QUEST Subjects and Experiments

Light, Energy, Matter and Magnetism

Light is a Wave - Reflection and Refraction. Upper grades cover geometry and angle of incidence. Using a piece of glass and laser pen explain 2 dots in reflection.
Renewable Energy - Solar, Wind and Water. Build a generator.
Static Electricity - Demo using Van de Graf generator in cafeteria.
Matter I - Matter is made of Solids, Liquids and Gas. Identify and categorize examples of each. Show energy level of atom in each state.
Matter II - Change of States. Show energy level of atom in each state and how the addition of energy (heat) changes the state of the atom. Messy glue/starch lab!
Magnetism - What is a magnet? Cool Geomags and a compass! Study how to find North & South on a magnet.

Feathers, Birds and Dinosaurs (Adaptive life, T-Rex had feathers!)

Guest Speaker - Science and Nature Center talk on Science, Scientists and Fossils.
Feather Lab - What is a Feather? Study how delicate feathers are and how rare feather fossils are. Observe with magnifying glass and draw feathers.
Adaptation Lab - Imaginative role playing lab on a past ecosystem. Students become different parts of a past ecosystem. Each student then draws their “fate” from 20 choices. Only 2-3 choices turn into fossils. For the older grades we then ask how we study “our” ecosystem from just the few fossils that remain.

Space, Astronomy, Planets, Solar System

Rocket Launch - Outside. Study rockets and what it takes to get in to space. Launch some Estes rockets.
Solar System Lab - Study on scale. Name all planets; learn a system to memorize them. If the Earth is the size of a penny, how big is the Sun (109 pennies)? Compare sun and planet sizes. If the Sun is the size of a penny, how big is the solar system (~275’)? Study planet orbit distance.
Mars Lab - How do we Get to Mars? We are going to Mars in 2018 (per NASA plan). What is the difference between Earth and Mars? How far is it to travel to Mars? More questions. Have each team come up with a plan including drawings.

Earth Science: Soil, Earth Pressure, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis

Volcano, Earthquake, and Rock-Slide Tsunami Demo
Soil Lab -What is Soil and Sand? Observe and draw/list contents of soil and sand.
Tsunami Lab - What is a tsunami? In a plastic container build a small island using sand and dirt. Gently add water. Make, study and draw 3 wave types (P, S and L). What are the results?

Life Science: Beneficial Insects, Plant Cycle and Life Cycle

Life Cycle Demo - Veterinarian and her pets. Study different life cycles of animals, fish, bugs, etc.
Bugs, Water Cycle and Nitrogen Cycle Lab - Study insects in the garden and then release ladybugs around the school.
Plant Cycle Lab - Study Plant Cycle. Plant a seed then watch and record the cycle. Turn in grown plant for exchange.

Scientists and Technology

Careers in science and technology - Each teacher reports on a science field and has the students do a hands-on “experiment”, from that field, for the students.

Orienteering and Magnetism

Orienteering - Students use a compass and instructions to find their way around the outside of the school.
Build a Compass - Students use a magnet, steel rod, Styrofoam and a container of water to build a compass.
Study Magnets - Using Geomags students study what a magnet is and how to find North and South on any magnet using a compass.

Waves and Sound

Slinky and SPL Meter Demo - Students use a compass and instructions to find their way around the outside of the school.
Waves - Students build a wave generator using toothpicks to learn how waves “move through” things. The students then write about and draw what they have seen.
Pitch (Frequency) - Students build a clarinet using a straw and also build a telephone using string and plastic cups.

Weather

Extreme Weather Demo - Students study how a tornado is formed, how clouds form and what causes rain.
Thunderstorm lab - Using water, ice cubes with blue food coloring (cold front) and red food coloring (warm front) the students study what happens when a cold front and warm front meet. The students observe then write about and draw their observations.
Water Cycle Lab - Using ice cubes and water the students study how the water cycle works. The students observe then write about and draw their observations.

Mass, Volume and Density

“Sink or Float” Demo - Using a 10 gallon water tank the students learn about Density and observe what happens when different objects are dropped in the water. The objects include bowling balls, various fruit, wood, metal, etc
Mass Lab - Using density spheres (all same volume, but different mass) and a scale students study what makes mass and define weight.
Volume Lab - The student takes a bar of wax based clay and measures the volume. The student then makes any shape they want and then measure the volume again. The student learns that volume remains constant regardless of shape. This is a very popular experiment.

