This week, students in Ms. Lee's Earth Sciences class began learning about the Scientific Method through a hands-on lab testing how different SPF levels affect UV-sensitive beads. As part of this experiment, they explored key concepts such as control, constant, independent, and dependent variables.

One interesting challenge students quickly discovered was that real-world experiments often come with unexpected obstacles! For example, many applied sunscreen lotion directly onto their bags, only to realize it took around 30 minutes to dry. When asked if they usually let sunscreen dry that long on their own skin, the unanimous answer was “no!” This led to some creative problem-solving—students used fans, air conditioning vents, fanned notebooks, and even spinning in circles to speed up the drying process.

After gathering both individual and class data, students compared the results to see how different SPF levels affected the color change of the UV beads. A fun observation: the yellow bead didn’t change color after SPF 15, while other UV beads did! This led to deeper discussions about all the variables that might impact results—such as the amount of sunscreen, drying time, and even weather conditions.

This lab is designed not just to explore sunscreen effectiveness, but also to guide students through the entire lab report process, helping them understand how many factors can influence the outcome of an experiment. 

We’re proud of their critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity