Using Science to Teach Math
Science and math are intricately intertwined. It’s the math that makes science quantitative and allows for rigorous comparisons and descriptions of objects as tiny as subatomic particles, as large as galaxies, and everything in between. Math is often referred to as the language of science, but, unfortunately, students often perceive math as nothing more than […]
Improving Students’ Math Skills for Science Class
Math is an integral part of science, yet many students enter science courses lacking basic mathematical skills. Chemistry students may struggle for weeks trying to learn about buffers because they have no idea what a logarithm is. Biology students may cruise along as they learn how to use a microscope, only to find they need […]
Organizing Your Space for Safe, Efficient, and Engaging Lab Activities
Teachers always need more space! We need space for students to spread out for group work, space for storage, space for displaying student work, but never is space more of an important consideration than when planning for hands-on lab activities. There must be adequate room for students to move about safely, enough desk or counter […]
Preying Protozoa Lab Instructions
In this activity, students observe, compare, and contrast feeding behaviors of two carnivorous species of protozoa. This is a life science activity for grades 6–12. Download the activity Predator Protozoan Species The Preying Protozoa Set will contain two of the following three species depending on availability: Didinium nasutum, Bursaria truncatella, or Pelomyxa carolienensis (Chaos). Bursaria […]
The Evolution and Survival of the Galápagos Medium Ground Finch
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 15 mins Activity: 20-30 mins Life Science Grade Level 9-12 High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis & Discussion Reference kit Helpful Links Buy the Kit Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis & Discussion Reference kit Helpful […]
Teachers’ Guide to Classroom Grow Lights for Healthy Fast Plants
Hedi Baxter Lauffer Do decisions about grow lights cause you to avoid teaching with Wisconsin Fast Plants®? Are you convinced you have a brown thumb that keeps you from ever growing healthy plants? Look no further! In this article, we dive into the fascinating world of lights for growing plants, so you can choose lighting […]
Why Don’t Whales Have Legs?
Introduce Your Class to Inquiry Through Science and Engineering Practices The Next Generation Science Standards ask that students be engaged in the same activities that scientists and engineers use to complete research, solve problems, and design solutions. Mastering those skills and activities takes practice, and a lot of it, but there are always opportunities for […]
Natural Selection of Leaf Thickness on Planet Eorthe, Galaxy Tlaloc
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 10-15 mins Activity: 30-40 mins Life Science, Physical Science Grade Level 9-12 High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction In this introductory activity, students graph and […]
Human Impacts: How Can Our Impact Be Assessed?
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS ACTIVITY What information is necessary to design a solution that reduces the impacts of human activities? Total Time Prep: 15 mins Activity: 30-60 mins Life Science Grade Level 9-12 High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Essential Question NGSS […]
Engineering an Electromagnetic Train
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 30 mins Activity: 30-90 mins Physical Science Grade Level 9-12 High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Introduction This physics inquiry activity asks students to engineer the […]