Cornell University
Math Is Malleable?
Learn about polymers while playing with shrinky dinks. Young scholars create a shrinky dink design, bake it, and then record the area, volume, and thickness over time. They model the data using a graph and highlight the key features of...
Cornell University
Spectral Analysis with DVDs and CDs
Build a spectrometer to analyze properties of light. Scholars examine the spectrum from CDs and DVDs from two different light sources. Using the spectrum, they work to identify different elements.
Cornell University
Thin Films
Combine mathematics and science to calculate measurements of unmeasurable materials. Individuals use knowledge of density and volume to determine the thickness of the film used in production. They also apply stoichiometry to...
Cornell University
Building a Compound Light Microscope
What better way to learn how to use a microscope than building your own? A lab investigation has scholars use lenses from magnifying glasses and sheets of cork to design their own compound microscopes. They calculate focal length...
Cornell University
Optical Simulation of a Transmission Electron Microscope
Don't have an electron microscope? Have your classes build the next best thing! A hands-on lesson asks scholars to build a model of Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). They then use their models to identify the function of each...
Cornell University
Splitting Water with Electricity
Explore how electricity splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. Learners begin by calculating the voltage necessary to separate the water. They then perform the experiment and measure the ratio of hydrogen and oxygen bubbles.
Cornell University
Resolution—Not Just for the New Year
Experiment with optical resolution using an inquiry-based lesson. Young researchers calculate fellow classmates' optical resolutions. They apply the information to understand the inner workings of optical instruments.
US Department of Commerce
Looking at Numbers of Births Using a Line Graph
Was there a baby boom? Using census data, class members take a look at the number of 8-11 year olds and determine their birth years. Scholars create a double line graph to compare the number of births for two states for several years....
Curated OER
Earth Day Trash Survey Unit
Students develop an action plan to prevent trash from becoming a problem in the future.
Curated OER
Earth Day Trash Survey Unit
Students analyze the data from questionnaires to prepare a report. They distribute the report via e-mail or through a report published on a Web page to those who participated.
Curated OER
Exploring Homes and Resources
Students search for images of and information about the exchange country's environments and housing, using a variety of sources, and evaluate primary sources of information in terms of accuracy and usefulness.
Curated OER
Imagining Homes and Environments
Students discuss relationship between environments, natural resources and housing, establish connection with students in classroom or school there, and paint pictures of what they think homes look like based on basic data about environment.
Curated OER
Letters to Local and State Legislators
Pupils locate their local or state legislator's address. They write and send letters to their local and state legislators critiquing their voting record on environmental issues and sharing their own views on these issues.
Curated OER
Environmental Voting Records of Legislators
Students collect and record data on the environmental voting record of their local and state legislators using the Internet. They identify examples of environmental problems or endangered species in their state.
Curated OER
Building Web Pages
Students examine local community agencies and their contributions to the community. They create Web pages that profile the community agencies and their interviews with the volunteers.
Curated OER
Sharing Information
Learners collaborate with another classroom via the Internet to share data, questions, results, and check the validity of their testing procedures.
Curated OER
Local Heart Rates
Students determine the type of data needed to test their inferences. As homework, they check and record heart rates of fellow students, teachers and family members. During their next class period, students enter all data into the database.
Curated OER
Further Study of Neoclassicism and Romanticism
High schoolers continue to conduct Internet research to answer the remaining N/R questions. They are encouraged to contact and communicate with N/R professors or other experts, either singly or over e-mail discussion lists.
Curated OER
Creating a Map for Future Reference
Students use Web and other resources to create maps of either the site of their day trip, their final destination, the entire trip, or some combination of these.
Curated OER
Stopping Along the Way
Learners use atlases, maps, and Web resources to plan a day trip to at least one city or point of interest that is on the way to their final destination.
Curated OER
Earth Day Trash Survey Unit
Students develop a questionnaire to distribute via e-mail or Web page forms that visitors fill out based on the data they gathered during their clean-up activities.
Curated OER
Creating a Web Cookbook
Students use software to write a menu, including suggestions based on their own experiences cooking them, cultural and social context for their recipes and pictures or graphics. They shop for and cook the dinner for their families.
Curated OER
Selecting and Analyzing Recipes
Young scholars use the Web and other resources provided to select several recipes to combine into a menu they can cook for their families at home. They develop a sense of how food is prepared and kinds of preparation necessary to cook...
Curated OER
Share Classroom Fat Data with Other Students
Students research eating habits in different places and in different cultures.