Center Science Education
Paleoclimates and Pollen
Demonstrate for your earth scientists how plant pollen of the past has become part of sedimentary deposits, providing clues about ancient climates. Then give them simulated sediment layer samples to analyze for different types of paper...
Virginia Department of Education
Atomic Structure: Periodic Table
The fifth lesson of seven in the series outlines an in-depth analysis of the periodic table. After direct instruction, pupils take turns practicing in the group before beginning independent study. The assessments include a quiz and an...
Curated OER
Changing Planet: Black Carbon - a Dusty Situation
Introduce your young meteorologists to black carbon produced by the burning of fossil fuels by showing the video, "Changing Planet: Black Carbon." Viewers discover that deposition of this carbon on polar ice impacts the absorption of...
Foundation for Water & Energy Education
How is Flowing Water an Energy Source? Activity C
Can the force of falling water through a tube vary by altering the diameter of the tube or its height? That is what physical scientists aim to discover in this activity, the third in successively more revealing activities on the power of...
Curated OER
Paper Parachutes
Students participate in a simulation of a parachute-jump competition by making paper parachutes and then dropping them towards a target on the floor. They measure the distance from the point where the paper parachute lands compared to...
Curated OER
Measuring to the Nearest Inch
Third graders use whole numbers and fractions to make connections between abstractions of the mathematical world and the real world. In this fractions and measurement lesson, 3rd graders identify, quantify groups , and measure distances....
Curated OER
Survival
Students determine the best material from which to make a jacket to keep the body warm in a cold, dry, windy climate. This task assesses the student's abilities to perform an entire investigation.
Curated OER
Lift vs. Airspeed
Young scholars, after reading the explanation given below, use FoilSim and a graphing calculator to complete the activity to determine the relationship between airspeed and lift of an object by interpreting data.
Curated OER
Curveball vs. Fastball
Students graph the relationship between the release point and the final position of curveballs and fastballs thrown by both right and left handers given a constant speed, and explain the relationships illustrated by the graphs of data.
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Discovering a Law of Space Physics
Learners use data collected by an astronomer to determine the relationship between the time it takes the planet to orbit the sun and the average radius of the planet's orbit around the sun. Students use trial and error to find the...
Curated OER
Using 3-D Models for Code Validation with FoilSim
Students use FoilSim to complete the activity to create tables of data sets comparing the lift values for a 3-D model of a symmetrical wing section to the values predicted by the FoilSim software.
Curated OER
Moving On Up!
Students complete a game-like simulation to determine a career and salary. In groups, they collect information and decide what is the "best" city in which to live. They create a monthly budget for their "best" city based on salary from...
Curated OER
Virtual Earthquake
Students visit a website that features online interactive geology and biology simulations. They observe and estimate the amplitude of the largest wave and transfer the information to a nomogram. Based on the nomogram students will...
Curated OER
Pesticides
Students investigate the uses of pesticides and the pros and cons of their use. In this pesticides lesson, students observe simulations of the three classes of pesticides and the effects or actions each has. Students answer 3 follow up...
Curated OER
Create and Locate Your Own Business
High schoolers simulate the creation of their own business. Using the internet and database exploration, they research community profiles and select a business. Pupils define the target market and investigate a business location. ...
Curated OER
Exploring Alternative Energy Sources
Students research the amount and kinds of energy that are produced and consumed in the United States, including the limitations of this kind of consumption. They research and create a display to teach classmates about a specific...
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Take the Pulse of Your Classroom
Students discuss seismic waves. In this science lesson, students investigate the acceleration of the floor in the classroom similar to a seismograph. Students observe a three-component seismogram from an earthquake and determine what it...
Curated OER
Algebra: Do You See What I See?
Students discover how to find the mean, median, and mode from sets of data. By using statistical techniques such as whisker plots and bar graphs, they display the data gleaned from problems. Individually, students complete projects...
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Fire!, Probability, and Chaos
Students explore the concept of probability. In this probability lesson, students simulate a controlled forest burn using an applet. Students vary the probability of trees burning and predict what will happen.
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Risky Business
High schoolers view a video on AIDS, HIV and the ways in which HIV is spread. They discuss ways to avoid contracting HIV and participate in a simulation that shows the growth of a communicable disease.
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Playing With Probability
Students rotate through work stations where they compute problems of theoretical and experimental probability. In this probability lesson plan, students use simulations of a lottery system.
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Dating Popcorn
Students simulate the dating process with popcorn. In this geology activity, students discuss how geologist find the age of rocks by gauging the amount of decay of radioactive elements. They have 6 bags of popcorn and each group...
Curated OER
Understanding Cloud Formation
Students view a demonstration that simulates cloud formation. They read a poem about clouds, participate in a class demonstration using warm water and ice and write a paragraph summarizing their observations.
Curated OER
That's the Way the Ball Bounces
Students investigate and compare the bouncing ability of the materials from which four different balls are made. They determine which material performs the best for use as a basketball. After collecting data in a small group they...