Authentic Lessons for 21st Century Learning
This middle school lesson is adapted from the high school lesson "How Does Your Garden Grow?" Students will explore principles of soil health, soil chemistry, nutrient cycles by testing and analyzing soil samples. Students will also explore humanity's impact on soil health and create public service... Read more »
Created by: Heather Shaffery
Date Updated: November 4th, 2024
Conservation, Ecosystems, and Soil Health
Students will explore the relationship between the fossil record and the digestive system using coprolites (i.e., fossilized poop) as a phenomenon. Students will explain what coprolites can tell us about the diet of the organisms they came from by investigating the chemical and physical processes of... Read more »
Created by: Heather Shaffery
Date Updated: October 16th, 2024
Digestion and the Fossil Record
In this lesson, students will explore a variety of plant reproductive structures and determine differences between sexual and asexual reproduction through hands-on observations and online research. Based on their findings, students will use engineering design to create and test "seed dispersal" structures.... Read more »
Created by: Heather Shaffery
Date Updated: October 9th, 2024
Plant Reproduction and Seed Dispersal
In this professional development, participants explore elements of student engagement and examples of positive classroom culture. Next, they participate in a variety of engaging instructional strategies as learners and gain experience modifying and/or scaffolding these strategies to support their own... Read more »
Created by: Heather Shaffery
Date Updated: August 13th, 2024
In this lesson, students explore a variety of examples of how science is conducted in the world outside of the classroom. Examples come from a variety of Twitter trends where scientists share their mistakes, unexpected mishaps, and use of non-standard equipment in the course of their research. Additionally,... Read more »
Created by: Heather Shaffery
Date Updated: January 19th, 2024
The Nature of Science
This lesson introduces the idea of energy flow in ecosystems using energy pyramids. It also exposes students to a career in scientific illustration. Students participate in a game that models energy flow through trophic levels and calculate the transfer of energy up an energy pyramid. After learning... Read more »
Created by: Heather Shaffery
Date Updated: March 10th, 2023
Ecological Energy Pyramids and Science Illustration
In this lesson about the growth and development of organisms, students will gather evidence from research about specific plant phenomena, then use research and in-class investigations to explain the relationship between environmental conditions and plant growth. Activities throughout the lesson will... Read more »
Created by: Heather Shaffery
Date Updated: September 12th, 2024
Growth and Development of Organisms
This lesson examines the phenomenon of coral bleaching as a context for learning about photosynthesis. Students investigate photosynthesis' inputs and outputs using an online simulation activity and connect these elements to the relationship between coral and their symbiotic algae. Student will also... Read more »
Created by: Heather Shaffery
Date Updated: June 26th, 2023
Photosynthesis and Coral Reef Health
In this lesson, students connect passive transport across a semi-permeable membrane to show how the antibiotic vancomycin works to kill MRSA. Students complete two simple osmosis and diffusion investigations, learn the details of passive transport, and apply their conceptual understanding to create... Read more »
Created by: Heather Shaffery
Date Updated: October 17th, 2022
Passive Transport, Homeostasis, and Antibiotics
Observing a polyurea-coated watermelon dropping from a 148-foot drop as a phenomenon, students will develop an understanding of how the coating is formed via a chemical reaction and what properties make the substance so durable. Through models and observational data, students will explain how the molecular... Read more »
Created by: Heather Shaffery
Date Updated: March 15th, 2023
Chemical Properties and Reactions
