The Age 12-14 - Semester 2 - Science Kit provides specialized materials for hands-on investigations in the following units

• Genetics and DNA
• Living Organisms
• A Dynamic Planet
• Human Body Systems
• Health and Nutrition

These activities help students extract visible DNA from strawberries, measure how organisms respond to gravity, uncover model fossils, and track how the body responds to exercise.

Engage Your Child with a Hands-on Science Curriculum

This kit includes over 40 materials used in experiments throughout the semester. Here are a few examples your child will complete.

• Discover DNA Inside Living Cells: Your child crushes strawberries, filters the mixture, and adds cold rubbing alcohol to extract visible strands of DNA. The process shows that DNA is present in living cells and carries genetic information.
• Investigate How Earthworms Respond to Gravity: Your child measures how earthworms move across a flat surface and an inclined ramp. Comparing repeated trials helps determine how the worms respond to gravity and demonstrates geotaxis.
• Explore How Fossils Reveal Earth’s Past: Your child excavates bead “fossils” from different layers of a model sedimentary rock column and records where each appears. Comparing the layers demonstrates that lower sedimentary layers are older than those above them.
• Observe How Exercise Affects the Body: Your child measures pulse before and after exercise, repeats the test for three trials, and graphs the results. The data shows how the cardiovascular and respiratory systems respond to exercise and help restore balance in the body.

A Complete Hands-On Science Experience

Hands-on science can require families to gather specialized supplies for different investigations. This kit provides materials used throughout the semester’s activities, reducing preparation and helping parents focus on guiding observations, measurements, comparisons, and scientific conclusions.

The following items are included in this kit. This list is subject to change.

• beads
• beans
• cheese cloth
• clear cups
• pipe cleaners
• plastic knives, spoons, and forks
• sealable plastic sandwich bag
• small funnel
• tape
• test tube
• wooden skewer
• balloon
• bowls
• clear jar with lid
• construction paper
• cotton balls
• lima beans
• magnifying glass
• packet of radish seeds
• sealable quart-size plastic bags
• small soda bottle
• string
• thin plastic bottle
• "Transform Fault" cardstock
• butcher paper
• clear soda bottle
• paper bowl
• pebbles
• petroleum jelly
• plaster of Paris
• powdered tempera paint
• sand
• shell or leaf
• small paintbrush
• wax paper
• colored clay
• drinking straw
• earthworm dissection kit
• flexible drinking straws
• mailing labels
• safety pins
• toothpicks
• twine or yarn
• yarn