Describes an activity designed for secondary school students that explains the global carbon cycle and the production of CO2 through soil respiration. (YDS)

Presents a lesson on volcanoes that evaluates student knowledge and misconceptions and provides factual information. (YDS)

Describes a model demonstrating the difference between mixtures and chemical compounds in which two different colors of clay are used to represent two different elements. Makes connections to real world situations. (YDS)

Presents an activity designed for use during National Chemistry Week 2002 with the theme "Chemistry Keeps Us Clean". Allows students to discover more about a cleaning product they use everyday. Students make their own toothpaste and compare its properties with those of commercial toothpaste. (MM)

Presents laboratory experiments to demonstrate the pH properties of different buffer solutions. (YDS)

Presents a tobacco haploid experiment in which students learn the cytogenetic technique of metaphase analysis of chromosomes and experience the basic principles of haploidy, diploidy, and polyploidy. (YDS)

Presents three science activities on algae targeting middle school and high school students. Uses an interdisciplinary approach and meets the National Science Education Standards. (YDS)

Describes a celestial grid system that gives the coordinates for any object that delineates the sun's ecliptic path--the sun's apparent path through the year. Includes Internet resources. (KHR)

Presents a science activity on consumer chemistry in which students explore artificial flavors that are commonly used in foods, such as isoamyl acetate and methyl salicylate. Includes instructor information and a student worksheet. (YDS)

Undergraduate students compared Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) estimates of storm total precipitation to measurements from a network of 20 rain gauges. Student researchers gained valuable experience in field data collection, global positioning systems (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), Internet data access and downloading,…

Presents methods for creating appropriate ways of collecting live specimens to use for firsthand observation in the classroom. Suggests ecological questions for students to address using these devices. This project is ideal for schools that have access to piers or bridges on a coastal body of water. (NB)

Using movie scenes about being trapped in quicksand as a starting point, this inquiry-oriented lesson engages students in a novel study of density. Students collect and graph data collected on a variety of objects placed in a mixture of sand and water. From their findings, students consider misconceptions about quicksand and its real dangers. (DLH)

Describes an ongoing project, the Cosmic Ray Observatory Project (CROP), being conducted by the University of Nebraska in partnership with several high schools. Each school group has installed cosmic ray detectors, and initial activities have included calibrating equipment, gathering preliminary data, and learning about cosmic ray showers. Aims to…

Describes fossil investigations developed and provided by the Falls of the Ohio State Park near Louisville, Kentucky. The Devonian shale beds contain representatives of over 600 species including corals, sponges, brachiopods, mollusks, and echinoderms. Rather than focusing on identification, the activities emphasize the past ecological…

Students compare several different window cleaner recipes to determine the purpose each ingredient serves, then develop their own "New and Improved" recipe to test its performance against commercial window cleaner. Complements the National Chemistry Week 2002 theme, "Chemistry Keeps Us Clean." (Author/MM)