This science activity book, for grades 8-12, can be used to teach students the thinking skills they will need to undertake scientific exploration on their own. The skills they develop will improve their science abilities and enhance their overall academic performance. This book is divided into two sections: (1) "Dynamo Demos", teacher-led…

This CD-ROM uses catastrophic events to teach the fundamentals of the earth's dynamism. Topics discussed include earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, plate tectonics, and many subjects that have to do with energy transfer. It contains 63 interactive, inquiry-based activities that closely simulate real life scientific practice. Students work with…

This activity is designed to teach about topographic maps and bathymetric charts. Students are expected to create a topographic map from a model landform, interpret a simple topographic map, and explain the difference between topographic and bathymetric maps. The activity provides learning objectives, a list of needed materials, key vocabulary…

This activity introduces students to the basic concept of seafloor spreading, the processes involved in creating new seafloor at a mid- ocean ridge, the Galapagos Spreading Center system, and the different types of plate motion associated with ridge segments and transform faults. The activity provides learning objectives, a list of needed…

In this activity, students learn how paper is made by working together to make their own paper. Students are introduced to the concept of recycling: what it is, its importance, and how it affects their lives. This activity is uses a time frame of 40 minutes. (Author/SOE)

In this activity, students learn about composite materials, tension as a force, and how they act on structural components through the design and testing of a strip of plastic chair webbing. This activity requires a 60-minute time period for completion. (Author/NB)

This brief discusses human movement and robotic human movement simulators. The activity for students in grades 5-12 provides a history of robotic movement and includes making an End Effector for the robotic arms used on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS). (MVL)

This brief discusses X-gliders and flight research with experimental gliders. In this activity, designed for grades K-4, students will learn how to change the flight characteristics of a glider using scientific inquiry methods. Glider plans and a template are included. (MVL)

This brief discusses the space shuttle and the docking procedures used with the International Space Station (ISS). Using this activity designed for grades 5-12, students demonstrate and identify procedures for determining the best method for completing the docking activity. Students will also study and identify Newton's Laws of Motion. A mockup…

Walking on a balance beam or riding a bike both require motion and balance. This program will reveal how unbalanced forces create motion, while balanced forces keep things still. Students also learn how concepts like velocity, acceleration, and momentum fit into this puzzle. A unique hands-on activity combined with vivid imagery and graphics…

A force is a push or a pull. In All About Forces and Gravity, kids will join our host on a parasailing adventure to investigate how forces impact and shape everything that happens in the world around us. Learn about gravity and the work of Sir Isaac Newton, the English scientists whose scientific principles forever changed the way people looked at…

Everything in the universe consists of matter. So how can the differences between various types of matter be distinguished? Besides color, shape and size, there are more detailed properties that are used to define matter. Mass, weight, volume and density are all related to tell a great deal about an object or substance. Students will learn about…

Forces are all around. Without them, there would be no movement. In fact, Sir Isaac Newton theorized that a force called inertia actually works to keep things exactly as they are at any given moment! Students will learn about Newton's laws and about how forces affect many aspects of life. With clear demonstrations and a unique hands-on activity,…

Motion allows things to get done, to communicate and to travel. But is motion controlled? Students will learn about the universal laws that apply to motion, the forces that cause it and how it is related to balance. They will also discover why motion occurs when forces are out of control and learn more about this interesting concept by viewing…

All kids are familiar with the basic idea of gravity--it's why things fall to the ground. Gravity uses exciting visuals and clear, colorful graphics to take students beyond the basics to explain that gravity is really a force of attraction between objects. They'll discover that all objects--no matter how large or small--have gravitational force,…