Teach Spectacular Science Home
HOME
BLOG
ABOUT
FREEBIE
SHOP
CONTACT

Egg Osmosis Lab

Engage your students in a hands-on, inquiry-based STEM activity where they explore the process of osmosis using real eggs as models for cells! The Egg Osmosis Lab & Teacher Guide offers a dynamic and memorable experience where students investigate how different solutions affect water movement across membranes. By soaking de-shelled eggs in various liquids, students can visualize osmosis in action and connect it to real-life biological processes.

$4.00

Description:

Engage your students in a hands-on, inquiry-based STEM activity where they explore the process of osmosis using real eggs as models for cells! The Egg Osmosis Lab & Teacher Guide offers a dynamic and memorable experience where students investigate how different solutions affect water movement across membranes. By soaking de-shelled eggs in various liquids, students can visualize osmosis in action and connect it to real-life biological processes.

 

Why Teachers Love This Activity:

  • Hands-On & Interactive – Students de-shell real eggs and observe changes in mass and size over time.
  • Perfect for Life Science – Easily integrates into lessons on cells, diffusion, and homeostasis.
  • Student-Led Inquiry – Encourages students to make predictions, analyze outcomes, and explain results using scientific vocabulary.
  • Critical Thinking & Scientific Literacy – Students reflect on real-world scenarios such as hydration, preservation, and cellular balance.
  • Engaging Visuals & Transformations – The egg visibly changes, reinforcing understanding through observation.

 

How It Works:

  • Day 1 – Prepare the Eggs – Students soak eggs in vinegar to remove the shell, modeling a cell with a membrane.
  • Day 2 – Osmosis Experiment – Students place the eggs into hypotonic, hypertonic, and isotonic solutions and record changes in size.
  • Observation & Analysis – Students make qualitative and quantitative observations and draw conclusions about water movement.
  • Apply Concepts – Students answer real-world application questions (e.g., what happens to cells in saltwater or fresh water?).

 

What’s Included:

  • Student Lab Sheet with built-in analysis questions
  • Teacher Guide with step-by-step instructions and tips
  • Sample Data Table & Safety Guidelines

 

Why Students Love It:

  • It Feels Like a Real Experiment – Students feel like true scientists as they de-shell eggs, make predictions, and carefully track physical changes over time.
  • Surprising & Gross (in a good way!) – Watching the egg balloon up or shrivel dramatically keeps students excited and talking—even outside of class.
  • Hands-On with Real-Life Connections – Seeing osmosis happen right in front of them helps students make sense of how cells interact with their environment.
  • Mystery & Discovery – Each solution brings a different result, so students stay curious and invested as they compare and analyze what happens.

 

Materials (per group):

  • 3 raw eggs (with shells removed), 3 clear plastic or glass beakers/cups (12–16 oz), 500 mL vinegar (labeled with group name), 200 mL distilled water (hypotonic), 200 mL 0.9% saline solution (isotonic), 200 mL 10% saline solution (hypertonic), ruler (cm), paper towels, timer or clock, permanent marker, gloves (optional but recommended), goggles

 

Teacher Tip: Have students take photos or sketch each stage of the experiment—this makes for excellent visual evidence during review or student presentations. Keep a few extra eggs handy in case of breakage!

 

Grade Levels: 8th – 11th
Total Pages: 12
Teaching Duration: 2 Days

 

⭐ Looking for quality resources and time-saving tips for your secondary science classroom?
☑ Follow Spectacular Science on TPT
☑ Subscribe to My Newsletter
☑ Check Out My Blog
Follow Me on Instagram

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thanks for visiting!
Jessica