Labdisc Lesson Library

We have an extensive lesson library of activities ranging from elementary to high school and covering science areas for biology, chemistry, environmental, and physical science. These lessons, many aligned to the NGSS standards, allow students to experience hands-on STEM learning beyond the traditional science lab. Simply click on the file format to download!

Elementary School

Title	Format	Description	NGSS Standards
Light Absorbency	PDF	Checking and comparing the light absorbency of different pairs of sunglasses	1-PS4-3. Plan and conduct an investigation to determine the effect of placing objects made with different materials in the path of a beam of light.
Our Heart Rate	PDF	Recording heart rate before and after exercise
A Walk in the Park	PDF	Recording temperature changes at a city’s busy intersection and in a nearby park or garden	K-ESS2-1. Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time.
Night and Day	PDF	Examining temperature and light changes over a full day	1-ESS1-2. Make observations at different times of year to relate the amount of daylight to the time of year.
How Loud Is Sound?	PDF	Measuring the decay of sound level over distance
The Temperature Around Us	PDF	Recording the temperatures of different substances	K-ESS2-1. Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time.
What Is Distance?	PDF	Examining the relationship between speed, time, and distance, and exploring graphs of distance versus time

Grades 3–5 Experiments

Title	Format	Description	NGSS Standards
Air Pressure	DOCX	Measuring the air pressure inside a plastic bottle
All Charged Up	DOCX	Comparing the voltage and current output of different sized batteries	4-PS3-2. Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents.
Conductors and Insulators	DOCX	Measuring the amount of electrical current flowing through different types of circuits	4-PS3-2. Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents.
Coping with a Warm Environment	DOCX	Measuring environmental temperature and humidity
Feel the Beat	DOCX	Recording heart rate before and after exercise using an ear clip sensor
Make Your Own Battery	DOCX	Measuring the electricity produced by four different types of homemade batteries
Right on Target	DOCX	Recording heart rate before and after exercise using an ear clip sensor and determining target heart rate
Sources of Heat Other Than Sunlight	DOCX	Measuring heat created by mechanical and electrical sources
Temperatures Around Us	DOCX	Measuring environmental temperatures from a variety of locations around the school	3-ESS2-1. Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season.
The Sun’s Effects	DOCX	Measuring the temperatures of 10 different locations around the school yard
Weather and Climate	DOCX	Measuring daily weather conditions including temperature, humidity, air pressure, and precipitation
What’s the Weather Like Today?	DOCX	Measuring daily weather conditions—including temperature, humidity, air pressure, and precipitation—and comparing to measurements taken on other days	3-ESS2-1. Represent data in tables and graphical displays to describe typical weather conditions expected during a particular season.
What’s the pHuss	DOCX	Measuring the pH of a variety of substances
A Walk in the Park	DOCX	Measuring ambient temperature and humidity to see how the presence of “green space” effects these parameters

Middle/High School Biology

Title	Format	Description	NGSS Standards
Do Seeds Metabolize?	PPTX	Measuring carbon dioxide production in seeds before and during germination	MS-LS2-3. Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem. HS-LS2-5. Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.
Mammalian Diving Reflex	PPTX \| INK	Decreasing the heart rate when submerged in cold water to preserve body heat	MS-LS1-8. Gather and synthesize information that sensory receptors respond to stimuli by sending messages to the brain for immediate behavior or storage as memories. HS-LS1-3. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.
City Microclimate	PPTX	Measuring temperature and humidity in green areas and around urban areas
Acid Rain	PPTX	Determining the pH of acid rain and understanding the effects of it	HS-ESS3-6. Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationships among Earth systems and how those relationships are being modified due to human activity.
Beer-Lambert Law	PPTX	Measuring percentage transmittance of solutions at different concentrations
Sweat Production	PPTX	Measuring temperature and humidity changes relative to perspiration	HS-LS1-3. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.
Our Heart Rate	PPTX \| INK	Measuring our heart rate at rest and after physical activity	HS-LS1-3. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.
Temperature Variation Between Night and Day	PPTX \| INK	Measuring thermal oscillation and luminosity during a full day	MS-ESS1-1. Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons.
Photosynthesis	PPTX	Measuring air pressure inside an active photosynthetic system	MS-LS1-6. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms. HS-LS1-5. Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy.
Photosynthesis—Dissolved Oxygen	PPTX	Measuring dissolved oxygen inside an active photosynthetic system	MS-LS1-6. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms. HS-LS1-5. Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy.

