Updating search results...

Search Resources

50 Results

View
Selected filters:
  • WY.SCI.MS.PS4.2 - Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed...
  • WY.SCI.MS.PS4.2 - Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed...
6.1 Light & Matter
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

How does a one-way mirror work? Though most everyone knows that one-way mirrors exist, having students model how they work turns out to be a very effective way to develop their thinking about how visible light travels and how we see images. Initial student models reveal a wide variety of ideas and explanations that motivate the unit investigations that help students figure out what is going on and lead them to a deeper understanding of the world around them.

As the first unit in the OpenSciEd program, during the course of this unit, students also develop the foundation for classroom norms for collaboration that will be important across the whole program.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Lesson
Lesson Plan
Unit of Study
Provider:
OpenSciEd
Date Added:
02/18/2021
6.2 Thermal Energy
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

This unit on thermal energy transfer begins with students testing whether a new plastic cup sold by a store keeps a drink colder for longer than the regular plastic cup that comes free with the drink.

Through a series of lab investigations and simulations, students find two ways to transfer energy into the drink: (1) the absorption of light and (2) thermal energy from the warmer air around the drink. They are then challenged to design their own drink container that can perform as well as the store-bought container, following a set of design criteria and constraints.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Lesson
Lesson Plan
Unit of Study
Provider:
OpenSciEd
Author:
OpenSciEd
Date Added:
08/02/2021
6.2 Thermal Energy
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

Unit Summary
This unit on thermal energy transfer begins with students testing whether a new plastic cup sold by a store keeps a drink colder for longer compared to the regular plastic cup that comes free with the drink. Students find that the drink in the regular cup warms up more than the drink in the special cup. This prompts students to identify features of the cups that are different, such as the lid, walls, and hole for the straw, that might explain why one drink warms up more than the other. 
Students investigate the different cup features they conjecture are important to explaining the phenomenon, starting with the lid. They model how matter can enter or exit the cup via evaporation However, they find that in a completely closed system, the liquid inside the cup still changes temperature. This motivates the need to trace the transfer of energy into the drink as it warms up. Through a series of lab investigations and simulations, students find that there are two ways to transfer energy into the drink: (1) the absorption of light and (2) thermal energy from the warmer air around the drink. They are then challenged to design their own drink container that can perform as well as the store-bought container, following a set of design criteria and constraints.
This unit builds toward the following NGSS Performance Expectations (PEs) as described in the OpenSciEd Scope & Sequence: MS-PS1-4*, MS-PS3-3, MS-PS3-4, MS-PS3-5, MS-PS4-2*, MS-ETS1-4. The OpenSciEd units are designed for hands-on learning and therefore materials are necessary to teach the unit. These materials can be purchased as science kits or assembled using the kit material list.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson
Module
Provider:
OpenSciEd
Date Added:
09/10/2019
8.2 Sound Waves
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

In this unit, students develop ideas related to how sounds are produced, how they travel through media, and how they affect objects at a distance. Their investigations are motivated by trying to account for a perplexing anchoring phenomenon — a truck is playing loud music in a parking lot and the windows of a building across the parking lot visibly shake in response to the music.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Lesson
Lesson Plan
Unit of Study
Provider:
OpenSciEd
Author:
OpenSciEd
Date Added:
08/02/2021
8.2 Sound Waves
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

Unit Summary
In this unit, students develop ideas related to how sounds are produced, how they travel through media, and how they affect objects at a distance. Their investigations are motivated by trying to account for a perplexing anchoring phenomenon — a truck is playing loud music in a parking lot and the windows of a building across the parking lot visibly shake in response to the music.
They make observations of sound sources to revisit the K–5 idea that objects vibrate when they make sounds. They figure out that patterns of differences in those vibrations are tied to differences in characteristics of the sounds being made. They gather data on how objects vibrate when making different sounds to characterize how a vibrating object’s motion is tied to the loudness and pitch of the sounds they make. Students also conduct experiments to support the idea that sound needs matter to travel through, and they will use models and simulations to explain how sound travels through matter at the particle level.
This unit builds toward the following NGSS Performance Expectations (PEs) as described in the OpenSciEd Scope & Sequence: MS-PS4-1, MS-PS4-2. The OpenSciEd units are designed for hands-on learning and therefore materials are necessary to teach the unit. These materials can be purchased as science kits or assembled using the kit material list.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson
Module
Provider:
OpenSciEd
Date Added:
09/10/2019
8.4 Earth in Space
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

How are we connected to the patterns we see in the sky and space? Students develop models for the Earth-Sun and Earth-Sun-Moon systems that explain some of the patterns in the sky that they have identified, including seasons, eclipses, and lunar phases. They investigate a series of related phenomena motivated by their questions and ideas for investigations.

