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Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.
| Name |
Description |
| Moon Formation Theories: | Students will evaluate what types of evidence provide relevant and logical support for moon formation theories. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom. |
| Just Right Goldilocks’ Café: Temperature & Turbidity: | This is lesson 3 of 3 in the Goldilocks’ Café Just Right unit. This lesson focuses on systematic investigation on getting a cup of coffee to be the “just right” temperature and turbidity level. Students will use both the temperature probe and turbidity sensor and code using ScratchX during their investigation. |
| Just Right Goldilocks’ Café: Turbidity: | This is lesson 2 of 3 in the Just Right Goldilocks’ Café unit. This lesson focuses on systematic investigation on getting a cup of coffee to be the “just right” level of turbidity. Students will use turbidity sensors and code using ScratchX during their investigation. |
| Just Right Goldilocks’ Café: Temperature: | This is lesson 1 of 3 in the Just Right Goldilocks’ Café unit. This lesson focuses on systematic investigation on getting a cup of coffee to be the “just right” temperature. Students will use temperature probes and code using ScratchX during their investigation.
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| Bubbles and Colors and Smells...Oh My! : | In this lesson, students will conduct observational and experimental investigations to differentiate between physical changes and chemical change. Students will make and record observations as well as identify experimental variables. Students will conduct several investigations to help them to understand the differences between chemical and physical changes. Students will record investigative observations and use their observations to provide evidence that a physical or a chemical change has occurred. |
| Drink Mix Mix-Up: | In this inquiry activity, students will identify unknown powdered drink mixes. They will use their knowledge of various physical properties to design tests for the unknown drink mixes and then compare them to the known. Students will use their own generated data as evidence to form a conclusion and support their findings. |
| Knight Shipping, Inc.: | In this design challenge students will take what they have learned about calculating the volumes and densities of cones, cylinders, and spheres, to decide which shape would make the best shipping container. Students will calculate the volumes and densities to help select the best design and then test them to move at least 3 containers of the chosen shape across the classroom. Students will fill the shapes with marshmallows to visually confirm which shape would hold more. |
| Maintaining Mass: | The student will demonstrate that mass is conserved when substances undergo chemical and/or physical changes through experimentation and evaluation of experimentation procedures. Students will be able to analyze the demonstration and provide evidence for or against the law of conservation of mass.Students will first view and then hypothesize, based on their knowledge of the law of conservation of mass, why a teacher demonstration does not seem to prove the law. Students will then explore a modified version of the experiment to determine ways that the teacher demonstration should have been changed to show conservation of mass effectively. |
| Sea Ice Analysis Grade 8: | The changing climate is an important topic for both scientific analysis and worldly knowledge. This lesson uses data collected by the National Snow and Ice Data Center to create and use mathematical models as a predictive tool and do critical analysis of sea ice loss. |
| Measurement and Data Collection: | In this interdisciplinary lesson, students will practice the skill of data collection with a variety of tools and by statistically analyzing the class data sets will begin to understand that error is inherent in all data.
This lesson uses the Hip Sciences Sensor Wand and Temperature Probe. Please refer to the corresponding Hip Science Sensor Guide(s) for information on using the sensor. |
| Which M&M Color Dissolves the Fastest?: | Students will complete an experiment which is designed to have inconsistent results to better understand the challenges with analyzing scientific data. A special emphasis will be placed on articulating scientific claims appropriately based on the available evidence. Students will also complete a summative assessment where they suggest ways to improve scientific claim statements. |
| Research Project: Sensing Nature: | In this week-long, open-ended activity, students will observe their local environment, devise and pose a testable research question, conduct observations using sensors, and use mathematics skills for quantitative analysis and plotting. To communicate results, students will summarize their findings on a custom poster that explains their work. |
| Measurement Data Error: | In this interdisciplinary lesson, students will practice the skill of data collection with a variety of tools and by statistically analyzing the class data sets will begin to understand that error is inherent in all data. |
| Measurement and Data Collection: | In this interdisciplinary lesson, students will practice the skill of data collection with a variety of tools and by statistically analyzing the class data sets will begin to understand that error is inherent in all data.
