Methods and Strategies : Using Models Effectively
Models are crucial to science teaching and learning, yet they can create unforeseen and overlooked challenges for students and teachers. This article guides students through age-appropriate, critical analyses of instructional models.
Fascinating pickle facts
Each of this feature's nine paragraphs describes a fact about food produced through fermentation around the globe. The facts present a mix of history and science. For example, one paragraph explains how pickles were instrumental in Spain's discovery of America, while another reveals why modern-day outdoor fermentation vats are intentionally left uncovered. Another paragraph summarizes how osmosis and the bacteria involved in pickling can make vegetables more vitamin-rich. In addition, historical
T.P. Away
What's a quick way to unroll a roll of toilet paper? This material is part of a series of hands-on science activities designed to arouse student interest. Here students use Bernoulli's principle and an electric leaf blower to force air over the top of the toilet paper to quickly unroll it. The activity includes a description, a list of science process skills and complex reasoning strategies being used, and a compilation of applicable K-12 national science education standards. Also provided are c
Developing Alternative Assessments using the Benchmarks
Written from the perspective of a classroom teacher, this article describes a process for developing alternative assessments, provides examples of alternative assessment tasks and student responses, amd illustrates the use of scoring rubrics. The examples use the AAAS Benchmarks for Science Literacy and the National Science Education Standards to identify learning goals. This resource is intended for use in the classroom by K-12 teachers.
Science Fair
PBS provides students in grades 4-7 with oodles of science fair ideas and a science fair tip sheet in this section of the DragonflyTV web site. Overviews of investigations from the television show are offered to help students hone in on an interesting topic and create their own science fair project. Each overview relays a question that a child asked on television, the main steps in his or her experiment, and the results. The overviews also include ideas for further investigations that build on t
Smart Move!
This is a simple activity to visualize a communication system. In order to do this the students encode, decode, transmit, receive and store messages. They will use a code sheet and flashlight for this process. They will also maintain a storage sheet from which they can retrieve information as and when it is required.
Science News For Kids
This resource is meant to enhance the usefulness of Science News in the middle-school classroom and offer recreational reading and activities for students interested in science. It is comprised of six zones: a weekly brainteaser for those who enjoy solving and inventing puzzles, entertaining science-fiction composition exercises for those interested in writing, and weekly science fair profiles and tips. The GameZone contains a small selection of logic and memory games, implemented as Java applet
Pie Chart
This applet allows the user to make pie charts.
Tides and gravity labs
How does gravity cause tides in the oceans? This section, part of an interactive laboratory series for grades 8-12, introduces students to four activities on tides and gravity that cover critical orbital speed between Earth and the moon, gravitational forces between two bodies, tidal effects from the sun and moon, and the change in tidal levels over time. The activities include hands-on animations of concepts whose variables can be manipulated by students. Questions posed to students include ans
Science Sampler : Rockin' around the rock cycle
The following inquiry-based activities were designed as part of a unit intended to aid students in understanding the rock cycle, with the assumption that, after being taught the lessons in the unit, students would have gone beyond a rote memorization of the rock types and rock cycle. The ultimate goal of this hands-on lesson is that students will know and be able to discriminate between them.
Ready, Set, Escape
During this project, students will be asked to design a device that will measure out a time period of exactly 3 minutes. They will be asked to brainstorm ideas using the different materials provided. Students will observe and explain the effects of conservation of energy.
Stomachion -- from MathWorld
The stomachion is a 14-piece dissection puzzle similar to tangrams. It is described in fragmentary manuscripts attributed to Archimedes as noted by Magnus Ausonius (310-395 A.D.). The puzzle is also referred to as the loculus of Archimedes (Archimedes' box) or syntemachion in Latin texts. The word stomachion has as its root the Greek word \sigma\tauo\mu\acute\alpha\chi\iotao\nu, meaning stomach. Note that Ausonius refers to the figure as the...
Area of Parallelograms : Activity A
Examine and manipulate the graph of a parallelogram or triangle and find its area. Explore the relationship between the area of a parallelogram and the area of a rectangle using an animation.
The inclusive classroom : mathematics and science instruction for students with learning disabilitie
This electronic document contains a PDF version of a booklet for K to 12 teachers that focuses on the educational needs of students with learning disabilities in inclusive classrooms. It is estimated that about half of all primary grade classes and about one-third of all secondary mathematics and science classes include students with learning disabilities. The booklet is part of the IT'S JUST GOOD TEACHING series produced by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. Each booklet in the seri
Idea Bank : Joining the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
Would you like to get your students involved in an authentic search for extraterrestrial intelligence? The SETIhome project is an ongoing science experiment harnessing the power of computers via the internet. The project is a great inspirational tool that involves students in the thrill of science and motivates them to learn more about the astronomy, mathematics, physics, biology, and technology involved in the search for intelligent life in the universe.
Science 101 : How Do Microscopes Work?
Microscopes allow scientists to examine everyday objects in extraordinary ways. They provide high-resolution images that show objects in fine detail. This articles includes details on how microscopes work and how they enhance the scientific process.
This Planet Really Rocks
This ThinkQuest Junior site contains information and activities about rocks and minerals. Included is information about what a rock is, the major characteristics with examples of sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks, the rock cycle, the differences between rocks and minerals, how to identify minerals (color, luster, streak, cleavager, hardness, and specific gravity), and the Mohs Scale. Facts about common minerals and their properties, how rocks and minerals are important, and their uses
Fractal Musicand Fractal Music Lab
This first website offers a collection of fractal music using images created by G.W.F. Albrecht. The technology and mathematics which this presentation draws on is described on the second website. The second website, developed by David Strohbeen, offers some basic information about fractals and fractal music. He has also posted some samples of his music and invites visitors to download software for creating fractal music and to submit their own compositions.
Water reclamation plant (RealVideo)
In this video clip, students see how wastewater is treated at a water reclamation plant. One of the plant's operators gives Bob the Vid Tec (a children's programming host) a tour of the plant, describing along the way what happens at each step in the water treatment process. For example, the operator explains that microorganisms are used to consume human waste in the biological nutrient removal step. Bob also talks with another plant operator about why kids should learn about wastewater treatmen
Balanced assessment
The resources found on this web site can be used by individual teachers or teacher groups interested in expanding their use of assessment tools designed to inform teaching practice. Teachers will find the assessments and the supporting materials valuable additions to any professional development focused on assessment.
