Nanotechnology is the next major scientific breakthrough. The development of nanotechnology is extremely promising, but there are unknown risks associated with utilizing nanotechnology. Nanoparticles occur naturally in our environment. Pollen, viruses, and ash are examples of nanoparticles that affect our environment and our health. Scientists have studied the behavior of these nanoparticles in an effort to develop nanotechnology to solve issues associated with our environment and our health. In this project, students will explore innovative science, technology, engineering, math techniques and equipment that demonstrated the multiple uses and importance of nanotechnology.

Through hands-on, inquiry-based labs, seventh and eighth grade students will explore the behavior and effects of fluid in and around objects and organisms. Students will investigate and create fluid transport systems and gather data to calculate natural frequencies. Using scale models to gain a better understanding, they will use data to predict real-life effects on trees and other structures.

This lesson will provide an opportunity for students to conduct their own analysis of a jet engine, and then report their findings to their colleagues (the class). Students will apply their knowledge of Newton’s 2nd and 3rd laws to study how a jet engine imparts motion to an object and what key variables are needed to determine a jet engine’s performance.

Did you know that it takes less than seven-seconds to decide whether you will buy most items? What influences us to make those snap decisions? Advertising? Packaging? The product? This theme unit investigated what drives consumer behaviors. Students examined often overlooked pieces of our environmental impact by analyzing the “stuff” in our lives…what we own, buy, consume, and discard. Inspired by Annie Leonard’s short film The Story of Stuff (www.storyofstuff.com), we followed the life cycle of products from extraction, production, distribution, consumption, and disposal. We considered the hidden costs, human costs, and environmental costs of our “stuff.”

This is an introductory middle school science lesson which compares and contrasts renewable vs. nonrenewable energy sources. The end product is a presentation to a lower grade level science class.

The American Chestnut was once one of the most important trees in the Eastern US. It was important to wildlife as a food source and to people for a variety of uses. In the early 1900’s an imported Japanese Chestnut tree carried a fungus to which American trees had no immunity. It devastated the native Chestnuts. How can science offer a solution to this problem? Students will study how biotechnology is being used to develop a blight resistant tree. They will engage in hands-on activities that have students apply their knowledge of DNA and genetics to simulate the steps needed to find the genes for resistance and insert them into an American Chestnut tree. Lessons are designed to be used for any level of Biology student and do not require high tech equipment.

To add to the existing curriculum for teachers on how to use the resources of PARI (Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute) in the classroom. Students will learn about and utilize PARI’s 4.6m Smiley radio telescope to conduct real scientific investigations of the Universe. Online supporting podcasts, activities and quizzes will allow students to conduct first-hand inquiry driven research, thus giving personal value/ownership to the experience.

In this lesson, students are going to look at sensors and how they are used in many applications. The lesson is connected to the STEM initiative, and gives students an opening to the world of science and engineering.  Students are going to investigate different sensors that are around them and what these sensors are gathering.  Students are going to draw and design a hygrometer which measures humidity levels, select from everyday items to build their hygrometer, test their machine using a spray bottle to increase humidity, evaluate the effectiveness of their construction and present their findings to the class.

In this lesson, students will sift through sediment to find shark teeth. They will measure the teeth using the measurement card from Lesson 1. They will record measurements on the board for the class to see. Once all data are collected, the class will create a bar graph to depict how frequently teeth of certain sizes are found. The shark teeth and data will be sent to Dr. Bucky Gates at the Paleontology and Geology Research Laboratory of the Nature Research Center at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

In partnership with the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, the NC Forestry Association, and the Weyerhaeuser Corporation, agricultural education students will understand sustainable forestry practices and the forestry industry. Students will explore the pertinence and value of the forestry industry in North Carolina, while also learning skills that are used in today’s forestry industry. The agricultural education curriculum will also lead students through the exploration of forest ecology, tree identification, and the many practices involved with sustainable forestry and the forestry careers.

In this project, students will assume the role of citizen scientists—helping researchers answer questions about how dandelions acquire beneficial symbiotic microbes from different soil types. Students will collect and transplant dandelions, conduct experiments on dandelion growth and microbe growth, and then submit data to scientists at the Genomics and Microbiology Research Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. The researchers will use these data to supplement DNA and RNA sequencing efforts. Students will receive results from the genetic analyses from a limited set of classrooms whose dandelions had previously been sequenced. By maintaining a connection with researchers, students will have an active, hands-on role in current science. Besides aiding scientists with research, students will also create their own inquiries.

Students learn basic data analysis tools and techniques in AP Statistics, but often don’t work with large sets of real-world data. This project gives students exposure to how data is analyzed in many of America’s top corporations, universities and banks. By using multiple input variables, students learn how to develop realistic prediction models for the demand for goods and services.

We have always studied the different forms of energy and all its effect to the environment. We focus on the production and then the consumption and its environmental effects but not much emphasis is given on the distribution parts. In this project I would like the students to understand how energy is transformed and delivered to the ultimate users to make them more appreciative of energy and hopefully in the process make them a good and conscientious citizen in using energy.

The basis for this project draws from Dr. DuCoste’s experiences with water treatment and Dr. Powell’s experiences in pesticide monitoring of ground and surface water and pesticide regulation. The intent is to provide an avenue for students to experience how scientists study and develop solutions to environmental problems.

Aquatic Ecology Studies: Exercises in Scientific Literacy is a collection of lessons designed primarily for earth science and biology classrooms. The lessons may be taught in a cluster as part of a water resources unit or they may be used individually to enrich any preparation with special focus on NCSCOS secondary science goal 1.05: analyze reports of investigations from an informed scientifically literate viewpoint. The aquatic ecology theme pays particular attention to aquatic environmental issues of eastern North Carolina and connects learners to authentic data and technology resources from the Center for Applied Aquatic Ecology at North Carolina State University. The lessons are created for collaborative group classrooms, promote technology integration and are formatted to enhance the development of project based learning frameworks. Diverse learning outcomes and contexts for skill development are addressed in each lesson and the overview document in depth.

Why does chemistry matter in my life? These lessons address this question and are designed to be used throughout the high school course and support the North Carolina standard course of study objectives in chemistry. Each lesson presents a problem to the student that they will endeavor to answer using a variety of activities. These activities may be modified to suit the needs of your students. The problems are intended to generate student interest so they will be more likely to engage in the lesson.