Climate change caused predominately by carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil fuel use is a critical issue for our future. It is incumbent on science educators to learn about it and teach it in ways that illustrate the power of science to understand climatic changes and model past, present, and possible climate futures. It is equally important for…

This activity is part of a larger set of activities and presentations developed by the Michigan Geographic Alliance to help teachers meet the proposed Social Studies standards in 6th and 7th grade. The Michigan Geographic Alliance website also has explanatory presentations, supplementary maps, and readings. In this 20-40 minute intermediate…

This work presents a sequence to introduce resistive gas sensors in the classroom. It explains the physical principle of the metal oxide semiconductor sensors and exemplifies its real interfacing through the sensor model MQ-2. Besides, it also presents the design of two electronic systems to indicate the level of alcohol concentration in the air,…

Mathematical modeling, a focus of the Common Core State Standards for School Mathematics (CCSSI 2010) and one of the Standards for Mathematical Practice, is generally considered to be the process of exploring a real-world situation and making sense of it using mathematics (Lesh and Zawojewski 2007). Teachers need to create opportunities for…

Environmental issues can serve as a marvelous framework for high-level student analysis of critical scientific and social concerns. We describe a series of activities and discussions that motivate students to explore environmentalism, sustainable development, carbon offsets, and related ideas with an engaged learning format that helps students to…

This instructional resource utilizes consumer product information by which students compare theoretical stoichiometric calculations to CO[subscript 2] car emissions and fuel consumption data. Representing graphically the emission of CO[subscript 2] versus consumption of fuel provides a tangible way of connecting concepts studied in chemistry…

This case study stresses the need to broadly consider an entire system, including all of the energy inputs and outputs involved, to determine the real efficiency of that system. It also asks its student audience to consider the role that scientific input plays in policy decision-making processes. It emphasizes that, despite the importance of this…

The Schoolhouse Energy Efficiency Demonstration (SEED) program was developed to assist schools in reducing the impact of rising energy costs. Developed as part of the SEED program, this publication was designed to provide background information on the energy issue and to briefly describe what future energy sources may be. It includes: (1)…

Describes a technique for involving students in energy awareness and conservation. Students are asked to compare their families' electric bills, to calculate amounts of strip-mined land needed to fill families' annual power needs, and to estimate annual energy consumption based on electrical gadgets in their homes. (Author/AV)

This module is one of a series of teaching guides that cover diesel mechanics. The module contains six instructional units that cover the following topics: (1) introduction to fuel injection systems and components; (2) injection nozzles; (3) distributor type injection pumps; (4) unit injectors; (5) in-line injection pumps; and (6) pressure timed…

This guide is designed to help driver education teachers in Iowa to integrate energy conservation education into the traditional high school driver education course. Following an explanation of the necessity for teaching energy conservation with driver education, the course guide is divided into seven units. The units cover vehicle selection,…

Metabolism, the sum of all chemical reactions within a living organism, is one of the most fundamental concepts presented in introductory microbiology courses. However, it is often difficult for instructors to effectively translate perfunctory diagrams of glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain in a way that is meaningful to…

A teaching kit on coal as an energy source provides background information, ideas for activities, and educational resources needed to start a class project on this contemporary issue. Information about coal, coal mining, electricity production, and environmental-versus-consumer needs is provided. (PP)

Describes an activity that shows how understanding a modern coral reef environment helps predict the location of old subsurface reefs that may contain oil. (PR)

Presents an exciting way to acquaint students with current methods to clean up oil spills. Students also have the freedom to create new clean-up methods as they think through the problem and experiment to find effective solutions. (PR)