This lesson uses the Hip Sciences Sensor Wand and Temperature Probe. Please refer to the corresponding Hip Science Sensor Guide(s) for information on using the sensor. |
| Designing a Better Glider - Repetition: | Students are asked to work as an aeronautical engineer, working on the development of a unique glider. The basic design has already been prototyped, but the company is looking at improving the design. Students have been hired to look into changes in the design to produce a glider that can fly farther. They are expected to collect and present evidence to show their design is superior to the original prototype. Throughout the lesson, the importance of repetition in scientific investigations will be emphasized. |
| Overloading Circuits: | In this design challenge, students will explore electrical circuits. Students will use their skills in science, math, and technology to determine how many light bulbs can be powered off of one circuit. Students will build circuits, measure luminosity, graph data, analyze the data and then report their findings to Kiser construction. |
| Shipwrecked Pirates: | In this lesson, students will take the role of shipwrecked pirates. Working in groups, they will have to use the concepts of force, speed, scatter plots, and literal equations to come up with a way of getting one student to a nearby sister island so that they will both have enough food to survive. |
| Expanding the Universe: | Students will draw three dots on an unblown balloon to represent three different galaxies. They will measure the distance between these "galaxies" and then blow up the balloon in three stages, measuring the distance between the "galaxies" at each stage. |
| Rocks Makin' Rocks: Rock Cycle Simulation: | Students will participate in a simulation model of the rock cycle. Collecting data by throwing die, students will develop an understanding of the movement of atoms and rock particles through the rock cycle. |
| STEM Catapult Challenge: | In this lesson, students will design catapults for offense that will be able to shoot down as many objects as possible in a 20-object tower. They will also design a 20-object tower for defense that is least likely to be knocked down by their opponents catapults. As they complete their investigation, they will be designing and implementing two experiments in one. They will identify a problem, make a prediction, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions. By the end of the lesson, they should be able to differentiate repetition from replication as well. |
| What if ….you never saw another shell?: | This lesson connects the Carbon Cycle with the elevation of global temperatures causing dissolution of carbon-containing substances and rise in acidity. Students conduct a simulation experiment and model carbon loss due to temperature changes lowering pH. |
| Starry Science: | In this engaging lesson, students will investigate and explore the effects of temperature, size, and magnitude on the luminosity and life span of stars using glow sticks. This lesson includes a guided inquiry lab and website exploration. |
| "The Stars That We Don't See" a YMAA Report: | In this activity students will review some characteristics of stars and the use of the H-R Diagram especially referring to the color and the temperature of the stars. They will describe their findings in a report format. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom. |
| Choosing the Best Magnet Program for a High School: | In this MEA, students will try to decide which magnet program they would choose for a high school. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom. |
| Discovering Density: | Students observe the effects of density on flotation and develop an understanding of density as the amount mass per unit volume through discussion and experimentation. Students also work in groups to design an experiment to determine the densities of several irregularly shaped objects and use data to support a conclusion about the buoyancy of each object. |
| Discovering Kepler's Law for the Periods of Planets: | Students listen to a video that describes Kepler's determination that planetary orbits are elliptical and then will use data for the solar distance and periods of several of the planets in the solar system, then investigate several hypotheses to determine which is supported by the data. |
| NASA Beginning Engineering, Science and Technology: | The NASA BEST Activities Guides is designed to teach students the Engineering Design
Process. These lessons are created to accommodate grades 6-8.
All follow the same set of activities and teach students about humans' endeavor to return to the
Moon. Specifically, how we investigate the Moon remotely, the modes of transportation to and on
the Moon, and how humans will live and work on the Moon. |
| Scientific calculations from a distant planet: | Students will act as mathematicians and scientists as they use models, observations and space science concepts to perform calculations and draw inferences regarding a fictional solar system with three planets in circular orbits around a sun. Among the calculations are estimates of the size of the home planet (using a method more than 2000 years old) and the relative distances of the planets from their sun. |
| Measurement in the Science Classroom: | Students will practice measuring length, mass, volume in a variety of ways using a variety of tools including triple beam balances and graduated cylinders. Density will then be calculated. |
| Moon Formation Theories: | Students will learn about moon formation theories, the evidence scientists have to support the current one, and how models can be used to support the theory. |
| Force (Weight versus Mass): Newton's 2nd Law: | Students will examine the relationships between mass, force and acceleration, applying Newton's 2nd Law.
