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Book Chapter | October 2011
Because measurements are an important part of inquiry-based science, teachers need to teach measurement skills to their students. Doing so requires a basic understanding of measurement theory and must take into…
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Journal Article | August 2021
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Book Chapter | March 2011
Measuring parallax and angular diameters are two indirect methods of measuring size and distance in the solar system. The scale model is another indirect method of measurement that also allows us to explore the…
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Book Chapter | December 2002
One of the most challenging activities in the middle school science lab is taking measurements. A simple ruler can send students into a questioning mob around a teacher, not unlike a shark-feeding frenzy. Student…
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Book Chapter | May 2016
The true purpose of this activity is to introduce students to a five-step EDP (engineering design process). In this chapter, second graders design, build, test, and improve tools to map a waterway, and the design…
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Book Chapter | March 2016
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Measuring Hands” is to introduce measuring as a tool of scientists. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book selection. Chapter 1 focuses on science inquiry and the…
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Book Chapter | March 2016
In this chapter, the objective of the activity “Temperature Changes” is to determine what children know about temperature changes due to solar radiation absorption. Chapters 1 and 2 are also included in this book…
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Book Chapter | March 2019
The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about mass. It is designed to find out if students understand the difference between mass and other properties. The probe is best used with students in…
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Measuring Biological Diversity
Book Chapter | February 2009
Biological diversity is a hallmark of life on Earth. In this unit, students estimate biological diversity in two different aquatic ecosystems. They collect water and bottom detritus from two locations and make field…
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Book Chapter | March 2009
In this investigation, students will select, identify, and test a common plant for allelopathy by extracting the plant’s natural chemicals and measuring the effect on the germination of lettuce seeds. They will analyze…
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Book Chapter | March 2012
It is difficult to measure objects in the solar system because it is so massive. In this activity, students use a cross-staff to measure the angular diameter of a paper plate 4 m away. From this, they learn to measure…
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Book Chapter | April 2012
Can you measure a dog’s tail in dog biscuits? Can you measure a desk without a ruler? Which is better: measuring a room in paces or meters? Which system of measurement do scientists use? This chapter explores these…
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Book Chapter | October 2012
Through the inquiry in this chapter, students work to answer the question, How does measurement help us know about the world? The focus of the inquiry is what measurement can tell us. A scavenger hunt helps students…
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Measuring Commercial Timber Values
Book Chapter | October 2009
This chapter outlines certain procedures used by foresters to measure the amount or volume of timber (primarily sawlogs) in a forest stand. This process is called timber inventory. Just as a storeowner keeps track of…
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Aha! Moments in Sun and Moon Measurements
Journal Article | May 2023