Offers activities for educating middle school students regarding the importance of lifestyle. Activities cover eating patterns, physical exercise, and potentially hazardous behaviors. (MDH)

Throughout our lives we are surrounded by sounds in our environment. Our ability to hear plays an essential part in our everyday existence. Students should develop an understanding of the role technology plays in personal and social decisions. If we are to meet these goals we need to integrate aspects of responsible behavior toward hearing health…

A local middle school requested that the Water Center of Advanced Materials for Purification of Water With Systems (WaterCAMPWS), a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center, provide an introduction to pH for their seventh-grade water-based service learning class. After sorting through a multitude of information about pH, a…

The southwestern United States is experiencing the third year of a perhaps long-term drought. Many places in the West are considered desert, with less than 10 inches of rainfall per year. Because of local drought conditions, conservation of water is essential. Leupp, Arizona, where the author teaches, is situated on the Colorado Plateau, a region…

Presents an activity that uses holiday lights to help students internalize the concept that white light contains a combination of all the colors of the rainbow. (JRH)

Describes an activity that combines Mendel's Postulates with Morgan's Chromosome theory of inheritance. Students pair up the mother's and father's genes and learn how the genes line up with each other. Background information on the theories is provided and tips that can be used to aid student understanding are included. (DDR)

Presents an activity in which students in groups explore one planet in the solar system and present their findings to the whole class. Focuses on the planet's location in the solar system, geological features, rate of revolutions, and calendar year. (YDS)

Introduces a functional model of sound transmission through solids and gases. Describes procedures of an activity to model how sound travels faster through solid materials than gases. Use dominoes to represent the particles of solids and gases. (KHR)

Discusses the application of petroleum technology and presents activities designed to raise students' awareness of the importance of petroleum-based products in their lives. Includes a handout designed to help students understand the refining processes in which the crude oil from the drill site is transformed into nearly 6,000 petroleum-based…

Describes a program in which students present their displays in the normal science-fair style but without the competitive element and more as a "science-share". Describes an "energy day" celebration which included an energy exhibition and engaged students in an "energy decathlon" that challenged them with tasks encompassing many aspects of energy.…

Describes a role-playing activity that asks students to review the qualifications of a scientist who has applied for a job at a research facility. During this review, students learn about the history of science, what it takes to become a scientist, and how real scientists conduct research. (KHR)

Describes an approach to increasing student choice and responsibility within the science classroom. Student-centered approaches to classroom behavior are considered more in line with democratic values than traditional teacher-centered approaches. Includes a list of student committees formed within the classroom. Notes increased student motivation…

Describes a research assignment for 8th grade students on the elements of the periodic table. Students use web-based resources and a chemistry handbook to gather information, construct concept maps, and present the findings to the full class using the mode of their choice: a humorous story, a slideshow or gameboard, a brochure, a song, or skit.…

Describes occultation events involving the moon, when the moon blocks the view of planets or stars. Describes other events such as a partial solar eclipse, a penumbral lunar eclipse, meteor showers, and moon phases. Provides a list of internet resources related to these events. (DLH)

Explains forest fragmentation, the destruction of physical habitats for animals such as birds and points out the importance of studies on habitat and biodiversity. Introduces project ideas for songbird populations and their habitats which can be conducted in backyards or schoolyards. (YDS)