This is part 2 of a two-part lab. It is recommended that the teacher cover the first lesson (, ID 51003) prior to completing this lesson. |
| Mars Rovers: | Students will work in teams to conduct research and compare Mars and Earth. They will develop a procedure and explain their reasoning to rank different rover models to determine which one could be the best to deploy as a part of Mars Exploration Project. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom. |
| Dissolving Gobstoppers Using Controls and Variables: | Students will conduct a simple laboratory experience that practices the proper use of controls and variables. Students will conduct a controlled experiment in their laboratory groups. |
| Making Observations and Inferences: | This lesson allows the students to discover that science is everywhere. It encourages students to apply their scientific skills and to think creatively in their everyday lives. |
| MYSTERY BOXES - Uncertainty & Collaboration: | Students manipulate sealed "mystery" boxes and attempt to determine the inner structure of the boxes which contain a moving ball and a fixed barrier or two. The nature and sources of uncertainty inherent in the process of problem-solving are experienced. The uncertainty of the conclusions is reduced by student collaboration. The students are asked to relate this activity to how to learn about "mystery boxes" in nature (interior of the earth, the atom, etc). |
| Natural Records of Climate Change: Working with Indirect Evidence: | Students play a dice game to explore the differences between direct and indirect evidence. Student pairs roll dice and record the numbers rolled as a series of colors instead of numbers. Other pairs of students try to crack the color code to figure out the sequence of numbers rolled. In this way, students gain an understanding of how indirect evidence of climate change can be interpreted. In conclusion, the class discusses the various records made by humans and indirect evidence found in nature that can be studied to understand how climate has varied through time.
Key Concepts
- Scientists collect data from many sources to identify, understand, and interpret past changes in Earth's climate.
- Natural records of climate change, such as tree rings, ice cores, pollen and ocean sediments offer indirect evidence of climate change. They require knowledge of how the natural recorder works.
- Records made by humans , such as artwork, harvest records, and accounts of changing seasons, are more direct, but can be incomplete.
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| A Penny is a Penny!: | The goal is that students understand that hypotheses are subject to revision when new information becomes available. It is also extremely important that students understand that while most hypotheses are not correct, testing them adds to science knowledge. |
| Ancient Archery: Scientific Method and Engineering: | Students must assist an archaeological research team to determine which material ancient archers likely used to string their bows. Students must design an experiment to test various materials for power, precision, and durability. After the data is collected, they must develop a system to determine which material would have been most desirable for the ancient archers.
This MEA is a multifaceted lesson designed to address both the processes of discovery through scientific investigation and problem-solving through engineering. The full-scale MEA involves the development of a complete experiment and a proper lab report and then an application of the collected data to address the problem-solving requirement of the MEA. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom. |
| Bridge the hypothesis...: | Students should be able to gain an understanding that developing a hypothesis often leads to further hypotheses whether data is correct or not. Students will engage in an activity to develop a bridge structure from given materials and hypothesize which structure is strongest. |
| Detemination of the Optimal Point: | Students will use dynamic geometry software to determine the optimal location for a facility under a variety of scenarios. The experiments will suggest a relation between the optimal point and a common concept in geometry; in some cases, there will be a connection to a statistical concept. Algebra can be used to verify some of the conjectures. |
| Elements of Experimental Design: | Understanding the process of experimental design. It is a process that is structured in order to control variables, maintain consistency, incorporates a hypothesis or a prediction and is testable. The design of the experiment specifies that the experiment must be repeated 3-5 times in order to validate your findings. |
| Mystery Powder Investigation: | Students will use their skills as scientists to identify a mystery white powder. This lesson is a hands-on, engaging way to build students' understanding of physical and chemical properties of several common compounds. |
| Tablet of Knowledge MEA: | This MEA will give students the opportunity to analyze and organize data about tablet devices that their school is looking to purchase for daily use in the classroom.
In this MEA, students compare different tablet devices. They will be given empirical evidence and must organize this data to allow for interpreting key factors to determine which device is best suited for the client. Basically, students are given data and must use this information to make a recommendation to the principal about which tablet or device should be purchased with the school's funds. They will have to provide evidence to support their recommendation. This MEA is designed to help students with data that is collected from an investigation or a lab. In the past, students were able to generate data, but in this MEA they are given the data and asked to make it relevant. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom. |
Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this topic.
Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this topic.
