All resources in Nebraska Science K -12

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Unit 4.2 Structure, Function, and Information Processing

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Description Overview: Area: Plants and Animals A central feature of life is that organisms grow, reproduce, and die. They have characteristic structures (anatomy and morphology), functions (molecular-scale processes to organism-level physiology), and behaviors (neurobiology and, for some animal species, psychology). Organisms and their parts are made of cells, which are the structural units of life and which themselves have molecular substructures that support their functioning. Organisms range in composition from a single cell (unicellular microorganisms) to multicellular organisms, in which different groups of large numbers of cells work together to form systems.

Material Type: Unit of Study

Author: Jenifer Trumler

From Watershed to Rain Barrel

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Students will learn about the water cycle, watersheds, and specifically, the watershed that feeds Springfield, Oregon. After analyzing drought maps, reading news reports, and seeing images and videos, students will realize that drought is a real life concern. Students, as concerned citizens, will create a water collection device, at first on a small scale, and then a true to life water collection system to help re- purpose rainwater in our garden area.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Beautiful Bioswales

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In this 1-2 week engineering design lesson, students will design and build water filters out of natural materials to simulate a filter system (bioswales) that cleans storm-water runoff before it soaks into the ground or enters a city’s storm-drain system. Their ultimate goal is to determine the combination and sequence of materials that best clean polluted water. Using materials easily found in pet stores and garden centers, students use the scientific method, students design to test and retest their designs and record, display and analyze their results.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

May The Force Be With You

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Students need a better understanding of magnetic fields and the ways in which magnets are used to help solve real world problems. Students will explore how magnets work and interact with each other. They will learn engineering skills by designing an electromagnet to lift and transport a Matchbox car from different distances. Students will work with different types of magnets, gauges of wire, nails, and bolts to design their electromagnet.

Material Type: Lesson Plan, Reading, Syllabus, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Thermal Energy House

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In this engineering unit, students are developing background knowledge on heat, heat transfer and conservation. While this unit can be a stand-alone exercise, it has been designed to provide a way for students to gather data and derive evidence-based conclusions to help them choose the best materials to use in a science class solar cooker project. Students build cardboard houses to explore the movement and conservation of heat energy. A heat source is placed inside the house and students use vernier temperature probes and graphing software to gather and tabulate temperature data. Each house is standard, so that the students understand that we are all gathering data in a consistent way. Students must calculate percentage of wall space given to doors and windows. Students will compare data from team to team, examining heat loss as recorded by temperature differences as a function of window and door areas. Students will cover doors and windows with various materials, examining different insulating qualities. Students will examine the effect on temperature of different colors of wall surface on the interior of the house. After gathering data, students will work to draw conclusions from the gathering of data. Students will construct charts and tables to tabulate data by hand, then will transfer data to Excel spreadsheets if technology is available.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan

Nuturing Nature

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Our project involves students learning about the values of a natural area in their community and producing a public service announcement and map to show its value and how it could be developed.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan

Shake Alert!: Making every second count.

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The high school earth and physical science unit moves through an exploration of tectonic plates, why and how they move, and the earthquakes that they cause. As the final project, teams learn about Early Warning Systems for earthquakes and how they have saved millions of lives in other countries. Teams take on a population in Oregon and design a ShakeAlert system to give them the seconds required to prepare for a mega earthquake.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Case Study, Lesson Plan, Reading, Unit of Study

Authors: Holly Lynn, Joe Emery, Lisa Livelybrooks

NGSS Video Workshop

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This learning resource will engage you and your colleagues in learning more about the importance of NGSS. You will build awareness and learn more about how to implement the Next Generation Science Standards in your own setting. We envision this professional learning taking place in an ongoing community of practice. We encourage you to determine and proceed at your own pace that reflects the needs of your team. Image by Gorkhs from Pixabay

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Association of Washington School Principals, Washington State Office of Superintendent of Pubic Instruction

Climate Science Video Workshop

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This learning resource will engage you and your colleagues in learning more about the importance of learning and teaching climate science as part of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). You will hear from multiple stakeholders about the importance and impact of learning about climate science, as well as engage with learning tools and reflection questions to deepen your learning and position you to take action in your setting. We envision this professional learning taking place in an ongoing community of practice. We encourage you to determine and proceed at your own pace that reflects the needs of your team. Image by ejaugsburg from Pixabay

Material Type: Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Association of Washington School Principals, Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

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