Here is a running list of science phenomena and applicable topics that can be taught:
Life Science
- Diabetes: sugar regulation; water regulation; gene regulation
- Sickle cell: gene mutation; gene expression; gene therapy; recessive disease
- Cancer: mutation; anaerobic respiration; asexual reproduction
- Freckles: gene expression
- Myostatin mutation in dog and humans: gene mutation; phenotypic expression
- GMOs: genetic engineering; variation
- Dog breeds: artificial selection; recessive diseases
- Pesticide resistance insect: natural selection; food web; organic farming; biocontrol; human impact
- Leaves changing color: photosynthesis; gene regulation
- Burning marshmallow: cellular respiration
Physical Science
- Drinking bird: temperature differential; pressure differential; intermolecular force
- Floating candle: temperature differential; pressure differential
- Straw race: pressure differential
- Atomizer: pressure differential
- Sky lanterns: pressure differential; temperature differential
- Amusement park rides: potential and kinetic energy; forces
- Gauss cannon: action and reaction forces; magnetism; kinetic and potential energies; momentum
- Newton’s cradle: kinetic and potential energies; momentum
- Dry eraser and water: intermolecular force
- Hot and cold packs: exothermic and endothermic reactions
- Archimedes and the gold crown: properties of metals
- Burning steel wool: conservation of mass; chemical change
Earth Science:
- Grand Canyon: weathering; erosion; deposition; law of superposition; plate tectonics; climate change; fossils; rocks and minerals; potential and kinetic energies; force; biodiversity; food web
- Worst flood in India: weathering; erosion; deposition; orographic effect
- Landslide in Norway: erosion
- Mudslide in Yonkers: weather; erosion; deposition