Gravity and Satellites

Gravity Demo and Rocket Launch - Students observe what happens when objects of different mass (grapes, apples and a cantaloupe) are dropped simultaneously from a ladder. The students then observe the launch of two different hydrogen fueled rockets.
Gravity Lab - Using string of different lengths and washers the students build pendulums. The students then measure how many swings a pendulum makes in 10 seconds. The students make a table and then predict the speed of different lengths of string.
Satellite Lab - Using a custom made gravity well the students study what happens when different density objects (density spheres) enter the gravity field. The students observe then write about and draw their observations. This is a popular experiment.

Bacteria: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Ugly Demo - Different bacteria and its effects are presented. We use snakes and other pets to show how bacteria are spread.
The Good Lab - Students make yogurt and bread. They then observe and write about their experiments over 24 hours.
The Bad Lab - Cultures from shoes, chins, etc. are taken from each 4th and 5th grade class. The class then labels and observes the cultures over a two week period. The student learns about controls and variables. The cultures are then studied by each class in the school. Emphasis is made on the importance of hand washing.

The Way Things Work

For the Yo-Yo Demo the students are shown what makes a Yo-Yo work and then get to try out a yo-yo. In addition each QUEST teacher picks a subject on the way “something” works and then does the experiment with 6 different classrooms. Example experiments include sound vibrations, computers, worms, probability, bar codes, and the circulation system.

The Investigation

Guest Speaker - CSI Investigator from Sheriffs dept.
Unknowns Lab - What is in the container? Students are given 35mm film containers with different items in each container. They use their senses and measuring instruments (scales, etc) to try to identify what’s in each container.
Fingerprints Lab – Students learn the different types of fingerprints and then fingerprint themselves and identify their fingerprint type.

The Wind

Hot Air and Tornado Demo – Hot air balloon and tornado demo in the cafeteria.
Measuring Wind Lab – For the older students they build an anemometer and try to measure speed.  For the younger students they made “helicopters” and studied different spinning speeds.
Wind Energy Lab – Boat races using wind energy and making paper airplanes.

Energy in All it’s Forms

Different Energy Forms Demo – The students are given a demonstration of chemical, mechanical, electrical, heat and light energies using different methods.
Types of Energy – Study and discuss the different types of energy and record this info in their notebooks.  Create chain reactions (nuclear energy) using dominoes.
Energy Conservation – What is energy conservation? Why do we care?  The students then build different types of circuits using SNAP circuit kits.

Waves and Sound

Sound Wave demo – Students get to see many different types of waves being generated.  They also get to learn hearing safety in the SPL meter demonstration.
Slinky Wave Lab – Students pair up and then make different types of waves (standing, linear and longitude) using a metal slinky.  The students then write about and draw what they have seen in their notebooks.
Pitch (Frequency)
Making a Pan Pipe – Students study different frequencies and then build a pan pipe using a straw.

Circulatory and Nervous Systems

Nervous System demo from a veterinarian, Nutrition lab, Circulation lab
Nervous System demo – Guest speaker. A veterinarian discusses the nervous system using different materials.
Circulation Lab – Students use a bucket of red (or green “alien blood” food coloring) water, clear tubing, and a “pump” to simulate the circulatory system.
Nutrition Lab – Study the different food groups. Using a container of Crisco, the students measure and record different amounts of fat in many types of their favorite foods.

Engineering Electrical Engineering lab, Civil Engineering lab

Extreme Weather Demo – Guest speaker. Students get a visit from Central Texas Engineering Week’s “Dr. Cold” discussing the basics of the Laws of Thermodynamics using liquid nitrogen. Students learn how liquid nitrogen works and then make and then eat ice cream made using liquid nitrogen.
Electrical Engineering lab – Students learn what an EE does for a living. The students then break into teams with each person performing a different role while building electrical circuits using SNAP circuits. The students then write about and draw their observations.
Civil Engineering Lab – Students learn what a CE does for a living. The students are introduced to why a triangle is stronger than a square. The students then break into teams with each person performing a different role while building towers and bridges. The students then write about and draw their observations.