. By engaging in this activity, students gain a hands-on understanding of mineral hardness while applying scientific methods in a fun and interactive way!

Using Boom Cards for Review

Enhance your students’ understanding of mineral properties with my Boom Cards, designed to make review both interactive and effective. These self-checking digital task cards are perfect for preteaching key concepts, helping absent students catch up, or offering extra practice for those who need it. Whether in the classroom or at home, they provide a fun and accessible way to reinforce learning and build confidence.

Wrapping Up

If you’re planning to teach about mineral properties, I’ve created sorting mats to help students take their learning further by categorizing and analyzing mineral samples. These mats are a valuable resource for any classroom and can be downloaded below. By incorporating hands-on activities, students can connect theoretical knowledge to real-world examples, making mineral properties more engaging and meaningful. This activity is a fun and educational way to bring science to life, and I highly recommend giving it a try with your class!

Weathering with Conversation Hearts: A Sweet Science Experiment

Understanding weathering—the process that breaks down rocks into smaller pieces over time—is a fundamental concept in earth science. With this simple and engaging experiment, students can observe mechanical weathering in action using Conversation Hearts candy. This hands-on activity is perfect for demonstrating how rocks break down due to physical forces like wind, water, and abrasion.

Materials Needed:

• Conversation Hearts candy (or any small, solid candy)

• Small container with a lid (such as a plastic food storage container)

• Small pebbles or aquarium gravel

• Paper and pencil for observations

Procedure:

1. Initial Observations: Give each student a few Conversation Hearts. Have them examine the hearts carefully, noting their shape, color, and any imprinted messages. Students can record their observations in a science journal.

2. Simulating Weathering: Place the Conversation Hearts in the container along with a handful of small pebbles or aquarium gravel. Secure the lid tightly. Instruct students to shake the container vigorously for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. The pebbles act like natural forces such as wind and water that cause rocks to collide and wear down over time.

3. Observing Changes: After shaking, pour out the Conversation Hearts onto a tray or paper towel. Have students observe and record how the candy has changed. They should notice that the edges may have softened, colors may have faded, and small fragments may have broken off.

4. Discussion and Connection to Weathering: Discuss with students how this experiment models mechanical weathering. Explain that, just like the candy pieces breaking down due to friction and impact, rocks in nature are weathered by physical forces like flowing water, wind, and ice.

Extension Ideas:

• Time Variation: Have students shake the container for different lengths of time and compare results.

• Different Materials: Try using different types of candy to see if some weather faster than others.

• Real-World Connections: Show images of weathered rock formations, such as smooth river stones or eroded cliffs, to help students connect their observations to real geological processes.

This simple yet effective experiment brings an abstract concept to life in a way that’s engaging and memorable for students. Plus, it’s a great excuse to use some extra candy after Valentine’s Day!

Need a review activity? Check out my Science Boom Cards - a no prep, self-checking digital activity for students to use either in the classroom (fast finishers) or at home for extra study time.

Exploring Mineral Properties: A Hands-On Activity for Streak

Understanding the streak of a mineral is a fascinating way for students to explore its unique properties and practice scientific observation. This hands-on activity guides students through performing streak tests on their mineral samples, using video instruction to enhance their learning. By combining visual aids and interactive exploration, this activity helps students grasp the concept of streak while honing their observation and recording skills.

Streak

Start by introducing the concept of streak with the video clip included in the resource. Use this as a discussion starter, emphasizing that a mineral's streak is the color of the powder it leaves behind when scratched across a streak plate. Unlike the mineral's external color, its streak provides a more consistent clue to its identity. Highlight that some minerals, like pyrite (fool’s gold), can have a streak color that differs significantly from their outward appearance.

To perform the streak test, ensure the classroom is equipped with both white and black streak plates. Having both types allows students to easily see the powder trail left behind, especially for lighter or darker minerals. After watching the video, students will carefully rub their mineral samples across the plates, noting the color of the streak in their Mineral Properties Recording Sheet. Remind them to handle the plates gently and to test each mineral on both colors to ensure accurate observations.

This activity not only teaches students about streak as a reliable mineral property but also underscores the importance of hands-on learning and scientific inquiry. By encouraging discussion, careful testing, and accurate recording, teachers can foster curiosity and critical thinking in their students—key skills for budding geologists and scientists.

Using Boom Cards for Review

To help students review the properties of minerals, try using my Boom Cards for an interactive and engaging experience. These self-checking digital task cards are ideal for preteaching concepts, helping absent students catch up, or providing extra practice for those who need it. Whether used in the classroom or at home, they offer a fun and effective way to make learning accessible for all students.

Wrapping Up

If you’re planning to teach about the properties of minerals, I’ve designed sorting mats to help students dive deeper into categorizing and analyzing their mineral samples. These mats are an excellent tool for hands-on learning and can be downloaded below to enhance your lesson. By actively engaging with real-world examples, students can bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and practical application, making the study of mineral properties more meaningful. This activity is not only educational but also a fun and memorable way to bring science to life in your classroom!

Mass and Volume: Why Same Volume Doesn't Mean Same Mass

When it comes to teaching about mass and volume, one of the most important concepts for students to grasp is that the two aren't always directly related. A great way to help students understand this is by comparing objects that have the same volume but different masses. A perfect example is comparing a soccer ball to a bowling ball. At first glance, both objects may seem to have similar sizes, but when students hold them, they will quickly realize that their masses are very different.

The Soccer Ball vs. The Bowling Ball

Start by showing students a soccer ball and a bowling ball. While they may appear to be the same size, the mass of the bowling ball is far greater. This hands-on activity helps students visualize that two objects with the same volume (or size) can have very different masses because of the materials they are made from. The soccer ball is light and filled with air, while the bowling ball is dense and solid.

To make the activity even more interactive, consider obtaining a bowling ball from a local bowling alley. Many bowling alleys are happy to give away old, damaged bowling balls for free. This can make the experiment both cost-effective and engaging for your students. Having students physically compare the two objects will spark curiosity and provide a deeper understanding of how different materials impact an object's mass, regardless of its size.

After observing the soccer and bowling balls, students should take time to write & draw their observations in order to help make the content "stick." These drawings could be done in their science journals or on larger sheets of construction paper as something to hang in your hallway.

Challenge students to find other objects that have the same volume, but different masses. (Or similar mass, but different volumes.) Those that meet this challenge could add this information to their drawings above.

Key Takeaways for Students:

• Volume refers to how much space an object takes up. Two objects can have the same volume but different masses.
• Mass refers to how much matter is in an object. The mass of an object is determined by the material it is made from, not just its size.
• Objects like the soccer ball and bowling ball can have similar volumes, but because the materials differ, their masses are not the same.

By the end of this activity, students should be able to explain why objects with the same volume can have different masses and better understand the relationship between mass and volume. This hands-on lesson will provide them with the tools to explore these concepts in more depth and apply their learning in real-world scenarios.

Remember, sometimes the best way to teach science is through real-world examples that students can touch and feel. It makes the concepts tangible and exciting for them!

Need a Review?

To further reinforce the concepts of mass and volume, consider using Matter Boom Cards as a fun and interactive review activity! These digital task cards provide instant feedback and are perfect for reinforcing the properties of matter, including mass & volume. Students will love the engaging format, and the instant feedback ensures they understand key concepts while keeping track of their progress. With the ability to assign them digitally, Matter Boom Cards make a seamless addition to any classroom—whether you're reviewing in person or virtually. Perfect for reinforcing what students have learned, these cards help ensure mastery in a hands-on, tech-friendly way.