This video explores the work of environmentalist John Hart, a Professor of …
This video explores the work of environmentalist John Hart, a Professor of Environmental Science at U.C. Berkley. In the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Dr. Hart has established an experimental laboratory in which he has artificially created and maintained a 3-degree increase in surface temperature of a plot of land, and documented the impact on plant species occupying the plot.
In this paper and pencil exercise, students create graphs that describe the …
In this paper and pencil exercise, students create graphs that describe the effect of a series of experiments using Daisy World, an energy balance model, that can be used to demonstrate concepts of equilibrium, homeostatis, and positive and negative feedbacks. Internet access and exploration with the actual Daisy World model is ideal, but not required. The resource is Activity 6 of the learning module, Global Balance, part of the lesson series Potential Impacts of Climate Variability and Change.
In this hands-on activity, students explore whether rooftop gardens are a viable …
In this hands-on activity, students explore whether rooftop gardens are a viable option for combating the urban heat island effect. The guiding question is: Can rooftop gardens reduce the temperature inside and outside of houses?
A simple experimental apparatus made of rubber band and books is used …
A simple experimental apparatus made of rubber band and books is used by student teams challenged with demonstrating the concepts of friction, force, and inertia. This resource is from PUMAS - Practical Uses of Math and Science - a collection of brief examples created by scientists and engineers showing how math and science topics taught in K-12 classes have real world applications.
Watershed Awareness using Technology and Environmental Research for Sustainability (WATERS) The WATERS …
Watershed Awareness using Technology and Environmental Research for Sustainability (WATERS)
The WATERS project is developing and researching a student-centered, place-based, and accessible curriculum for teaching watershed concepts and water career awareness for students in the middle grades. This 10-lesson unit includes online, classroom, and field activities. Students use a professional-grade online GIS modeling resource, simulations, sensors, and other interactive resources to collect environmental data and analyze their local watershed issues. The WATERS project is paving a path to increased access to research-based, open access curricula that hold the potential to significantly increase awareness of and engagement with watershed concepts and career pathways in learners nationwide.
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This exercise is a second or familiarization exercise in spreadsheeting, but is …
This exercise is a second or familiarization exercise in spreadsheeting, but is also a mathematical model for slope evolution. It uses the concept of "erosivity" (generally, the relative ratio of driving and resisting forces) and slope angle to reshape an initial topography. Finally, it asks the students themselves to come up with a real-world situation worth modeling.
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In this video segment adapted from Northwest Indian College, Lummi Elders explain …
In this video segment adapted from Northwest Indian College, Lummi Elders explain how a decline in the availability of salmon reflects a threatened environment that must in some way be protected.
This informational text introduces students to the life cycle and migration of …
This informational text introduces students to the life cycle and migration of the sanderling, a bird that winters on beaches in the Southern United States and South America but breeds in the Arctic during the summer months. The text is written at a grade two through grade three reading level. This version is a full-color PDF that can be printed, cut and folded to form a book. Each book contains color photographs and illustrations.
This informational text introduces students to the life cycle and migration of …
This informational text introduces students to the life cycle and migration of the sanderling, a bird that winters on beaches in the Southern United States and South America but breeds in the Arctic during the summer months. The text is written at a grade two through grade three reading level. This is a PDF containing the informational text and a glossary.
In this activity, students are introduced to the concept of remote sensing. …
In this activity, students are introduced to the concept of remote sensing. In the course of this experiment, students will investigate heat conduction on two surfaces and understand the application of these techniques to spacecraft investigations of surfaces in the solar system. Materials required for the outdoor demonstration include a cement step, sand, laboratory thermometers, foam rubber, and a meter stick. An optional indoor experimental set up uses twin desk lamps with equal-wattage tungsten bulbs and an infrared thermometer. A student datasheet accompanies the activity. This resource is from PUMAS - Practical Uses of Math and Science - a collection of brief examples created by scientists and engineers showing how math and science topics taught in K-12 classes have real world applications.
This article, part of Biodiversity Counts, examines site preservation, focusing on a …
This article, part of Biodiversity Counts, examines site preservation, focusing on a new national park in El Salvador. The article discusses the questions faced as part of the decision-making process, the formation of an advisory committee in the early 1990s to study the park and make recommendations for how it should be managed, the committee's recommendations, and a description of those changes that are in the works, such as opening a portion of the park to the public.
This static visualization shows that the global carbon cycle is determined by …
This static visualization shows that the global carbon cycle is determined by the interactions of climate, the environment, and Earth's living systems at many levels, from molecular to global.
In this module, students are asked to look at how long it …
In this module, students are asked to look at how long it takes for planets and moons to complete their orbits, and how fast they are going.
(Note: this resource was added to OER Commons as part of a batch upload of over 2,200 records. If you notice an issue with the quality of the metadata, please let us know by using the 'report' button and we will flag it for consideration.)
Students learn how to determine map distances and areas using the map …
Students learn how to determine map distances and areas using the map scale. They get a feel for how much an area represents on the map in relation to the size they are suggesting for their underground caverns to shelter the Alabraska population.
This kinesthetic activity simulates the process of evolution by natural selection. Students …
This kinesthetic activity simulates the process of evolution by natural selection. Students take on the roles of crab-like predators that exhibit one of four variants of feeding appendage: a spoon, fork, knife, and chopsticks. The simulation runs for three trials, as the predators use their appendages to harvest pinto beans, with varying success. Students track the frequency of each appendage type through three generations. This resource is from PUMAS - Practical Uses of Math and Science - a collection of brief examples created by scientists and engineers showing how math and science topics taught in K-12 classes have real world applications.
This online board game involves moving a "research blimp" around the world. …
This online board game involves moving a "research blimp" around the world. Advancing the blimp depends on spinning an embedded wheel and then correctly answering questions related to weather.
Science and education experts caution that climate-change topics can overwhelm and frighten …
Science and education experts caution that climate-change topics can overwhelm and frighten young children. Science lessons chosen for this article focus on general environmental issues, such as the effects of litter, air pollution, and water pollution. The lessons also include actions and solutions to environmental issues. The free, online magazine Beyond Weather and the Water Cycle focuses on integrating age-appropriate science learning with literacy experiences.
This article reviews the book "Using Science Notebooks in Elementary Classrooms" by …
This article reviews the book "Using Science Notebooks in Elementary Classrooms" by Michael Klentschy and provides basic information about the role of notebooks in instruction and assessment.
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