This video segment adapted from Building Big illustrates the strength of the arch in bridge design and construction.
Students are introduced to Pascal's law, Archimedes' principle and Bernoulli's principle. Fundamental definitions, equations, practice problems and engineering applications are supplied. A PowerPoint® presentation, practice problems and grading rubric are provided.
Students explore the interface between architecture and engineering. In the associated hands-on activity, students act as both architects and engineers by designing and building a small parking garage.
Students create four-legged walking robots and measure how far they travel across different types of surfaces. They design and create "shoes" to add to the robots' feet and observe the effect of their modifications on the net distance traveled across the various surface types. This activity illustrates how the specialized locomotive features of different species help them to survive or thrive in their habitat environments. The activity is best as an enrichment tool that follows a lesson that introduces the concept of biological adaptation to students.
This video describes how global climate change is affecting Barrow, Alaska. The Inupiaq people who reside in the region discuss how the climate change is affecting their lives as well. Uses popups.
Get the facts about the Arctic Fox. Besides finding a physical description of Canada's smallest fox, you'll also learn about some of its unique facts and characteristics. Also included in this Mammal Fact Sheet on the Arctic Fox is information on its habitat and habits, range, feeding, breeding, and conservation efforts. A list of resources completes the fact sheet.
Scientists study sea ice extent closely because it influences global climate. Follow the decline in Arctic sea ice in this animation adapted from NASA showing the yearly maximum and minimum sea ice extents from 1999 to 2016. Resources include background information, teaching tips, student handouts, and an essay for teachers.
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio uses data from several sources to track seasonal changes in Arctic sea ice and land cover over time. Scientists study sea ice because it influences global climate. Watch the following visualization showing the sea ice reaching its maximum in February 2015 to its minimum in September 2015. Background information and teaching tips are provided.
Join Jacob on the Nova Zembla Expedition, and help him use suitable materials for building his house.
Visit Vlad and learn about the properties of conductors and insulators, and what materials are used for them.
See the many birds that spend their summer in the Arctic in this video segment from Nature.
This video segment from Wild Europe: "Wild Arctic" explores the struggle for survival in one of Earth's most extreme environments. [4:56]
This video segment from Wild Europe: "Wild Arctic" explores the struggle for survival in one of Earth's most extreme environments.
This issue of the free online magazine, Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears, explores the amazing birds that live in or migrate to the polar regions. The issue was co-produced with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. In addition to content knowledge articles and lesson plans, the issue includes information about bird-themed citizen science programs from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
This article assembles free resources from the Arctic and Antarctic Birds issue of the Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears cyberzine into a unit outline based on the 5E learning cycle framework. Outlines are provided for Grades K-2 and 3-5.
Students learn that dams do not last forever. Similar to other human-made structures, such as roads and bridges, dams require regular maintenance and have a finite lifespan. Many dams built during the 1930-70s, an era of intensive dam construction, have an expected life of 50-100 years. Due to inadequate maintenance and/or for environmental reasons, some of these dams will fail or be removed in the next 50 years. The engineers with Splash Engineering have an ethical obligation to remind Thirsty County of the maintenance and lifespan concerns associated with its dam.
This example Socratic questioning page provides an outline for leading a classroom discussion regarding whether or not nanobacteria exist. Sample questions, resources for background information, and tips and assessment information are provided.
This example Socratic questioning page provides an outline for leading a classroom discussion regarding whether or not viruses are alive. Sample questions, resources for background information, and tips and assessment information are provided.
This video segment adapted from NOVA features a variety of scientific perspectives on the age old question, "Are we alone in the universe?" Animations make vivid the improbability that we could intercept a radio wave signaling extra terrestrial intelligence.
The year is 2032 and your class has successfully achieved a manned mission to Mars! After several explorations of the Red Planet, one question is still being debated: "Is there life on Mars?" The class is challenged with the task of establishing criteria to help look for signs of life. Student explorers conduct a scientific experiment in which they evaluate three "Martian" soil samples and determine if any contain life.