As a teacher of science for 33 years and a coordinator of Instructional Technology, I have always loved to create my own resources for students. I strive to create engaging, hands-on lessons that often integrate technology and allow interactivity from students. When students are having fun they sometimes forget they are learning.
As a teacher of science for 33 years and a coordinator of Instructional Technology, I have always loved to create my own resources for students. I strive to create engaging, hands-on lessons that often integrate technology and allow interactivity from students. When students are having fun they sometimes forget they are learning.
The Cabbage Caper is a Murder Mystery for kids. It is an interactive, hands-on science lab activity where students begin their investigation on the computer and then move to the "crime lab" to conduct lab tests based on the evidence. The interactive PDF document navigates like a web site and will work on any device including the iPad. If computers are not available, the pages can be printed as a booklet or hung at lab stations.
Students will start with the introduction and will be prompted to move through the activity but they are free to follow their own path. After interviewing the 6 suspects and recording notes in the "Investigator's Notebook", students will proceed to the Crime Lab where they will design and perform experiments to solve the crime. Finally, students will write their final conclusions base upon all they have learned.
Complete Lab setup instructions, chemical labels, lab signs and answer key are included.
Files in this packet include:
Begin Here - read this first!
Cabbage Caper Interactive Lab (pdf file with hyperlinks)
Cabbage Caper Student Handouts (pdf)
Cabbage Caper Lab Setup Instructions (pdf)
Cabbage Caper Lab signs (pdf)
answer key
The Fossil Lab is a 119 page hyperlinked PDF document that guides students through the investigation of 33 important index fossils. In addition to this, 24 pages of printable activities and answer keys are included in separate PDF documents. The activities include a 6 page Fossil Lab answer sheet and an 8 page Index Fossil activity with a 4 page Geologic Time Scale and fossil images to cut out and place on the timeline. See link to demo video above.
The Fossil Lab introduces the concept of fossilization and helps students understand the various ways in which fossils can form. The main focus of the lab is with index fossils and how they are useful in understanding the diversity of life on Earth and the environmental and physical changes that have taken place throughout Earth’s geologic past. The Fossil Lab also allows students to explore many interesting topics based on the latest research including the extinction of dinosaurs, comparison of dinosaurs to modern day birds, and the effects of continental drift on climate and natural habitats during the past 65 million years.
The Fossil Lab navigates like a web site with clickable links that move students through 24 stations filled with fossil images and leading questions. The images can be enlarged for detail and students can select links to resource pages where they can obtain information and clues. The information pages are just a click away for students to learn about fossils; what they are, how they formed and how they are useful.
The first 24 stations are contained in the PDF document and do not require an internet connection. Stations 25-28, however, link students to outside web sites and will require an internet connection and flash player.


The activity works well on any device that can read PDF documents with hyperlinks (Mac, PC, Chromebook, iPad*, etc). The document file size is small enough to be emailed to students or distributed with an LMS such as Blackboard, Moodle, Schoology, Google Classroom (Google Drive) or just passed around on a flash drive. Whatever method you choose, please be sure the file is only available to your students.
Although the interactive power of this activity depends on the use of a computer, it is possible to print out select pages from the PDF document and hang them at lab stations if computers are not available.
*Note: to view the Flash content of stations 25-28 on an iPad, a virtual browser app will need to be installed on the iPad. See the “Begin Here” document supplied with this product for details.
This activity includes:
Fossil Lab Interactive (PDF) High quality
Fossil Lab Interactive (PDF) Good quality (smaller file size for emailing)
Fossil Lab Answer Sheet (PDF)
Index Fossils and Geologic Time Activity (PDF)
Answer keys (PDF)
With the Diagnostic Radiology Lab, your students will be the Doctor! They will examine their patient's X-Ray images, consult the Radiology Reference Guide, and make their diagnosis.