Middle/High School Chemistry

Title	Format	Description	NGSS Standards
Titration	PPTX	Using the technique of acid-base titration to find the concentration of a strong acid
Endo/Exothermic Reactions	PPTX	Performing different measurements to examine which reactions release or consume heat	MS-PS1-6. Undertake a design project to construct, test, and modify a device that either releases or absorbs thermal energy by chemical processes. HS-PS1-2. Construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, and knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties.
Specific Heat	PPTX	Heating different liquids to the same temperature (70 degrees celcius) and comparing their individual cooling curves	MS-PS1-4. Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed. HS-PS3-4. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that the transfer of thermal energy when two components of different temperature are combined within a closed system results in a more uniform energy distribution among the components in the system.
Water Phase Changes	PPTX	Analyzing temperature changes in water as a result of a physical state transition	MS-PS1-2. Analyze and interpret data on the properties of substances before and after the substances interact to determine if a chemical reaction has occurred. HS-PS1-3. Plan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare the structure of substances at the bulk scale to infer the strength of electrical forces between particles. HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.
Boyle’s Law	PPTX	Measuring air pressure in a closed container while verifying the relationship between air pressure and volume
Liquid Conductivity	PPTX	Studying the relationship between dissolved ions and the conductivity of a saline water solution
Beer-Lambert Law	PPTX	Measuring percentage transmittance of solutions at different concentrations
Candle Flame	PPTX	Measuring the temperature of a flame according to the “three zones model”
How Acidic Are the Things We Drink?	PPTX \| INK	Measuring the pH of different beverages
How Does Atmospheric Pressure Vary?	PPTX	Measuring atmospheric pressure at different levels above sea level	MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.

Middle/High School Environmental Studies

Title	Format	Description	NGSS Standards
Exploring Our Environment	PDF	14 hands-on environmental science experiments
Water Quality	PPTX	Measuring and comparing the turbidity of different water sources and the effect on aquatic life	HS-ESS3-1. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, the occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
UV and Sunblock	PPTX	Measuring and comparing the levels of ultraviolet radiation through different types of filters
Cloud Detection	PPTX	Measuring infrared temperature from the environment to characterize the current weather
Greenhouse Effect	PPTX	Using a greenhouse to model the effects of the atmosphere on Earth’s temperature	HS-LS2-7. Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
Liquid Conductivity	PPTX	Studying the relationship between dissolved ions and the conductivity of a saline water solution
Acid Rain	PPTX	Determining the pH of acid rain and understanding the effects of it	HS-ESS3-6. Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationships among Earth systems and how those relationships are being modified due to human activity.
Variation of Light Intensity	PPTX \| INK	Measuring the light intensity of different light sources
City Microclimate	PPTX	Measuring environmental temperature and humidity in green areas and around urban areas
Photosynthesis	PPTX	Measuring air pressure inside an active photosynthetic system	MS-LS1-6. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms. HS-LS1-5. Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy.
Photosynthesis—Dissolved Oxygen	PPTX	Measuring dissolved oxygen inside an active photosynthetic system
Temperature Variation Between Night and Day	PPTX	Measuring thermal oscillation and luminosity during a full day	MS-ESS1-1. Develop and use a model of the Earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons.

Middle/High School Physics

Title	Format	Description	NGSS Standards
Earth’s Magnetic Field	PPTX	Measuring the Earth’s magnetic field at a given location
Newton’s Second Law	PPTX	Studying the behavior of a propelled car
Elastic Pendulum	PPTX	Observing changes in the elastic force exerted by a spring acting as a pendulum
Biot-Savart Law	PPTX	Studying the magnetic field intensity variations around an inducting coil	MS-PS2-3. Ask questions about data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces. HS-PS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that an electric current can produce a magnetic field and that a changing magnetic field can produce an electric current.
Hooke’s Law	PPTX	Studying the elongation produced in springs
Ohm’s Law	PPTX	Exploring Ohm’s law in parallel and series circuits
Change in Momentum	PPTX	Demonstrating the conservation of momentum	MS-PS2-1. Apply Newton’s Third Law to design a solution to a problem involving the motion of two colliding objects. HS-PS2-3. Apply scientific and engineering ideas to design, evaluate, and refine a device that minimizes the force on a macroscopic object during a collision.
Speed of Movement	PPTX	Measuring the speed of a moving object in different situations	MS-PS3-2. Develop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system. HS-PS2-1. Analyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration.
Free Fall	PPTX	Observing and analyzing the free fall motion of a bouncing ping pong ball	HS-PS2-4. Use mathematical representations of Newton’s Law of Gravitation and Coulomb’s Law to describe and predict the gravitational and electrostatic forces between objects.
Lenz’s Law	PPTX	Verifying Lenz’s law by measuring the electric current flowing through a coil created by an external magnetic field	MS-PS2-5. Conduct an investigation and evaluate the experimental design to provide evidence that fields exist between objects exerting forces on each other even though the objects are not in contact. HS-PS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that an electric current can produce a magnetic field and that a changing magnetic field can produce an electric current.
Boyle’s Law	PPTX	Measuring air pressure in a closed container while verifying the relations between air pressure and volume
Sound Waves	PPTX	Recording sound waves and sound wave interference	HS-PS4-1. Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media.
Variation of Light Intensity	PPTX \| INK	Measuring the light intensity of different light sources
Friction	PPTX	Investigating static and kinetic friction of a body on different surfaces

Project-Based Learning

Title	Format	Description	NGSS Standards
Project GLOBE	DOCX	Build a student weather station at your school and use the Labdisc to collect ongoing data about the weather conditions in your area
Project Nest Box	DOCX	Collect data on light, humidity, sound, and temperature both inside and outside nesting boxes to find out what features make a birdhouse ideal
Turn Down the Noise	DOCX	Measure the impact of noise pollution in your community and share this information with community leaders to help make your school and community a better and healthier place
What’s It Like Out There?	DOCX	Include a Labdisc GenSci or Labdisc Enviro as part of the payload of a high-altitude, near-space weather balloon to record temperature, air pressure, sound, and GPS location during the balloon’s ascent and descent