In this lesson, students will learn about the three pillars of sustainability: …
In this lesson, students will learn about the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic, and societal, and how they relate to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Then, students will apply this information in order to understand the choices they will have for their projects within this course. At the end of this lesson, students will engage in an activity where they add to their comic books by choosing from three different sustainability villains.
Estimated time required: 1-2 class periods.
Technology required for this lesson: Laptop/Desktop, Tablet.
This video segment describes how the Australopithecus afarensis skeleton known as Lucy …
This video segment describes how the Australopithecus afarensis skeleton known as Lucy could have been fossilized. Footage courtesy of NOVA: "In Search of Human Origins."
This video segment describes how the Australopithecus afarensis skeleton known as Lucy …
This video segment describes how the Australopithecus afarensis skeleton known as Lucy could have been fossilized. Footage courtesy of NOVA: "In Search of Human Origins." [2:34]
The study of biomimicry and sustainable design promises great benefits in design …
The study of biomimicry and sustainable design promises great benefits in design applications, offering cost-effective, resourceful, non-polluting avenues for new enterprise. An important final caveat for students to understand is that once copied, species are not expendable. Biomimicry is intended to help people by identifying natural functions from which to pattern human-driven services. Biomimicry was never intended to replace species. Ecosystems remain in critical need of ongoing protection and biodiversity must be preserved for the overall health of the planet. This activity addresses the negative ramifications of species decline. For example, pollinators such as bees are a vital work force in agriculture. They perform an irreplaceable task in ensuring the harvest of most fruit and vegetable crops. In the face of the unexplained colony collapse disorder, we are only now beginning to understand how invaluable these insects are in keeping food costs down and even making the existence of these foods possible for humans.
This activity is a scientific investigation focusing on inquiry after using the …
This activity is a scientific investigation focusing on inquiry after using the Foss Water Kit. The students will pose a question, create a procedure and produce a poster showing their findings.
This tutorial looks at the behavior of sound waves, specifically focusing upon …
This tutorial looks at the behavior of sound waves, specifically focusing upon sound interference and beats. Learn more about it and then take a short quiz to check your understanding.
Programming Coordinator Nicole Episcopo gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the Cleveland …
Programming Coordinator Nicole Episcopo gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Animal Room. She’ll highlight everything that goes into caring for our beloved animal ambassadors, as well as how our animal experts prepare them for use in classes and programs. Worksheets available for grades PreK-K and 1-2.
How do scientists stay safe when they work with poisonous fumes and …
How do scientists stay safe when they work with poisonous fumes and powerful acids? For November's After School Science Hour, Karla Arredondo and Ladan Khandel from Berkeley Lab's Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Division will share how they help scientists carry out their research safely. Get a behind the scenes look into a lab's safety equipment from fume hoods to hazmat suits. Afterwards learn how to create a pollution catcher to test air qualit
This is an activity that involves students modeling the behavior and competition …
This is an activity that involves students modeling the behavior and competition that Charles Darwin's finches would have gone through as they competed for food and space on the Galapagos Islands. Some will survive. Some won't.
What role or roles do elephants play in a food web? How …
What role or roles do elephants play in a food web? How might they affect the other animals around them? This activity is designed to start your students in recognizing themselves as scientists and thinking critically about problem-solving. The goal is to teach concepts through discovery and to encourage using scientific thought processes. As with all lessons provided, please feel free to adapt them according to your students’ abilities. You may find it more successful to lead activities and discussions as a whole group rather than using individual Research Plan sheets. Certain scientific vocabulary may or may not be appropriate for your students’ level of understanding. Take these ideas, make them your own and your students will have a greater chance at success.
Get the facts about beluga whales. Besides finding detailed physical descriptions of …
Get the facts about beluga whales. Besides finding detailed physical descriptions of these mammals of the sea, you'll also learn about some of their unique facts and characteristics. Also included in this Mammal Fact Sheet on beluga whales is information on their habitat and habits, range, feeding, breeding, and conservation efforts. A list of resources completes the fact sheet.
Students learn about material properties, and that engineers must consider many different …
Students learn about material properties, and that engineers must consider many different materials properties when designing. This activity focuses on strength-to-weight ratios and how sometimes the strongest material is not always the best material.
This activity will allow students to see light bending. The students will …
This activity will allow students to see light bending. The students will be able to calculate the amount of bend or refraction that occurs with various mediums.
Cocos Island, a remote volcanic summit in the middle of the Pacific …
Cocos Island, a remote volcanic summit in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, serves as a beacon for hungry predators, including thousands of hammerhead sharks that travel here each year in search of prey. This video segment from NOVA: "Island of Sharks" depicts some of the common predator-prey interactions that take place in the nutrient-rich waters surrounding the island.
Cocos Island, a remote volcanic summit in the middle of the Pacific …
Cocos Island, a remote volcanic summit in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, serves as a beacon for hungry predators, including thousands of hammerhead sharks that travel here each year in search of prey. This video segment from NOVA: "Island of Sharks" depicts some of the common predator-prey interactions that take place in the nutrient-rich waters surrounding the island. Includes background reading and discussion questions. [3:05]
Students toss coins to determine what traits a set of mouse parents …
Students toss coins to determine what traits a set of mouse parents possess, such as fur color, body size, heat tolerance, and running speed. Then they use coin tossing to determine the traits a mouse pup born to these parents possesses. Then they compare these physical features to features that would be most adaptive in several different environmental conditions. Finally, students consider what would happen to the mouse offspring if those environmental conditions were to change: which mice would be most likely to survive and produce the next generation?
Learn about the importance of wildlife in our lives. Look at the …
Learn about the importance of wildlife in our lives. Look at the role of wildlife in natural processes, as well as in science, agriculture, and medicine. Also, discover how wildlife factors into the Canadian economy. Finally find out how we can sustain the benefits we have from wildlife and how we can preserve them for future generations. A list of resources completes the discussion.
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