PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Observing Refraction of Light
This video segment adapted from Shedding Light on Science illustrates how light changes speed, and thus direction, in a process known as refraction. Includes background reading and discussion questions. [2:05]
Other
Kid Citizen: Snap a Photo: Agent of Change
How did photographers help convince Congress to pass child labor laws? This module explores some of Lewis Hine's photographs that exposed children's working conditions and advocated for child labor laws to protect them. In this tutorial,...
Utah STEM Foundation
Utah Stem Action Center: Changes in Matter
The goal of this activity is to develop and use a model to describe that matter is made of particles on a scale that is too small to be seen. You will be making observations of changes supported by a particle model of matter.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Exploring Climate Change With Gis
Use Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to observe climate change with these interactive lessons.
American Chemical Society
Inquiry in Action: Change in Temperature: Endothermic Reaction
In this activity, students will observe another aspect of a chemical change which is a change in temperature. In this reaction, students will experiment with an endothermic reaction.
American Chemical Society
Inquiry in Action: Change in Temperature: Exothermic Reaction
Students will observe an exothermic reaction in this activity where they add calcium chloride to a baking soda solution. This increase in temperature is due to the chemical change that has occurred.
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: Making Community Measurements: Which Plant Part? [Pdf]
A lesson in observing a plant or plant community in different seasons for the purposes of recording observable changes.
NASA
Nasa Earth Observatory: Changing Global Cloudiness
Learn what clouds are made of and how they form. Read reports from several different cloud observations and how the clouds effect climate.
Other
Nature Canada: Connect With Nature: Ice Watch
IceWatch is a Canadian program that uses volunteers to observe changes in the ice in their environments, and submit their observations. The purpose of the initiative is to monitor climate change. Tips on how to ice-watch and how to...
NASA
Nasa Earth Observatory: Ocean and Climate Fact Sheet
Read about Earth's oceans and the effects that climate have had on the rising temperatures over the past one hundred years. Discover how the Earth's ocean and atmosphere are interlocked so that when one changes, the other is affected.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Atmospheric Oxygen
In this feature, adapted from Interactive NOVA: Earth, students explore the relationship between oxygen concentration and the well-being of various organisms by simulating a change in oxygen levels and observing what happens.
Institute for Dynamic Educational Advancement
Web Exhibits: Daylight Saving Time
Why in the world do we turn our clocks forward in the Spring and back again in the Fall? Share with your students the rationale and history of the Daylight Saving Time concept from Benjamin Franklin through World War I and World War II...
University of California
Ucla: What Makes a Planet
This detailed essay defines planets and compares the characteristics to those of Pluto. Orbital graphs and background information clarify the change in Pluto's categorization. A copy of IAU's Resolution 5 is also contained in this essay.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Elementary Globe: All Year Long
In this activity, kids record their observations of an outdoor environment in a science journal. The spot they record could be close to home or seen out a window.
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 8.f Riding by the Library
In this task, 8th graders draw the graphs of two functions from verbal descriptions. Both functions describe the same situation but changing the viewpoint of the observer changes where the function has output value zero. This forces the...
Davidson College
Davidson College: Phase Changes: Heating Curve
Observe what happens when a solid substance is heated in this animation. Explore heating curves as substances experience a phase change.
Other
Suny E Sf: The Splendor of Autumn
This brief site describes the changes that take place within leaves and the environment which result in the colors we observe in Autumn.
Other
Principia Cybernetica Web: Punctuated Equilibrium
Starts with a definition of Punctuated Equilibrium, followed by an explanation of this "Observation," and how it fits with other evolutionary theory.
Globe
The Globe Program: Biosphere
Website from Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program with comprehensive learning and field study resources on the biosphere in which students use materials and data to make observations and learn about...
Globe
The Globe Program: Seasons Module
Through learning activities, students describe the seasonal changes in a local habitat, observe how colors in nature change through the seasons, and research hummingbirds.
BioEd Online
Bio Ed Online: Moving Air
In the following lesson for learners grades 3-5 students observe how changing the temperature affects a small amount of air inside of a bubble. Student sheets are provided in English and in Spanish.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Beer's Law Lab
An interactive simulation that teaches about Beer's Law, solutions, concentration, spectrophotometry, and more through observations to explore how much light is absorbed and transmitted with changes in thickness and color. This...
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Lunar Lander
An interactive simulation that teaches about the lunar landing, the moon, and mass by observing how changes in mass and thrust affect fuel consumption while trying to avoid a boulder field and put a lunar lander on the moon. This...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Rock Layers and Fossils to Infer Past
This activity is an inquiry-based field investigation of the sedimentary geology of Lilydale Regional Park's brickyards area, a bluff and slope location near St. Paul Minnesota's Harriet Island and Cherokee Heights Park. Young scholars...