7th grade students working completing self-directed, hands-on physics lab. They are using K'Nex roller racers to investigate potential energy, kinetic energy, inertia, friction, measuring techniques, and the scientific method. This lesson was tied to math as they were to graph results, compute ratios, and estimate unmeasured distances using their graph and data. Students completed crystal growing lab to reinforce geology and chemistry concepts. Topics covered included evaporation, physical states, molecule attraction, geological time, etc. 8th grade geology field trip to bring to life abstract classroom concepts. Students applied what they had learned in the classroom in a real world setting. One of several award winning state science fair projects