This unit is part of the OpenSciEd core instructional materials for middle school.

Subject:
Applied Science
Physical Science
Material Type:
Lesson
Lesson Plan
Unit of Study
Author:
OpenSciEd
Date Added:
02/11/2022
The Amazing Aerogel
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

Aerogel, commonly called "frozen smoke," is a super-material with some amazing properties. In this lesson and its associated activity, students learn about this silicon-based solid with a sponge-like structure. Students also learn about density and how aerogel is 99.8% air by volume, making it the lightest solid known to humans! Further, students learn about basic heat transfer and how aerogel is a great thermal insulator, having 39 times more insulation than the best fiberglass insulation. Students also learn about the wide array of aerogel applications.

Subject:
Applied Science
Engineering
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Author:
Claudia K. Gunsch
Desiree L. Plata
Lauren K. Redfern
Osman Karatüm
Date Added:
10/14/2015
Arctic Climate Curriculum, Activity 3: Exploring Arctic Climate Data
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

In this activity, students use authentic Arctic climate data to unravel some causes and effects related to the seasonal melting of the snowpack and to further understand albedo.

Subject:
Applied Science
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Science
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Anne Gold
CIRES Education Outreach; University of Colorado Boulder
Karin Kirk
Date Added:
05/13/2015
Bending Light
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

Explore bending of light between two media with different indices of refraction. See how changing from air to water to glass changes the bending angle. Play with prisms of different shapes and make rainbows.

Subject:
Physical Science
Physics
Material Type:
Simulation
Provider:
University of Colorado Boulder
Provider Set:
PhET Interactive Simulations
Author:
Emily Moore
Kathy Perkins
Noah Podolefsky
Sam Reid
Trish Loeblein
University of Colorado at Boulder
Date Added:
05/09/2011
Building a Fancy Spectrograph
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

Students create and decorate their own spectrographs using simple materials and holographic diffraction gratings. A holographic diffraction grating acts like a prism, showing the visual components of light. After building the spectrographs, students observe the spectra of different light sources as homework.

Subject:
Applied Science
Engineering
Physical Science
Physics
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Date Added:
10/14/2015
Determining Concentration
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

Students quantify the percent of light reflected from solutions containing varying concentrations of red dye using LEGO© MINDSTORMS© NXT bricks and light sensors. They begin by analyzing a set of standard solutions with known concentrations of food coloring, and plot data to graphically determine the relationship between percent reflected light and dye concentration. Then they identify dye concentrations for two unknown solution samples based on how much light they reflect. Students gain an understanding of light scattering applications and how to determine properties of unknown samples based on a set of standard samples.

Subject:
Applied Science
Engineering
Physical Science
Physics
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Author:
Jasmin Hume
Date Added:
09/18/2014
Distorted Disturbances
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

Students pass around and distort messages written on index cards to learn how we use signals from GPS occultations to study the atmosphere. The cards represent information sent from GPS satellites being distorted as they pass through different locations in the Earth's atmosphere and reach other satellites. Analyzing GPS occultations enables better global weather forecasting, storm tracking and climate change monitoring.

Subject:
Applied Science
Engineering
Physical Geography
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Author:
Jonah Kisesi
Marissa H. Forbes
Penina Axelrad
Date Added:
09/18/2014
Earthquake
Read the Fine Print
Rating
0.0 stars

The earthquake game teaches how scientists learn about real earthquakes. The player must learn about S& P waves and triangulation to determine the epicenter of the earthquake that hit the cities.

