Teaching Middle School Science

Citizen science, poetry, birds, and long johns.

Join us on a special trip up to Bathurst Island to record birdsongs, and learn about how you can use bird observations to create scientific inquiry in your classroom using ebird.org and birds.cornell.edu/birdsleuth. [15:02]

We already know why polar bears don't eat penguins, but what do they eat? In this podcast, we'll share a simple activity that opens a window to understanding a unique ecosystem as one example of a food chain - the Arctic Ocean.

This podcast includes directions for an activity where students build a mobile that represents an Arctic food web.

This podcast interviews Dr. Monaghan who does climate research in Antarctica.

Dr. Andy Monaghan, researcher at the National Center for Atmospheric Research gives us the lowdown on climate change and it's impact on Antarctica. In doing so, educators can address common questions students might have about climate change and also learn simple ways that we can mitigate our impact on the environment. [10:41]

What is the environmental impact of summer vacations?

How much thought have you given to the environmental impact of your summer vacation plans and those of everyone else you'll meet there? What kind of carbon emissions are you emitting as you jet to your destination? What about that four-wheel drive vehicle you'll rent? And the convenience meals with their excess packaging you'll eat a greater proportion of?

Did it sneak up on you again this year? Kidding aside, Richter Scale Day is April 26, the birthday of Charles Richter (1900-1985), inventor of the Richter scale. Most middle school science curricula include earth science studies in plate tectonics and its related phenomena, including earthquakes. Catastrophic events, such as the recent Italian earthquake, provide teachable moments. What better time to integrate a study of the Richter scale technology with science content?

You didn't miss Richter Scale Day, did you?

This page includes the Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science guide, links to highlighted presentations, and related documents. The guide includes the most important concepts in climate science.

This guide says that humans can take actions to reduce climate change and its impacts. Hope we aren't too late.

With all the news of the Swine flu outbreak and eventhough flu is caused by a virus - here is a really good resource about bacteria on your hands.

This blog post discusses how many bacteria can be found on your hands and that there are differences in men and women. In addition, ideas for integrating these ideas into middle school science classrooms are provided.

At this website produced by NASA and NOAA, students in grades 4-8 learn about weather through interactive games, illustrated text, and fun facts. Includes How and Why sections as well as weather folk lore. Weather jokes are dispensed by a Joke Machine. Teacher materials are available.