Young Scientists at Work: Inside Our Middle School STEM Labs

This term, our middle school science students didn’t just read about scientific theories—they lived them. From the microscopic world of genetics to the vast, imaginative realm of astrobiology, students stepped into the roles of molecular biologists, astrophysicists, and evolutionary scientists. By designing their own experiments, troubleshooting equipment, and analyzing real-world data, these young researchers proved that science at our school is about thinking, testing, revising, and discovering.

Here is a look inside the incredible investigations that took place across our STEM classrooms this term.

Molecules in Motion: The Gel Electrophoresis Lab

 In the Molecules and Methods class, students took on the role of molecular biologists to master gel electrophoresis—a cornerstone laboratory technique used worldwide in genetics, forensics, and medical research.

Using food dyes as model molecules, students didn't just follow a recipe; they designed experiments to test how variables like voltage, pigment type, agarose concentration, and sodium bicarbonate levels impact how molecules move through a gel matrix.

Scientist Spotlight: One student discovered that ramping up the voltage from 27v to 63v dramatically accelerated the distance pigments traveled, while heavier dye molecules consistently lagged behind.

Through this investigation, students strengthened skills in experimental design, data analysis, scientific writing, and evidence-based reasoning while gaining exposure to a technique used in modern genetics and medical science. Projects like this reflect our commitment to hands-on, inquiry-driven science education where students learn by thinking, testing, revising, and discovering, mirroring the exact decision-making processes real biotechnology researchers face when optimizing conditions for molecular separation. 

Earthly Plants, Alien Worlds: Astrobiology & Photosynthesis

Meanwhile, our Astrobiology students turned their attention toward the stars, asking a fundamental question: How does light availability influence an organism's ability to produce energy? Using a classic leaf disk assay, students submerged spinach disks in a sodium bicarbonate solution and exposed them to varying intensities of LED grow lights. As the leaves photosynthesized and produced oxygen, they floated to the surface. Students clocked these times to calculate relative photosynthetic rates.

To elevate the lab into the cosmos, students converted standard lux measurements into Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD). They used this quantitative data to map out strong positive relationships via linear trendlines, and then discussed how different stars—like dim red dwarfs or brilliant Sun-like stars—might alter the energy environments of planets and potentially shape the evolution of photosynthetic life elsewhere in the universe.

This project reflects the interdisciplinary nature of astrobiology by combining biology, chemistry, environmental science, physics, and planetary science into a single investigation. Through authentic experimentation and data analysis, students are not only learning how life functions on Earth, but also developing the scientific mindset needed to imagine how life might survive elsewhere in the cosmos.

Decoding Adaptation: The Stomata Lab

Continuing the astrobiological theme, students also investigated how organisms adapt to environmental stress on a cellular level. To study gas exchange and water regulation, students collected diverse leaves around campus and in nearby ecosystems, documenting their size, color, and texture.

Using clear nail polish, students created intricate epidermal imprints of the undersides of the leaves to count stomata—the microscopic pores plants use to breathe.

By calculating stomatal density per square millimeter, students discovered fascinating, unexpected patterns. For instance, darker green leaves often displayed lower stomatal density, sparking deep debates about the balance between heat absorption and water loss. Students then applied these earthly findings to planetary habitability, brainstorming how atmospheric conditions on distant planets might shape the biosignatures of alien flora.

Projects like this highlight the interdisciplinary nature of astrobiology, combining biology, ecology, evolution, environmental science, and planetary thinking while giving students an authentic experience collecting and interpreting real scientific data.

Survival of the Fittest: The PhET Virtual Bunny Lab

In our Characteristics of Life class, students utilized technology to step into the shoes of evolutionary biologists. Using the PhET Natural Selection simulation, students engineered controlled environments to track genetic drift and natural selection across generations of virtual rabbits.

Students introduced traits like fur color, ear shape, or tooth length, and paired them with selective environmental pressures like wolves or food scarcity.

• The Setup: A student tested how brown fur vs. white fur affected survival in a summer climate hunted by wolves.
• The Result: White rabbits were easily preyed upon, while brown rabbits blended into the background, causing the brown allele frequency to skyrocket over time.

What made this lab uniquely powerful was the introduction of high-level mathematics. Students calculated allele frequencies using the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium equations:

By tracking how values for p and q changed over multiple generations, students mathematically saw evolution occurring in real time. They also discovered the power of recessive traits, noting how alternative alleles remained hidden within heterozygous individuals, an important concept in evolutionary biology and genetics.

Experiences like this reflect our commitment to inquiry-driven science education, where students actively model, test, and analyze complex biological systems while developing the critical thinking skills used by real scientists.

The Root of Our Science Program

Whether using micropipettes, calculating photon flux, counting microscopic pores, or modeling population genetics, our middle schoolers demonstrated incredible scientific maturity this term. These projects reflect our core commitment to hands-on, inquiry-driven education. We aren't just teaching facts; we are building the scientific mindsets needed to solve the mysteries of our world—and worlds beyond!