JoinAll Archived Conference Sessions
Lesson Plan
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about natural selection. The probe is designed to find out how students interpret the commonly used phrase “survival of the fittest.” ...
By Page Keeley
Lesson Plan
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about an Earth material, rocks. The probe is designed to determine whether students can distinguish between humanmade, “rocklike” materials and geologically formed rock materials...
By Page Keeley
Lesson Plan
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the particle model of matter. The probe is designed to find out if students recognize that air is made up of particles that are widely spaced with empty space between the parti...
By Page Keeley and Susan Cooper
Lesson Plan
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about global warming. The probe is designed to find out what students think contributes to global warming. ...
By Page Keeley and Joyce Tugel
Lesson Plan
What’s Inside Our Solar System?
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the solar system. The probe is designed to find out if students can distinguish between objects in the solar system and objects outside of the solar system and recognize that t...
By Page Keeley and Cary Sneider
Lesson Plan
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the greenhouse effect. The probe is designed to reveal whether students confuse the greenhouse effect with other environmental concerns or lump the concerns together. ...
By Page Keeley and Laura Tucker
Lesson Plan
Where Do You Find Earth’s Plates?
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about Earth’s plates. The probe is designed to find out where students think tectonic plates are located. ...
By Page Keeley and Laura Tucker
Lesson Plan
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the formation of the Grand Canyon. The probe is designed to find out if students recognize the role of rivers and flowing water and connect them to the processes of weathering ...
By Page Keeley and Laura Tucker
Lesson Plan
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about why the constellations change with the seasons. The probe is designed to find out how students use the Earth’s spin and orbit to explain why different constellations are visi...
By Page Keeley and Cary Sneider
Lesson Plan
What Do You Know About Volcanoes and Earthquakes?
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about plate tectonic features and events. The probe is designed to uncover commonly held misconceptions about volcanoes and earthquakes. ...
By Page Keeley and Laura Tucker
Lesson Plan
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about Earth’s natural resources. The probe is designed to find out if students can distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable natural resources. ...
By Page Keeley and Laura Tucker
Lesson Plan
Are They Talking About Climate or Weather?
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about climate. The probe is designed to find out whether students distinguish between weather and climate. ...
By Page Keeley and Laura Tucker
Lesson Plan
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the Sun and stars. The probe is designed to uncover students’ ideas about the nature of stars and their recognition that the Sun is an average star, but much closer to us tha...
By Page Keeley and Cary Sneider
Lesson Plan
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about weather versus climate. The probe is designed to find out if students distinguish between a one-time weather-related change and a change in climate. ...
By Page Keeley and Laura Tucker
Lesson Plan
What Happens When You Bring a Balloon Near Wall
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about electrical interactions. The probe is designed to find out how students visually represent electrical interactions. ...
By Page Keeley and Rand Harrington