University of Iowa : burn oat hulls for economic, environmental benefit
What is an alternative energy source that is available today? This article, part of a series about the future of energy, introduces students to a pilot project of burning oat hulls at the University of Iowa power plant. Students read that the burning of oak hulls instead of coal provides for cleaner air and additional space in landfills. Copyright 2005 Eisenhower National Clearinghouse
Blue Planet Challenge - A natural history of the oceans
This very interactive site uses a variety of games to explore ocean related subjects. The games cover such topics as tidal zones, deep ocean species, ocean currents, general animal life of the ocean, symbiotic relationships, water pressure, human impact on ecosystems, and the habitats found at the South Pole and along the California coastline. There are help tabs added to the games called Species Fact Files and Infobursts where a player can find out more information on a particular topic if need
Lobster's Violin: Why They do it
This two-minute radio show focuses on why spiny lobsters make sounds using soft body parts. While the sounds of a lobster play in the background, the show's guest scientist explains that the spiny lobster, being an arthropod, goes through a molting process in order to grow. It produces these sounds to ward off predators when its new outer skeleton is not yet hard. The show, which is from the Pulse of the Planet radio program, is available here in audio and text. Copyright 2005 Eisenhower Nationa
Factoring Special Products
Choose the correct steps to factor a polynomial involving perfect-square binomials, differences of squares, or constant factors. Use the feedback to diagnose incorrect steps.
Maths: Number : Short and long division
Worked examples of short and long division problems. For long division, an applet gives a step-by-step demonstration of the procedure; the pace at which the learner views each step is controlled by the user.
Quick take on Pheonix Mission to Mars : follow the water
Following water continues to guide exploration even as space is explored find water and you might find life itself. One such mission that is following the water is the Phoenix Mars Lander project. On August 4, 2007, the lander was launched on its 10-month journey to the Red Planet. Phoenix will land on the northern plains of Mars and dig into the soil and water-ice seeking the Martian Holy Grail: water and possible life-supporting conditions.
Melting Polar Icecap: Intro
This two-minute sound segment introduces the problem of the melting of the polar ice cap. A picture is beginning to emerge of a polar icecap that is both thinning and shrinking as a result of either a normal climate fluctuation or global warming. This site is from an archive of a daily radio program called Pulse of the Planet, which provides its listeners with a portrait of Planet Earth, tracking the rhythms of nature, culture and science worldwide and blending interviews and extraordinary natur
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration : Climate Homepage
This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website provides climate information and data. This site offers a variety of product links to climate monitoring, climate at a glance data, U.S. drought assessment, global climate change information, weather observation stations and more. Users can also link to organizations which participate in climate research such as the National Climate Data Center, Ocean Climate Laboratory and the National Weather service. This site is an excellent resour
Data flyer
Teachers of all algebra levels will find this applet useful when helping students understand and visualize the relationships between graphs and data points. The exploratory questions could serve as the basis for class projects involving the use of the applet.
Testing, Teaching, and Learning: A Guide for States and School Districts
State education departments and school districts face an important challenge in implementing a new law that requires disadvantaged students to be held to the same standards as other students. The new requirements come from provisions of the 1994 reauthorization of Title I, the largest federal effort in precollegiate education, which provides aid to level the field for disadvantaged students. Testing, Teaching, and Learning is written to help states and school districts comply with the new law, o
Alfred Wegener
This brief biography of the originator of the Theory of Continental Drift, Alfred Wegener, covers his background and some of his other work in addition to his 1912 book, The Origin Of Continents And Oceans. In addition, the site explains the evidence that brought Wegener to his conclusion, the early rejections, and his final vindication. It also provides information about some of his personal interaction with others. In addition, there is a link to information about his work in Greenland.
Fractions : Middle School Lessons and Materials for Teachers
This collection of links from various sites and organizations offers teachers lesson plans, activities, and practice on fraction topics. Also included are some offers for video or software. Links are organized under content titles, such as fractions and decimals, fractions and algebra, and reference materials.
Precession
About 2000 years ago the Greek astronomer Hipparchus discovered that the position of the Sun at any season, measured against the background stars, migrates in a slow cycle of about 26000 years. This precession of the equinoxes also shifts the position of the celestial pole (so that our pole star would not have been a good guide for the ancient Greeks) and is caused by the rotation axis of the Earth slowly moving around a cone. Precession may be one of several astronomical processes contributing
Teacher's Toolkit : Reforming cookbook labs
The majority of ancillary materials provided with any textbook includes a large quantity of labs that have step-by-step instructions. Although it is important in science for students to learn how to follow directions, offering only cookbook labs limits students' access to exploration. Presented in this article are 11 different ways of altering cookbook labs so that students understand the intention of the procedure. The altered labs do not fully achieve the status of inquiry-lab, but they are a
Tech Trek : The latest in handheld microscopes
Microscopes have come a long way since their invention in 1590. New technologies in handheld microscopes encourage interactivity, exploration, and observation of specimens in real time, very often allowing students to see living microcosms that are difficult to observe. The ideas presented here will update your knowledge of the technologies available for examining the structure and function of living things in the middle school science classroom.
Ecological Footprint: Overshoot
In this two-minute sound segment, the director of the Sustainability Program for the public policy group Redefining Progress discusses the concept of your ecological footprint. This is the amount of nature it takes to support your lifestyle. He says that if we use more than can be replaced by nature we are in a condition called overshoot. He suggests that this can continue for a while but eventually someone will have to pay with a lower standard of living. This site is from an archive of a daily
Observe how glaciers erode bedrock surfaces
In this interactive Earth science resource, students are first presented with six different photographs showcasing how glaciers can erode bedrock. Students are instructed to click on each labeled image to see an enlarged version of it. In the enlarged view, each photo is accompanied by a sentence or two that explains the glacial erosion shown. The images include features such as cirques, medial moraines, and striated bedrock. Copyright 2005 Eisenhower National Clearinghouse
Venn Diagram
The science club advisor asked club members what science courses they liked. Eighteen members said they liked physics, 17 liked chemistry, and 10 liked biology. However, of these, 9 liked physics and chemistry, 4 liked biology and chemistry, 2 liked physics and biology, and 2 liked all three. How many science club members were interviewed?
Slope calculation
Examine the graph of two points in the plane. Find the slope of the line that passes through the two points. Drag the points and investigate the changes to the slope and to the coordinates of the points.
Lunar phases, activity 2
How do the phases of the moon occur? This activity, part of an interactive laboratory series for grades 8-12, introduces students to the phases of the moon as it revolves around the Earth. In this activity, students choose the lighting of the moon by the sun as it would appear from Earth. Here students match a view of the phase of the moon with its proper location during its revolution. After correctly matching each phase and location, additional information is provided. Students are able to rot