This activity includes:
Getting Started Teacher Guide (PDF)
Diagnostic Radiology Lab -High Quality (Interactive PDF)
Diagnostic Radiology Lab -Email Quality (PDF) smaller file size
Diagnostic Radiology Lab Printer Friendly version (PDF)
Diagnostic Radiology Board Exam activity (PDF)
Diagnostic Radiology Lab Student Answer Sheet (PDF)
Board Exam Answer KEY (PDF)
Lab Answer KEY (PDF)
The Diagnostic Radiology Lab is a 90 page Interactive (hyperlinked) document that guides students through the investigation and diagnosis of X-Ray images (radiographs) from 26 patients. Patient X-Rays are linked to the 6 Chapter (52 page) Radiology Reference Guide which provides comprehensive background information to students. The Reference Guide begins with an interactive Table of Contents with links to each page. Chapter One begins with an explanation of how radiographs are made, the basics of how to interpret them, and how to distinguish what is normal from what is not. Other chapters introduce students to bone anatomy, joints, types of fractures, conditions of the spine, and surgical techniques. Questions are carefully crafted to guide younger students while continuing to challenge more advanced students. Hints are provided in the form of links to specific sections or pages of the Radiology Reference Guide.
Also included is a 5 page "Radiology Board Exam" to be completed by students before they meet their patients. The Exam questions are presented by chapter and are designed to help students become familiar with the content in the Radiology Reference Guide.
Although the interactive power of the Diagnostic Radiology Lab is enhanced by the use of a computer, it is possible to print paper copies of the lab (all links also provide page numbers).
The Diagnostic Radiology Lab works well on any device that can read PDF documents with hyperlinks (Mac, PC, Chromebook, iPad*, etc.). The document can be emailed to students or distributed through an LMS such as Blackboard, Moodle, Schoology, Google Classroom (Google Drive) or just passed around on a flash drive. Whatever method you choose, please make sure the document is only available to your students.
*on your iPad, use an app like "Documents" by Readdle (free) to ensure full function of all hyperlinks.
Medical Disclaimer:
All X-Ray images are from real patients whose names and situations have been changed in the interest of confidentiality and to make the lab a bit more fun! Although every attempt has been made to provide accurate medical diagnoses, the purpose of this lab is strictly educational.
Students assemble, color, and complete a large (11 x 23 inch) layered Model of the Human Body. This activity will help students develop a concept for the major organs and organ systems in the body and for their locations relative to one another. Students will need to place the organs in their proper order so that the organs in the front of the body overlap those in the back. By performing “The Autopsy” activity on their completed model, students will be able to flip through layers to see each labelled organ in the model.
By following the illustrated step by step instructions in the the “Assembly Instructions” section, students can guide themselves through the assembly process. They will then use their assembled model and other resources to complete the activities in the “Activities” section.
The detailed assembly instructions can be viewed as a presentation or it can be navigated like a web site on a computer or any device that reads an interactive PDF document (iPad, iPhone, Chromebook, etc.). All slides/pages can also be printed from the pdf document if computers are unavailable.
After constructing the Human Body Model, students will then use it and other resources to complete the activities. Each activity is in the format of a 3 page infographic (11 x 23 inches) that students assemble, research, and complete. Great for Interactive Notebooks! The activities are organized by body systems and include:
The Muscular System (front and back views)
The Skeletal System
The Respiratory System
The Circulatory System
The Digestive System
The Nervous System
The Endocrine System
Note: these activities are sold individually without the model but are a much better value when purchased as a BUNDLE.
The Building a Human Body activity will engage students for hours (actually weeks) and will produce a lasting classroom display.
Materials needed to assemble:
- Glue / glue sticks (recommended) / or transparent tape
- Colored Pencils
- Scissors
- All masters can be printed on regular 8.5 x 11" paper.
Files included in this product:
- Getting Started Guide for teachers (PDF) - overview and helpful hints for teachers
- Building a Human Body Presentation (PDF) - includes assembly instructions (navigates like a web site)
- Masters to Photocopy (PDF) - masters for Human Body Model and all Activities
- Activities answer key (PDF) - complete answer key for all activities