Subject:
Geology
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Game
Homework/Assignment
Interactive
Simulation
Provider:
University of Wisconsin
Provider Set:
The Yard Games
Date Added:
08/04/2016
The Fibre Optic Cable Class
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

This activity is an interactive “out-of-the-seat” demo that allows the students to become involved in learning about fibre optic cables by imitating the way that one basically functions. While enjoying the physicality of the demo the children will pick up basic details of light, reflection, optical properties, and applications to technology. Additionally, the activity will go into details of how fibre optics are used in astronomy technology and how it is used to improve our understanding of the universe. An emphasis should be placed on asking direct questions to the children about how these concepts can influence technology, astronomy, and our world to reinforce the concepts that they are learning about.

Subject:
Astronomy
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Lesson Plan
Provider:
International Astronomical Union
Provider Set:
astroEDU
Author:
Amee Hennig
Date Added:
02/06/2015
Filtering: Extracting What We Want from What We Have
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

Filtering is the process of removing or separating the unwanted part of a mixture. In signal processing, filtering is specifically used to remove or extract part of a signal, and this can be accomplished using an analog circuit or a digital device (such as a computer). In this lesson, students learn the impact filtering can have on different types of signals, the concepts of frequency and spectrum, and the connections these topics have to real-world signals such as musical signals. Students also learn the roles that these concepts play in designing different types of filters. The lesson content prepares students for the associated activity in which they use an online demo and a variety of filters to identify the message in a distress signal heavily corrupted by noise.

Subject:
Applied Science
Engineering
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Author:
Dehui Yang
Kyle R. Feaster
Michael B. Wakin
Date Added:
10/14/2015
Filtering: Removing Noise from a Distress Signal
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

Students learn the basic principles of filtering as well as how to apply digital filters to extract part of an audio signal by using an interactive online demo website. They apply this knowledge in order to isolate a voice recording from a heavily noise-contaminated sound wave. After completing the associated lesson, expect students to be able to attempt (and many successfully finish) this activity with minimal help from the instructor.

Subject:
Applied Science
Career and Technical Education
Electronic Technology
Engineering
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Author:
Ayoade Adekola
Chris Light
Connor McKay
Dehui Yang
Kyle R. Feaster
Michael B. Wakin
Date Added:
10/14/2015
Graphing the Rainbow
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

Students are introduced to different ways of displaying visual spectra, including colored "barcode" spectra, like those produced by a diffraction grating, and line plots displaying intensity versus color, or wavelength. Students learn that a diffraction grating acts like a prism, bending light into its component colors.

Subject:
Applied Science
Engineering
Physical Science
Physics
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Date Added:
10/14/2015
How does light travel?
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

This activity includes two experiments that explore shadows and light and how mirrors can demonstrate how light travels.

Subject:
Career and Technical Education
Environmental Studies
Physical Science
Physics
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Interactive
Lesson
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Eric Hamilton
Gretchen Walker
Laura Danly
Patricia McGlashan
Stephanie Fotiadi
The Education Department at the American Museum of Natural History
Date Added:
06/11/2020
Iowa 8th grade Science Bundles – Open Textbook
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC-SA
Rating
0.0 stars

The University of Iowa Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research and College of Education teamed up to develop free eighth grade science curricula on land use and climate science, in response to Iowa’s grade level alignment of the middle school Next Generation Science Standards.

Primary author Dr. Ted Neal, clinical associate professor of science education, led a team of graduate and pre-service teaching students and CGRER scientists to develop the material. They grouped standards, resources and lesson material into six bundles, each designed to engage Iowa’s middle schoolers with local data and information on relevant topics like athletic concussions and agriculture.

These lessons are built on NGSS principles and put learning in the students’ hands with hands-on activities for groups and individuals. Kids will have ample opportunity to get curious, generate questions and lead themselves to answers.

Subject:
Anthropology
Applied Science
Astronomy
Chemistry
Education
Environmental Science
Geology
Physical Geography
Physical Science
Social Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Primary Source
Textbook
Author:
Ted Neal
Date Added:
10/31/2018
Laser Light Properties: Protecting the Mummified Troll!
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

Students learn and use the properties of light to solve the following challenge: "A mummified troll was discovered this summer at our school and it has generated lots of interest worldwide. The principal asked us, the technology classes, to design a security system that alerts the police if someone tries to pilfer our prized possession. How can we construct a system that allows visitors to view our artifact during the day, but invisibly protects it at night in a cost-effective way?"

Subject:
Applied Science
Education
Engineering
Material Type:
Full Course
Unit of Study
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Author:
Meghan Murphy
Date Added:
09/18/2014