Historical Sunspot Activity: Finding Patterns
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time Prep: 15 mins Activity: 30-45 mins Earth and Space Science Grade Level 9-12 High School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Overview Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Overview Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis Kit Resources Overview When studying the Sun, students are often […]
Modeling Lunar Phases
A CAROLINA ESSENTIALS INVESTIGATION Total Time: 65-80 mins Prep: 20 mins Activity: 45-60 mins Earth and Space Science Grade Level 6-8 Middle School Quick Links Close Quick Links Open Quick Links Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis & Discussion Resources Helpful Links Buy the Kit Introduction Essential Question NGSS Materials Procedures Analysis & Discussion […]
The Great American Eclipse of 2023-2024
Newton’s law of cooling states that the rate at which an object cools is proportional to the difference in temperature between the object and the object’s surroundings. Simply put, a glass of hot water will cool down faster in a cold room than in a hot room. This simple principle is relatively easy to prove, and the experiment has repeatable and reproducible results.
Talking Allowed! Using Science Discourse for Equity
Workshop Resources Earth and Space Science 6-8 Middle School Why is science discourse important? How does it impact improving equity in a science classroom? How do teachers implement this strategy? Learn the answers to these and other questions as you explore engaging (STCMS) lessons from the Smithsonian. Download Presentation Download Handouts Other STCMS Resources
Exploring OpenSciEd from Carolina
Workshop Resources Earth and Space Science 6-8 Middle School Experience the pedagogy of OpenSciEd for middle school by engaging in a model lesson from the new Carolina Certified Version. In this workshop, teachers will experience the four elements of the anchoring phenomenon routine. Teachers will experience firsthand how the anchoring phenomenon routine motivates students to […]
Success Stories in STEM: Space
Who can be successful in STEM careers? Our new Success Stories in STEM feature introduces students to inspiring STEM role models—what led them to their professions, obstacles they overcame, and more! Download English and Spanish profile cards at two reading levels to share the stories of young women in Space careers.
What Is a Light Year?
Understanding Unfamiliar Units This activity gets students out of their desks to practice measuring and manipulating units in a fun, interactive manner. Conversion units of distance are often too awkwardly large to manipulate when discussing planets, solar systems, and galaxies. Units such as light-years are useful when discussing enormous distances but are difficult for students […]
Meteor Shower Guide
What is a meteor? When is your best chance to see a meteor? Get the details in this brief guide. Origins and characteristics of meteors Gaze up at the sky on a clear mid-December night, and you’ll likely see shooting stars, also known as meteors, entering the atmosphere. You’re observing the Geminid meteor shower, known […]
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 […]
Earth and Space Sciences in All Science Courses
Earth and space science concepts can be incorporated into biology, chemistry, and physics. What are Earth and space sciences? Earth and space sciences, an interdisciplinary course of study, applies the principles of physics, chemistry, and biology to explain observed interactions among Earth’s four primary systems–the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere–while recognizing Earth’s place in space […]