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Extracting DNA
Students develop understanding of DNA by modeling the process of DNA extraction. They study DNA, genes and chromosomes. After the basic information, students do an experiment in which they separate out DNA from peas.
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Birds of Prey
Middle schoolers explain the predator/prey relationship by researching specific examples of birds (predators) and what they eat to survive (prey).
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Managing the Everglades Ecosystem
Pupils explore the Everglades ecosystem using the Internet, then develop an understanding about conservation of resources in the context of the Everglades. They explore relationships between species and habitats and develop an...
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Yellowstone Wolves
Middle schoolers use the Internet to explore relationships between habitats and species (specifically the gray wolf and those species with which it must coexist) as well as the effect of physical and human forces on living things and...
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The Fish Trade
Students read a series of articles on the increasingly international business of aquaculture. They answer questions and discuss the readings. They, in groups, read further articles and present summaries to the class.
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Orphan Trains
Students use readings and discussion to investigate the 19th century practice of Orphan Trains - sending U.S. urban orphans from the East to the Midwest in hopes of procuring them a home. They focus on the concept of social trade-offs.
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Nutrition 2: Good Food, Good Health
Students explore ways in which food provides energy and materials for our bodies.
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The Demographics Of Mortality
Students use the Internet to explore population distribution and survivorship curves. They collect information about the deaths of humans and organize them into a life table and decide the ages at which the human population is most...
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Just Turn It Off
Students investigate importance of turning off lights, toys, machines, and appliances. They probe problem of what happens to a flashlight when it is not turned off and extend this to household items like lights, radios, televisions, and...
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Ramps 2: Ramp Builder
Students plan, build, and test a ramp that allows objects to roll far.
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Building a Water Clock
Students build a feedback-controlled system (a water clock) and research ways to improve the system design.
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Sorting
Students develop the idea that information can be more easily managed and retrieved if it is logically sorted and stored, using the example of books in a library.
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Light 1: Making Light of Science
Students are introduced to the electromagnetic spectrum, focusing on visible light. They are introduced to the idea that all light travels as waves, and that wavelength defines the various regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
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Foucault's Pendulum
Pupils explain how the motion of the Foucault pendulum proves that the earth is rotating.
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Salt: Up Close and Personal
Learners view salt under varied magnifications so students can begin to construct the understanding that materials may be composed of parts that are too small to be seen without magnification.
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Recycled Materials
Students identify those materials that can be recycled and possible uses for these materials.
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Disappearing Water
Students observe the amount of water in an open container over time, and they observe the amount of water in a closed container over time. They compare and contrast the sets of observations over time.
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Temperature Changes Everything
Students determine the effect of temperature on the motion of particles.
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Water 3: Melting and Freezing
Students explore what happens to the amount of different substances as they change from a solid to a liquid or a liquid to solid.
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A Matter of State
Students explain that particle movement changes as a substance changes from one phase to another phase.
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Falling
Learners explore the role of gravity as a force in falling. They use the Internet to research gravity.
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El Nino
Middle schoolers explain that El Nino is caused by changes in the atmospheric and ocean content.
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Remote Sensing
Students focus on the history of remote sensing by reading an online article and pretending they are part of a remote sensing satellite.