Middle School Portal: Math and Science Pathways (MSP2)
The Coastal Ocean Observatory Laboratory (COOL) of Rutgers Marine and Coastal Sciences invites teachers and students to use the COOL Classroom, a series of Internet-based instructional modules that link middle and high school classrooms with active research investigations conducted by Rutgers scientists. In the Gone Fishing module, students explore the role of phytoplankton in the marine food web, and learn a lot about the experimental design in the process. A printable teacher's guide helps edu
Analytical Instruments and Spectroscopic Concepts
Primers for different analytical techniques (HTML, PDF). Also links to animations and audio descriptions of analytically related concepts. Techniques include atomic absorption, spectrophotometry, chemiluminescence, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and atomic emission.
Electricity
This document examines the mysterious force of electricity. The reading will focus on the physical properties of electricity and discuss topics such as (1) The Atom of Carbon, (2) Static electricity, (3) Magnets are special, (4) Magnetic fields can produce electricity, (5) Batteries produce electricity, (6) Electricity travels in circuits, (7) Secondary energy source, (8) Making electricity, (9) Moving electricity from power plants to homes, (10) Fuels that make electricity, (11) Fossil fuel pow
Energy consumption
This document examines energy consumption. The reading will explore energy consumption or energy usage in the United States and discuss specific topics such as (1) Who uses energy?, (2) Homes and commerce, (3) Heating and Cooling, (4) Lighting, (5) Appliances, (6) Appliance efficiency ratings, (7) Payback period, (8) Industrial sector, (9) Petroleum refining, (10) Steel manufacturing, (11) Aluminum Manufacturing, (12) Paper manufacturing, (13) Chemical Manufacturing, (14) Cement Manufacturing, (
Wind
This document examine wind power as an energy resource. The reading will define wind and discuss topics such as (1) The history of wind machines, (2) Today's windmills, and (3) Types of wind machines. This resource is structured as an informational handout to supplement your energy activities or to generate discussion questions. Copyright 2005 International Technology Education Association
Measuring maze
This activity will allow students to apply measuring skills. Students will draw a series of lines of given lengths and directions that will end with a 45 degree angle. The supplies needed are 8 1/2x11 paper and a ruler. Copyright 2005 International Technology Education Association
Geography Game: PlaceSpotting
PlaceSpotting is a new geography game based on Google Maps. You get a picture of a place somewhere on earth and some hints and have to find this place on a moveable Google map. You can also create new "map-riddles" for your friends.
Advanced Calculus
Some of the topics that this book addresses are: Vector spaces; finite-dimensional vector spaces; differential calculus; compactness and completeness; scalar product space; differential equations; multilenear functionals; integration; differentiable manifolds; integral calculus on manifolds; exterior calculus.
Note: this is a 57 MB PDF Document.
Field Journal: Compare
This online activity is part of the museum's Online Field Journal Web site, where young children can explore the wonders of nature with the help of an adult. The challenge here is to compare examples within categories of field evidence. On the opening page, the 11 comparison activities are listed: Seashells, Birds, Insects, Butterflies, Rocks, Leaves, Animal Tracks, Reptiles, Flowers, Fish, and Spiders. On the first page of each comparison activity, there are side-by-side photos of three differe
Draw a Monarch Butterfly
This OLogy activity helps kids to learn about scientific illustrations by walking them through the steps for drawing a monarch butterfly. The activity begins by introducing kids to the importance of scientific illustration and why scientists prefer drawings to photographs. A photograph of a monarch and a printable monarch butterfly outline are included. In addition, students need color photographs, other research materials, paper, an eraser, and a variety of pencils. The process of creating the
Map Projection Animations
This site features QuickTime and Flash animations that address issues cartographers face as they try to fit a three-dimensional surface on a flat planar surface while making maps. Characteristics and distortions of cylindrical, conical, planar, and Goode's projections are discussed. These resources are suitable for use in lectures, labs, or other teaching activities.
Using the Internet to Promote Inquiry-Based Learning
This site is an e-paper that describes a structured approach to inquiry-based learning using the World Wide Web as a primary information resource. Specifically, the paper addresses an 8-step process that begins with an essential question and ends with a product produced by students, typically completed in a cooperative setting. The paper also discusses the skills required by both student and teacher to make inquiry-based learning with the internet a successful endeavor. Finally, the paper discus
Igneous Rocks of the Ocean Basins
These lecture notes introduce magmatism and petrology as they relate to the oceanic lithosphere. The notes cover ophiolite sequences and types of volcanic settings found in ocean basins. A section about basalt includes discussion of location, composition and origin of mid-ocean ridge basalts. Ocean island basalts are further discussed with regards to occurrence, composition and origin. These notes include graphs, maps and phase diagrams. This resource is part of the Teaching Petrology collection
Igneous Rocks of the Convergent Margins
This set of lecture notes discusses the occurrence and tectonic settings of igneous rocks near convergent plate margins. A discussion of petrography includes major element composition, calc-alkaline trends in ternary diagrams, trace element variations, isotopes to distinguish magma sources, and the origin of igneous rocks at convergent margins. The lecture notes include helpful illustrations, maps and phase diagrams. This resource is part of the Teaching Petrology collection. http://serc.carleto
Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology Class Materials
This web site is maintained by John Winter of Whitman College, and contains 31 PowerPoint presentations for an igneous and metamorphic petrology course. The course and the lectures are keyed to his text, An Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology. The PowerPoint presentations are organized by chapter and contain many maps, graphs and illustrations. Each chapter is a separate PowerPoint file that can be downloaded and modified to suit the user's needs. In addition, the website includes
How to Improve Critical Thinking Using Educational Technology
Critical thinking is one of education's central goals and most valued outcomes, but it can difficult to teach effectively. The Reason! project has developed the Reason!Able software as part of a general method aimed at enhancing critical thinking skills. This paper describes the challenges involved, the theoretical basis of the Reason! project, the Reason!Able software, and results of intensive evaluation of the Reason! approach.
How does the temperature of the Great Lakes change over time?
This classroom activity allows students to use water surface temperature, bathymetric data and weather data to look at trends in the water temperature of the Great Lakes. The exercise asks students to make predictions, and then use the data to answer questions. The site contains everything that is needed for the exercise, including student handouts, maps, links to data sources, and background information and questions for discussion.
Geometry Formulas and Facts
This excerpt from the CRC Standard Mathematical Tables and Formulas covers geometry, excluding differential geometry. It is a reference for advanced students, and covers the material in quick, condensed sections of notes. Notes and diagrams are organized into sections and subsections, starting with coordinate systems, plane transformations, lines, and polygons in two-dimensional geometry. The section on three-dimensional geometry covers coordinate systems in space, space symmetries, directions,
GeoMaths - Revision Topics
This site, part of the University College London's GeoMath site, provides a review of basic math skills, including basic equations and functions, areas and volumes, and coordinates and graphs. The notation is linked throughout to a glossary of terms, and several examples are geologically based and have realistic scenarios. This resource is part of the Teaching Quantitative Skills in the Geosciences collection. http://serc.carleton.edu/quantskills/
GeoMaths MathHelp Material
This site provides students with mathematics self-study material which is embedded within the context of the geosciences. The material consists of many MathHelp "notebooks" covering specific mathematical topics related to a relevant geological context, such as plate velocity or cliff erosion. The notebooks contain explanations, illustrations, and examples. A mathematical glossary is also constantly available, providing a brief explanation of mathematical keywords and links to the relevant notebo
