Plant Biodiversity Field Activity
Take your class outdoors to study biodiversity. What is biodiversity?? Simply stated, biodiversity is the number and variety of organisms within a particular geographic area. In this activity, students go outdoors and sample the biodiversity of plant species in natural and cultivated areas. Then they compare the biodiversity of plants in the natural areas to […]
Webinar Series: Integrating Science and Engineering Practices
Webinar Series: Modeling in Science Instruction Data Analysis and Computational Thinking Arguments from Evidence and Communicating Planning Investigations, Asking Questions, Defining Problems Modeling Science Instruction How can teachers use modeling to identify gaps in learning and address learning differences? Join nationally recognized education consultant Kristen Dotti for a 90-minute webinar on how teachers can use […]
Lab Safety Dos and Don’ts for Students
Science labs offer great opportunities for learning, teaching, and research. They also pose hazards that require proper safety precautions.
Investigating Phenomena: How Is the Silver Formation Explained?
Carolina Phenomenon Phenomena-driven science! Phenomena are observable, naturally occurring events that are everywhere and spark student questions and investigations. Ask students to observe the DCI-linked phenomenon in the video and complete the attached student sheet prior to remote learning discussions. Observations: Carefully watch the copper wire and silver nitrate solution video. Gather all the evidence you can […]
Cooking Eggs with Chemicals
A demonstration of denaturing protein Introduce high school biology and chemistry students to the concept of denatured proteins with this inexpensive, fun demonstration. Your students will be amazed when you “cook” an egg in hydrochloric acid, and they will learn that a protein (egg white) can be denatured by heat, or, as shown in the […]
Single-replacement Reaction
Create silver decorations with chemistry In this activity students perform a redox reaction in which silver take the place of copper in copper wire. The copper changes from its elemental form to its aqueous ionic form. During the course of the reaction, the silver ions are reduced and are removed from the solution. The silver […]
What Are Phenomena?
Natural phenomena are a context for the work in which scientists and engineers engage. In nature, phenomena are considered observable events that we can use science to explain or predict. A beautiful red sunset, moss growing on a bare rock, a meteor shower, the fizzing of baking soda and vinegar, a sick child running a […]
3-D Imaging: The Mystery Unlocked
Seeing the Solar System in a New Dimension Moviegoers are demanding more from their sensory experience, and 3-D viewing has become popular for many blockbuster movies. Unlocking the mystery of 3-D imaging not only spurs discussion about the greatest 3-D movies, but it also provides opportunity to discuss visual perception, optics, and colors with your […]
Make Your Own Indicators
Testing the pH of a solution is a fundamental skill in chemistry. Students typically test pH using a pH meter, litmus or pH paper strips, or one of a variety of commercial acid-base indicator solutions. Acid-base indicators are weak organic acids that change color depending on the pH of a solution. A wide variety of […]
Chicken Wing Musculature
Explore the structures and functions of muscle tissue Essential Question What are the structures and functions of muscle tissue? Activity Objectives Observe muscle tissue. Explain movement based on muscle attachment. Practice dissection techniques. Background There are 3 different types of muscle tissue. Smooth muscle can be found in organs in the digestive system, reproductive system, […]