Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Pedagogy in Action: Jigsaws
This resource provides a comprehensive look at the jigsaw technique. This teaching technique is known to be one the most popular cooperative learning strategies.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Microbial Life: Microbial Life in Extreme Environments
Here is comprehensive information about microbes living in extreme conditions. Explore the definition of extremophile, what makes an extreme environment, and types of extreme environments. Site includes pictures, information and other...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Sea Ice Extension for the Earth as a System Learning Activity
The purpose of this lesson is for students to learn how the Earth's systems interact on a global level. They will examine global environmental data and compare this to data on the polar regions. In the process, they will develop an...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Should I Unplug?
Learners will have a heightened awareness of the amount of energy they waste after they complete this activity. They will learn about plug loads, and use a wattage meter to measure the plug loads of various devices, as well as calculate...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: The Evolution of Pearson's Correlation Coefficient
For this activity, learners explore nine scatter plots to develop their understanding of how two quantitative variables are related. Through an exploration of the properties of this association, they come to understand the standard...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Motion With Marbles
In this guided inquiry activity, students will use 2 marbles of different size and a box to investigate what makes the marbles move and what will cause the marbles to change speed and direction.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Torpedo Designing Contest
In this combined Chemistry and Physics lab, students investigate how to create pipette torpedoes that will be propelled using the chemical reaction of baking soda and vinegar.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Our Dynamic Planet
Learn about the theory of Plate Tectonics with this site that links to a site to order a CD-ROM that contains tools for learners to investigate the theory. On the CD-ROM is included virtual plate tectonics lecture, animations,...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Our Friend the Worm!: Introducing Worm Composting Into the Classroom
An activity for students to explore vermicomposting. Students will research worms and investigate how they can be used in composting in a classroom environment.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Lab 3: Discovering Local Data
An investigation that is part of a series of lab lessons that expose students to Earth Systems through research, data, and visulazations. This lab specifically has students using a database to gather and graph data to understand the role...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Lab 7: A Year in the Life of the Earth System
An investigation that is part of a series of lab lessons that expose students to Earth Systems through research, data, and visualizations. In this lab, students will observe how the Earth has changed over time to understand the Earth as...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Lab: Conservation of Mass
This lab experiment shows students that mass is not gained or lost during a chemical reaction. Lab also includes a set of lab questions that requires students to balance the chemical equation for the reaction that occurs in this lab.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Variables: Passengers Supported by Lifeboats
In this lab experiment, students will create a boat to discover how many pennies it can hold before sinking. Students will use variables including materials for construction, boat depth, and placement of passengers to see the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Reasoning About Center and Spread: How Do Students Spend Their Time?
Using their own habits for data, learners predict how much time they spend on different activities each day, and how much variability each activity is likely to have. They then collect data into a class spreadsheet and look at the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Lab 1: Meteorological Monsters
A lab experiment in a series of experiments that explores hurricanes. This lab has students developing questions based on observations they make by doing an in-depth exploration of a "visualization showing the active 2005 Atlantic...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: The Sedimentary Processes of Transgression and Regression
This article gives a detailed explanation of how transgression and regression of sea levels work to create deposits of sedimentary rocks. Illustrations show the layering that takes place over time. The article discusses how geologists...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Lab 6: And on His Farm He Had Some Fish
A lab experiment in a series of experiments that investigates fisheries. In this particular lab, students learn about the aquaculture methods by analyzing FAO aquaculture data. They will also investigate the change to coastal landscapes...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Student Analysis of a Person Jumping on a Trampoline
For this activity, students learn about conservation of mechanical energy as they measure the velocity of a girl jumping on a trampoline using a direct measurement video with an embedded frame counter and ruler.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Student Analysis: Determine the Acceleration of a Toy Car
For this activity, young scholars measure the displacement and elapsed time of a moving toy car using a direct measurement video with an embedded frame counter. They then calculate average and final velocity, and the average...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Student Analysis of a Bouncing Ball
For this activity, students measure the velocity of a bouncing ball on its way up using a direct measurement video with an embedded frame counter. After solving the problem, they present their solution to classmates.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Math You Need: Rearranging Equations to Solve for a Given Variable
This tutorial guides students through the steps in rearranging science formulas to solve for different variables. Includes practice exercises based on a variety of formulas.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Sound: Vibrations Are the Source of Sound
In this classroom activity, students will discover that when objects vibrate a sound is produced. Students will first observe different sound sources such as a music box, a sucker toy that has a stick coming out of it, etc. They will...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Being P Waves and S Waves
For this lesson students develop a good understanding of different kinds of seismic waves and their effects.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Carleton College: Big Numbers and Scientific Notation
The lesson plan explores big numbers and scientific notation. The resource consists of class notes, examples, and additional links to teaching materials and student resources.