NSTA - National Science Teachers Association

Earth, Sun, and Moon: Earth's Seasons Science Object Average User Rating: Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the last of four Science Objects in the Earth, Sun, and Moon SciPack. It provides...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the last of four Science Objects in the Earth, Sun, and Moon SciPack. It provides an understanding of why we have different seasons on Earth and why seasons vary from one location on Earth and another. The Sun is the major source of energy for phenomena on Earth’s surface. The seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis with respect to the plane of its orbit around the Sun. Because the angle and direction of tilt does not change as Earth orbits the Sun, during half of the year the north polar region tilts toward the Sun, resulting in increased heating (summer) and away from the Sun during the other half of the year, resulting in cooling (winter). The seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School

Flow of Matter and Energy in Ecosystems: Does Matter Matter? Science Object Average User Rating: Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the first of three Science Objects in the Flow of Matter and Energy in Ecosystems...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the first of three Science Objects in the Flow of Matter and Energy in Ecosystems SciPack. It explores the structure of the biomass in an ecosystem and overall cycling of matter. However complex the workings of living organisms, they share with all other systems the same physical principles that describe the conservation and transformation of matter. Ecosystems are a community of interdependent organisms and the chemical and physical factors making up the environment with which they interact. For every ecosystem on Earth there is a particular biomass (matter) distribution among organisms in its populations. While the specific biomass distribution in any given ecosystem is unique because of resource availability, there is a common overall biomass distribution pattern in all ecosystems. Greater biomass exists in populations that obtain matter from the physical environment than in populations that obtain matter from other living organisms. As matter flows through different levels of organization in living systems—cells, organs, organisms, communities—and between living systems and the physical environment, chemical elements are recombined in different ways. Matter is conserved through each change. Learning Outcomes: Define an ecosystem and understand how it comprises an interdependent community of organisms along with their interactions with the chemical and physical components of the environment Categorize organisms in a community based on their sources of matter/biomass and nutrients as one of the following: producers, herbivores (primary consumers), carnivores (secondary consumers; tertiary or top-consumers), omnivores, and decomposers Predict the relative biomass for different levels in a biomass pyramid for a typical ecosystem Explain how matter is conserved in the interactions between consumers and producers, but that in a biomass pyramid there is less biomass at the consumer level compared to the producer level [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Flow of Matter and Energy in Ecosystems: Carbon, Carbon Everywhere Science Object Average User Rating: Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the second of three Science Objects in the Flow of Matter and Energy in Ecosystems...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the second of three Science Objects in the Flow of Matter and Energy in Ecosystems SciPack. It explores how the cycling of carbon and other nutrients from non-living to living components and back is one of the most important of ecosystem functions and is representative of the cycling of other elements. All matter that comprises organic molecules, including hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous and others are transferred cyclically among living organisms and their non-living environment. The cycling of elements from non-living to living components and back is one of the most important ecosystem characteristics. For example, carbon, an essential element in organic molecules, is conserved as it is transferred from inorganic carbon in an ecosystem to organic molecules in living organisms of the ecosystem and back as inorganic carbon to the environment. The carbon cycle, in the following description, serves as an example of one of the essential biogeochemical cycles. Learning Outcomes: Trace the path of a carbon atom from the atmosphere through a biomass pyramid and ultimately back to the atmosphere Describe how photosynthesis and consumer respiration affect the flow of carbon through an ecosystem Predict the biological effects of increasing levels of atmospheric carbon due to the massive combustion of fossil fuels Identify the process that emits carbon to the atmosphere from producers, consumers and decomposers [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Earth, Sun, and Moon: Motion of the Moon Science Object Average User Rating: Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the third of four Science Objects in the Earth, Sun, and Moon SciPack. It provides...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the third of four Science Objects in the Earth, Sun, and Moon SciPack. It provides an understanding of the moon’s orbit around Earth and the phases of the moon as experienced from Earth’s surface. The Moon orbits Earth approximately once per month, causing the pattern of moon phases. Although half of the Moon’s surface is always illuminated by the Sun and half is always shaded, the portion of the illuminated surface that we see changes as the Moon orbits Earth. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School

Earth's Changing Surface: Changing Earth From Within Science Object Average User Rating: Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the first of three Science Objects in the Earth’s Changing Surface SciPack. It explores...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the first of three Science Objects in the Earth’s Changing Surface SciPack. It explores the forces within Earth that cause continual changes on its surface. Heat flow from the decay of radioactive isotopes and the gravitational energy from Earth’s original formation produce movement of the tectonic plates, which cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and create mountains and ocean basins. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School

