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
A Natural Fusion: Math and Science Across the Curriculum : Northwest Teacher, volume 4 number 1
Articles in this issue of Northwest Teacher focus on integrating math and science across the curriculum. Teachers create learning experiences for students, of all grade levels, that transcend the power of any one of them taught in isolation. With todays national spotlight on improving students reading and math skills, the potential for cross-disciplinary teaching of these subjects may be readily apparent. But science, too often nudged to the hinterlands of the curriculum when state standards and
Science Sampler : Growth Potential
Students will enjoy carrying out this exciting and challenging research project that combines science with computers and mathematics to investigate how polyacrylate animals change in size over time when placed in water and aqueous salt solutions. The hands-on activity motivates students and provides them with enjoyable and rewarding science project experiences. Here they have an opportunity to solve a problem and use the science inquiry skills of observing, collecting, organizing, and analyzing
DNA interactive chronicle
This site contains four interactive modules that offer teachers a direct look at how information about genetics can be misapplied and misinterpreted within societies. The modules are arranged by topics that focus on Eugenics, Carrie Buck and forced sterilization, Nazi Germany and the elimination of mental illnesses, and a personal account of a woman living with manic depression. Each module is subdivided into additional parts. These parts include images, videos, and simulations of contributions
Jen's home of multicultural math games
This website includes descriptions of three mathematical games from different cultures: Mancala, a counting game from ancient Egypt; Rithmomachia, a 'battle of numbers' board game dating back to 1150 and used by Roger Bacon to teach arithmetic; and To-pe-di, a Native American game of chance. Each game is illustrated. Other terms: geometry, Boethius, Pythagorean number theories, dice sticks. (Includes 5 references)
Early atomic understanding
This brief timeline covers all the major ancient Greeks and their various ideas. It is part of a larger website, which includes sections on Scientific Revolution and Classical Mechanics, Quntum Theory and The Modern Standard Model.
Gasping for truth : tracking the spread of SARS around the world
This is a lesson plan in which students investigate global responses to fighting the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Students will read a newspaper article to discover what is being done to curb the spread of the deadly disease. Then, students will use a variety of different media to track the spread and other statistics related to the disease. Students will write news reports advising citizens of what to do in affected areas.
Geothermal
What part does geothermal energy play in satisfying energy demands? This informational piece, part of a series about the future of energy, introduces students to heat within the Earth as an energy source. Here students read about the uses, benefits, and limitations of geothermal energy. Articles and information on places around the world that use geothermal energy and geothermal use by schools in Iowa are available from a sidebar. A link to a map of geothermal hotspots around the world is provid
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
Will it Float?
Student preconceptions are one of the greatest challenges we face as science teachers. This Predict, Explain, Observe, and Explain (PEOE) activity challenges students' preconceived notions about why matter floats or sinks when placed in a liquid. The idea behind this model is to do a demonstration that first confirms students' conceptions followed by a second, similar demonstration that provides discrepant information creating cognitive dissonance. Learning happens as students are forced to modi
Valley Springs Snow Cream
Middle School, difficulty level 2. Compare the volume of a sphere, cone, and cylinder using ice cream.
Science Sampler : Fossil detectives
Middle school students are transformed into Fossil detectives as they examine the fossil record and use evidence about paleo-environments to develop an understanding of structure and function in living systems and changes over time in Earths history. In this enrichment activity, students work in teams to research an assigned geologic time period. They determine available habitats, food sources and types (animal, plant; woody, herbaceous, etc.), cover sources, methods of getting food, defense, an
Ernest Rutherford : Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1908
This biography was first published in the book series Les Prix Nobel. It was later edited and republished in Nobel Lectures, Chemistry 1901-1921, Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1966. A photo is included.
Ozone in the atmosphere : ozone production
Why is ozone needed in the atmosphere? In this informational piece, part of an interactive laboratory series for grades 8-12, students read about the structure and function of ozone in our atmosphere. In one activity, students investigate how altitude affects ozone concentration. A discussion of the zones of the atmosphere provides information on the amount of ozone found in each layer. An animation explores the processes by which ozone is produced and destroyed by ultraviolet light. A second ac
El Nino vs. La Nina
This site offers images and animations showing global sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height (SSH) during El Nino of 1997-1998 and La Nina of 1998-1999. Images show the difference between the normal SST for that time of year and the actual temperature, clearly showing the higher and lower Pacific temperatures associated with the El Nino and La Nina events of 1997-1999 respectively. Thus the annual cycle and climatology have been removed from the data. Animations use Pathfinder and
Nickel Karate
How can a quarter be removed from the bottom of a stack of quarters without lifting or moving the other coins? This material is part of a series of hands-on science activities designed to arouse student interest. Here students investigate the properties of inertia and Newton's first law of motion. 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 provid
Geoboard : measurement (grades 6-8)
This virtual manipulative enables the student to form and manipulate shapes on an online geoboard. A virtual geoboard is not limited by the number of bands or the manual dexterity of the student. Additionally, a measure function generates area and perimeter for shapes and, for single bands connected to two pegs, distance and slope. The formed shapes may be colored as a way to sort or enhance them. The activities link offers six exercises that explore area and perimeter or regular and irregular s
The inclusive classroom : teaching mathematics and science to English-language learners
This electronic document contains a PDF version of a booklet for K to 12 teachers that explores the specialized languages of mathematics and science and highlights strategies that link second-language acquisition techniques with content instruction. The booklet is part of the IT'S JUST GOOD TEACHING series produced by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. Each booklet in the series contains a summary of the research and current literature on a topic along with a discussion of effective
Observe some products of a Geographic Information System (GIS)
By combining a short paragraph and six enlargeable maps, this resource explains to students what a Geographic Information System (GIS) is. Introductory text explains that GIS technology enables users to plot multiple data sets onto maps of varying scales. Then six sample maps produced through GIS are provided. Among these maps is one that identifies where energy and mineral resources are located globally and another that highlights and labels the rivers that drain into the Mississippi River. Cop
Cynthia Lanius' Fractal Unit
Cynthia Lanius, a former mathematics teacher who currently serves as Technology Integration Specialist for Sinton Independent School District in Sinton, Texas, has posted numerous lessons online. This website features a Fractals Unit for elementary and middle school students (although adults are also welcome to enjoy the lesson). The lesson includes a discussion on why one might study fractals and then provides step-by-step explanations on how to make fractals using Java, along with some challen
