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 […]
Introducing Anchoring Phenomena and Driving Question Boards
Workshop Resources Earth & Space Science 6-8 Middle School In this workshop, teachers will be introduced to the four elements of the anchoring phenomenon routine from OpenSciEd for Middle School. Teachers will experience firsthand the anchoring phenomena of Mount Everest and how to motivate students to explore and explain real-world phenomena. During the workshop teachers […]
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 […]
Phenomena Video Gallery
What are phenomena? They’re observable, naturally occurring events that are everywhere. A sunset, your breath on a cold morning, and the fizz of baking soda and vinegar are all phenomena. Scientists build on knowledge to explain or predict phenomena; engineers design solutions to problems that arise from phenomena. And in the classroom? Phenomena are engaging […]
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 […]