Earth's Changing Surface: Sculpting the Landscape Science Object Average User Rating: Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the second of three Science Objects in the Earth’s Changing Surface SciPack. It...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the second of three Science Objects in the Earth’s Changing Surface SciPack. It explores the landforms we see on Earth today and the processes that create these landforms. Landforms are the result of a combination of constructive and destructive forces. The Earth processes we see today, including erosion and the movement of lithospheric plates, are similar to those that occurred in the past. Some changes in Earth’s surface are abrupt such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Other changes shaped in part by the motion of water and wind on weathered rock act over very long times to level mountain ranges and through sedimentation create new forms elsewhere. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School

Electric and Magnetic Forces: Electrostatics and Current Electricity Science Object Average User Rating: Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the second of three Science Objects in the Electric and Magnetic Forces SciPack....  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the second of three Science Objects in the Electric and Magnetic Forces SciPack. It explores the ability of electrons to flow, producing an electric current. Negative charges, being associated with electrons on the outer edges of atoms, are far more mobile in materials than positive charges located in the nucleus at the center of an atom. In some materials, such as metals, electrons flow easily, whereas in insulating materials such as glass they can hardly flow at all. At very low temperatures, some materials become superconductors and offer no resistance to the flow of current. In between these extremes, semi-conducting materials differ greatly in how well they conduct, depending on their exact composition. Electric currents occur when charges move through conductors. Batteries and other devices store electrical energy by separating and concentrating charges. Electrical circuits provide a means of transferring electrical energy into other forms of energy such as heat, light, and sound. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School

Atomic Structure: Investigating Atoms Science Object Average User Rating: Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the first of three Science Objects in the Atomic Structure SciPack. It discusses...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the first of three Science Objects in the Atomic Structure SciPack. It discusses the basics of atomic structure and how we know what we know about atoms. Atoms are made of a positive nucleus surrounded by negatively charged electrons. The nucleus is a tiny fraction of the volume of an atom but makes up almost all of its mass. The nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons, which have roughly the same mass but differ in that protons are positively charged while neutrons have no electric charge. Isotopes of the same element have the same number of protons (and therefore of electrons) but differ in the number of neutrons. The electric force between the nucleus and electrons holds the atom together. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Interdependence of Life: Species Relationships Science Object Average User Rating: Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the second of four Science Objects in the Interdependence of Life SciPack. It explores...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the second of four Science Objects in the Interdependence of Life SciPack. It explores species relationships. All organisms, both land-based and aquatic, are interrelated by their need for resources. One example of a network of interconnections is called a food web; it is a model of the interdependence among the organisms in populations of different species. Predator-prey and parasitic relationships are examples of interspecies relationships, interdependence that occurs among organisms in different species in a food web. Interspecies relationships can be categorized as positive, negative, or neutral for the fitness of the individuals and their populations who are involved. A change in the population of one species can affect the population of another species. Intra-species relationships, or interdependence among organisms of the same species, can also affect a population. Learning Outcomes: Given the specific nature of an interspecies relationship, categorize the relationship between two interrelated populations as positive, negative or neutral for each population. Given a description of a change to one population depicted in a food web, predict changes that might occur in the size and rate of growth for other populations depicted in the food web. Given a line graph displaying changes in population sizes and rates of growth for a number of populations in a community, along with a description of the trophic relationships among populations, generate plausible hypotheses about causes of the changes depicted in the graph. [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School, High School

Nature of Light: Light as Waves Science Object Average User Rating: Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the second of four Science Objects in the Nature of Light SciPack. It provides...  [view full summary] Science Objects are two hour on-line interactive inquiry-based content modules that help teachers better understand the science content they teach. This Science Object is the second of four Science Objects in the Nature of Light SciPack. It provides conceptual and real world understanding of the idea that waves (including sound and seismic waves, waves on water, and light waves) have energy and can transfer energy when they interact with matter. Wave behavior can be described in terms of how fast the disturbance propagates, and of the distance between successive crests or troughs of the wave (the wavelength). Accelerating electric charges produce electromagnetic waves which can be organized into a spectrum of varying wavelengths (and frequencies): radio waves, microwaves, radiant heat or infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, x-rays, and gamma rays. These wavelengths vary from radio waves (the longest) to gamma rays (the shortest). Human eyes only respond to a narrow range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation—what we call visible light. In empty space, electromagnetic waves of all wavelengths move at the same speed—the "speed of light." [hide full abstract] Member Price: Free Nonmember Price: Free Grade Level: Elementary School, Middle School