Quilt blocks: geometry with a cultural warmth
This lesson describes how quilting activities can be used to integrate geometry and lessons about various cultures into the classroom. Suggested ways of creating paper quilt blocks include Hawaiian techniques, where many different blocks are brought together to make a quilt; Amish techniques, where shapes are pieced together in an intricate pattern; and African techniques, which have an emphasis on strip textiles made on hand looms and religious symbols. The geometric concepts of symmetry, tilin
How do you light up your bike without reflectors or lamps?
Bicycle safety is a critical matter. This riddle asks students how they can illuminate their bicycles without using reflectors or headlamps. Before they select their answer, students are given a clue. They read about and watch a video clip of two children's attempts to use glow-in-the-dark materials to light up their bikes. The riddle's final page presents students with three clickable answer choices. Brief feedback is given for the incorrect choices. When students select the best answer, a shor
Fibonacci Numbers and the Pascal Triangle
Offered in English, German, and Serbian, this site is a good introduction to the mathematical concepts of Pascals Triangle, Fibonacci numbers, and the Golden Section. Because it is operated in Yugoslavia, there are occasional grammatical errors in the English version. Nevertheless, the information presented gives a valuable account of the significance of these topics. The content of the site includes historical perspectives (with brief profiles of the mathematicians who originated the ideas) and
Seeds of the world : Journey to Forever
Seeds of the world: Journey to Forever - No seeds, no food, vanishing seeds, most crop varieties already lost, rendezvous with extinction, seed saving, biodiversity, world hunger This site discusses the importance of seeds to humans and the global economy. It provides extension information about genetically modified seeds and the Green Revolution.
Review of Middle School Physical Science Texts
This report provides a review and critique of physical science textbooks in middle school with regard to scientific accuracy, an accurate portrayal of the scientific approach, and the appropriateness and pedagogic effectiveness of the material presented for the particular grade level. Also noted are such things as readability, attractiveness, quality of illustrations, and appropriateness of laboratory activities, home activities, exercises to test understanding, and other resources.
A Private Universe
This site describes and provides access to a twenty-minute video documentary on education research for grade 5-12 educators. With its opening scene at a Harvard graduation, this video program explores why so few students truly grasp basic science concepts. The program traces the problem through interviews with Harvard graduates and their professors, as well as with a bright ninth-grader who has some confused ideas about the orbits of the planets. This site also provides individual program descri
How are Earth's spheres interacting?
This Earth science investigation leads students through a brief introduction of the spheres of the Earth and an exploration of the interactions among the spheres. The seven-step investigation incorporates a mixture of informational text, questions, and images. After reading about and interacting with an image of the four main spheres (the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere), students are introduced to the concept of sphere interactions as part of the larger Earth system. Text, que
EXPLORES! Curriculum Project
The EXPLORES! Curriculum Project, founded at FLorida State University, is intended to increase use of weather satellite receiving technology and weather satellite imagery in K-14 schools. It features over 20 lesson plans relating to weather satellite imagery. These lesson plans are grouped by grade level (elementary, middle, or high school) and are accompanied by an image library, an appendix of resources used in the lessons, links to related internet resources, and a bibliography of books and m
Minerals
This site provides an in-depth look at mineral properties and identification. An alphabetical listing of common minerals allows the user to see a picture and view physical properties of the particular mineral. Properties of minerals are explained, including cleavage, hardness, crystal form, and luster. There are also downloadable labs for crystal models and mineral data sheets. Dichotomous and hardness keys are given for easier mineral identification.
Fossil Fuels
How much does the United States depend on fossil fuels? This web page, part of a site on the future of energy, introduces students to fossil fuels as an energy source. Here students read about the uses, benefits, and limitations of fossil fuels. There is also information on how these fuels are distributed geographically and how they affect the U.S. economy through supply and demand. Thought-provoking questions afford students opportunities to reflect on what they've read. Articles about clean co
The beginnings of probability
These pages present, in terms of a fictional story based on true events, the problem that inspired the development of mathematical probability in Renaissance Europe by French mathematicians Pierre de Fermat and Blaise Pascal. Two equally skilled players are interrupted while playing a game of chance for a certain amount of money. Given the score of the game at that point, how should the stakes be divided? Outlined here is, first, the particular solution and then the general solution based on a c
Map Adventures
This site presents seven lessons that allow students in grades K-3 to investigate the concepts of understanding and reading maps. The lessons utilize a story about a little girl named Nikki who visits an imaginary amusement park. A teacher guide for each lesson includes objectives, teaching suggestions, activities, and student worksheets.
PDC Sessions now published on Channel 9 Hey folks, in an earlier C9 team post we explained how we are moving event content from various places (MIX, PDC, TechEd, etc...) into Channel 9 to give you a single repository of as much technical content as we can bring together. Well, phase 2 of that move has occured and 464 PDC sessions from across PDC08, Author(s):
Stand Up Speak Out-Acceptance
This Public Service Announcement was created by a group of Canadians to teach acceptance. The children and teenagers in this video share that we all should be accepted regardless of our looks or religion. The theme is to "Stand Up and Speak Out". It is a brief but good reminder that our differences make us special. Content is appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students. (1:02)
Heave Ho!
Students will discover the scientific basis for the use of inclined planes. They will explore, using a spring scale, a bag of rocks and an inclined plane, how dragging objects up a slope is easier than lifting them straight up into the air. Also, students are introduced to the scientific method and basic principles of experimentation. Finally, students design their own use for an inclined plane.
Slide Right on By Using an Inclined Plane
Students explore building a pyramid, learning about the simple machine called an inclined plane. They also learn about another simple machine, the screw, and how it is used as a lifting or fastening device. During a hands-on activity, students see how the angle of inclination and pull force can make it easier (or harder) to pull an object up an inclined plane.
Mercalli Scale Illustrated
In this activity, students will learn about the Mercalli Scale for rating earthquakes. Also, students will make a booklet with drawings that represent each rating of the scale.
Earthquake in the Classroom
Students will learn how engineers construct buildings to withstand damage from earthquakes by building their own structure with toothpicks and marshmallows. Students will test how earthquake-proof their buildings are by testing them on an earthquake simulated in a pan of Jell-O®.
Does Weight Matter?
Using the same method for measuring friction that was used in the previous lesson (Discovering Friction), students design and conduct an experiment to determine if weight added incrementally to an object affects the amount of friction encountered when it slides across a flat surface. After graphing the data from their experiments, students can calculate the coefficients of friction between the object and the surface it moved upon, for both static and kinetic friction.
What's the Problem?
Lesson 1, Activity 1 introduces the Asteroid Impact unit. Students will read the President’s memo to receive their ‘marching orders’. Student teams are then formed and are given the student packet that includes worksheets and maps. Each team should become familiar with the maps and complete Worksheet One as a group.
