In this activity, students observe fluid motion and the formation of convection …
In this activity, students observe fluid motion and the formation of convection cells as a solution of soap and water is heated. This procedure can be performed as a demonstration by the teacher, or older students can conduct the experiment themselves. A list of materials, instructions, and a description of the convective process are included.
In this article, a newspaper article about a penguin outfitted with a …
In this article, a newspaper article about a penguin outfitted with a wetsuit is the impetus for a lesson on heat and insulation in marine animals. Students learn about feathers and blubber and think about the role of scientists in observing and caring for animals in the lab. Included are links to lessons and activities and a list of recommended children's books. This article appears in the free, online magazine Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears.
This is an activity about the way distance, albedo, and atmosphere affect …
This is an activity about the way distance, albedo, and atmosphere affect the temperature of a planet. Learners will create a planet using a computer game and change features of the planet to increase or decrease the planet's temperature. They will then discuss their results in terms of greenhouse strength and the presence of liquid water. This lesson is part of Project Spectra, a science and engineering education program focusing on how light is used to explore the Solar System.
This is an activity about the atmospheric conditions (greenhouse strength, atmospheric thickness) …
This is an activity about the atmospheric conditions (greenhouse strength, atmospheric thickness) Mars needs to maintain surface water. Learners will use a computer interactive to learn about Mars past and present before exploring the pressure and greenhouse strength needed for Mars to have a watery surface as it had in the past. This lesson is part of Project Spectra, a science and engineering education program focusing on how light is used to explore the Solar System.
This is an activity about how much atmospheric pressure is needed on …
This is an activity about how much atmospheric pressure is needed on Mars to maintain surface water and why it does not have surface water today. Learners will use a computer interactive to learn about Mars past and present before exploring the pressure and greenhouse strength needed for Mars to have a watery surface as it had in the past. This lesson is part of Project Spectra, a science and engineering education program focusing on how light is used to explore the Solar System.
This is an activity about the way distance, reflectivity, and atmosphere affect …
This is an activity about the way distance, reflectivity, and atmosphere affect the temperature of a planet. Learners will create a planet using a computer game and change features of the planet to increase or decrease the planet's temperature. This lesson is part of Project Spectra, a science and engineering education program focusing on how light is used to explore the Solar System.
Learn about NASA’s Kepler mission and how scientists search for planets orbiting …
Learn about NASA’s Kepler mission and how scientists search for planets orbiting stars outside our solar system in this video segment adapted from NOVA.
In this problem-based learning activity, students are presented with the scenario that …
In this problem-based learning activity, students are presented with the scenario that they are representatives of an organization that is tasked with evaluating the potential effects of a warming climate on New England forests. Student worksheets, teacher guide, and assessment rubric are included. The resource is part of Forests: A Sticky Situation, from the lesson series The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change.
The unit is designed to be completed in six or more sessions. …
The unit is designed to be completed in six or more sessions. The comprehensive curriculum materials contain information for teachers, including activity tips and an overview of the many varied reasons that plant life flourishes in one plot but not another. Students speculate on why plants are more abundant in some areas of the site than others. They list factors that might account for the differences, such as temperature, humidity, light, soil, rainfall, wind, and human or animal activity, and figure out how they can collect more data on these factors. They discuss why it might be important to take a count of all the individual plants in each plot and develop a plan for conducting the field study. A reading selection describes how scientists count plants and gives students tips for conducting their own survey. Students then count plants and record their data. Several optional activities are provided.
Plant water relations are presented in this learning activity to help participants …
Plant water relations are presented in this learning activity to help participants understand the components of water potential, explain how water moves through plants, provide examples of plant adaptations to water stress, and have a general understanding of how water potential can be measured.
SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students view images of plastic pollution around the …
SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students view images of plastic pollution around the world, watch a video on plastic pollution, and analyze artwork about plastic pollution.
SCIENTIST NOTES: The lesson characterizes plastic pollution around the world. It deploys the power of arts to change people's beliefs towards plastic consumption and improve their understanding on the impact of plastic pollution on the environment. The lesson is well-sourced and is suitable and recommended for teaching.
POSITIVES: -Students are exposed to the impacts of global plastic pollution. -Students are exposed to a variety of ways activists can use art to create awareness and apply cultural and political pressure to create change. -Students will understand that big companies are the ones creating major plastic pollution.
ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES: -This is lesson 3 of 6 in our 3rd-5th grade Art for the Earth unit. -Students should have a basic understanding of plastic pollution. -Partners or small groups will need a set of artwork critiquing question cards between them. To save time, cards can be cut out before the lesson or shared with students digitally.
DIFFERENTIATION: -Students can be paired or grouped based on ability. Students who do not regularly shine in class may have the most insightful analysis of the artworks. Make sure to provide concrete, specific feedback on how their analysis is insightful. -Make sure to guide students to "share the air" when discussing the artwork in partners or groups. Step in to make sure all students have their voices heard so that certain students are not always talking or always listening.
The distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes around the world confirmed the theory …
The distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes around the world confirmed the theory of plate tectonics first proposed by Wegener. These phenomena also help categorize plate boundaries into three different types: convergent, divergent, and transform.
This quiz for younger students asks them 10 questions about plate motions, …
This quiz for younger students asks them 10 questions about plate motions, rock types in continental and oceanic crust, crustal formation and mountain building, the supercontinent Pangea, and the theory of continental drift. A link to a page on continental drift provides information to answer the questions.
This video segment adapted from NOVA uses animation to show the relationship …
This video segment adapted from NOVA uses animation to show the relationship between the movement of a tectonic plate and whether volcanoes on the Hawaiian Islands are active or dormant.
This activity seeks to have students analyze global data sets on earthquake …
This activity seeks to have students analyze global data sets on earthquake and volcano distributions toward identifying major plate boundary types in different regions on the Earth. A secondary objective is to familiarize students with two publicly available resources for viewing and manipulating geologically-relevant geospatial data: Google Earth(TM) and GeoMapApp.
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This fun Web article is part of OLogy, where kids can collect …
This fun Web article is part of OLogy, where kids can collect virtual trading cards and create projects with them. Here, they learn about the Earth's outer shell and its constant movement. It begins with an overview that explains tectonic plates. There is an animation that shows recent earthquakes and their relationship to plate boundaries. Students can click to explore 12 individual volcanoes, mountains, hotspots, and earthquakes. For each of the geological formations or events, they will see a map that shows how the plates are moving, an animation about plate interaction, stats, and a story about that particular formation or event.
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