This is a first grade science unit on weather. Students will observe, measure, describe and record aspects of weather such as temperature, air, wind and clouds. They will also practice using various weather tools, and look for patterns in weather over a year-long span.
Weather ForecastingExplain some about weather forecasting to the students. Have them watch a weather forecast on a SmartBoard or on their devices. Share how meteorologists predict what the weather will be like later today, tomorrow, or even next week. Share how they use previous weather to create computer models for weather predictions. They use observations. They can predict up to 7 days in the future with pretty good accuracy.
This issue of the free online magazine, Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears, explores how elementary teachers can move from a study of the weather at home to the weather of the polar regions through hands-on activity, reading, and discussion.
This article explains the difference between weather and climate, the role of the polar regions in the global climate system, and how climate change is affecting these areas. Links to content knowledge resources and the National Science Education Standards are provided.
This article provides an overview of research-based resources for engaging girls in math and science available from the Doing What Works web site, a site sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.
The growing number of electronics that are becoming obsolete is staggering. The responsible disposal of these materials remains to be a highly debated topic and is one that does not have an easy answer. In this problem-based learning module, students will research this growing issue and provide them opportunities to determine what actions to take. Students will then take their findings and use their research data as evidence to support their position. Groups will create a finished product in the form of a speech, radio broadcast, presentation or persuasive essay to help solve this problem.
Students will work collaboratively in small groups of 3-4 students for this engineering design unit that integrates literacy to explore properties of objects by selecting the best materials to make their boats and investigate floating and sinking.
This article provides ideas for integrating art into a science unit on mammals and discusses how such integration can enhance student engagement and understanding.
This article provides ideas and resources for writing science-themed poetry in the elementary classroom. NCTE/IRA Standards alignments are included for each lesson.
Just like candy has a wrapper to protect it, animals have special coverings that protect them from the outdoors. Amazing biofacts and some live animals help us tell the story of fur, feathers, scales, and more.
We have created some helpful clips if you are unable to watch the whole video:
2.L.2
Shell Size of Galapagos Tortoise (2 min) = https://youtu.be/YoSfqUKr3FE?t=1522
3.L.1
Skin (3 min) = https://youtu.be/YoSfqUKr3FE?t=131
4.L.1
Tarantula Exoskeleton (2 min) = https://youtu.be/YoSfqUKr3FE?t=485
Millipede Exoskeleton (2 min) = https://youtu.be/YoSfqUKr3FE?t=742
Reptile Scales (4 min) = https://youtu.be/YoSfqUKr3FE?t=1173
Tortoise Shell (1 min) = https://youtu.be/YoSfqUKr3FE?t=1638
Fur (2 min) = https://youtu.be/YoSfqUKr3FE?t=2009
Countershading (2 min) = https://youtu.be/YoSfqUKr3FE?t=2110
5.L.2
Tortoise Food (1 min) = https://youtu.be/YoSfqUKr3FE?t=1713
Animal Ambassadors:
African Giant Millipede (6 min) = https://youtu.be/YoSfqUKr3FE?t=652
Galapagos Tortoise (7 min) = https://youtu.be/YoSfqUKr3FE?t=1447
Barred Owl (10 min) = https://youtu.be/YoSfqUKr3FE?t=2667
Who doesn't love bubbles? Join Nikki as she teaches about a variety of bubbles including how to make your own bubble solution at home.
We have created a helpful clip if you're unable to watch the full video:
3.P.2 - Vinegar and Baking Soda Reaction (1 min): https://youtu.be/BxpTO1l48RA?t=235
Join Nikki in this week's episode of Zoo Science as she introduces you to density. Try the experiment at home with your parent's permission to see test different densities!
Let’s discover how we can have fun with polymers and where they can be found both at home and here at the Zoo!
We have created some helpful clips if you're unable to watch the full video:
K.P.2 How Polymers Change (1 min): https://youtu.be/-pnmtDL3Gfg?t=32
K.P.2 How Polymers are Used (4 min): https://youtu.be/-pnmtDL3Gfg?t=107
Join Cynthia as she explains how colors can effect heat absorption and reflection for animals, us, and the planet. Then take it a step further with this at home science experiment.
We have created helpful clips if you're unable to watch the full video:
4.L.1 Polar Bear Skin and Fur (1 min 50 sec): https://youtu.be/m8CFTVlLTkk?t=184
6.P.3 Dark colors absorb heat, light colors reflect heat (1.5 min): https://youtu.be/m8CFTVlLTkk?t=95
Your dog might see more than you think! Join us for the third episode of Pet Detectives and learn how your dog’s evolutionary history shaped his color vision and how you can test it at home! It’ll be paws-itively fun!
We have created helpful clips if you're unable to watch the full video:
K.L.1 Human Vision vs. Dog Vision (1 min): https://youtu.be/MjuZyfIKmNU?t=21
4.L.1 Colors that dogs can see (25 sec): https://youtu.be/MjuZyfIKmNU?t=170
How can you enrich your dog’s life? Join us in this episode of Pet Detective to learn more about some simple enrichment you can use at home and how to evaluate it. Let us know what enrichment your dog likes best.
We have created a helpful clip if you're unable to watch the full video:
1.L.1 What is enrichment/why it's important (1 min 14 sec): https://youtu.be/M3qm0y55FR8?t=7
How do we keep our animals mentally and physically fit? Join us for this week’s Pet Detectives to learn how to challenge your dog, just like how we do at the Zoo, with a puzzle feeder! Puzzles can be challenging but a lot of fun!
We have created helpful clips if you're unable to watch the full video:
K.L.1 Dogs are descendants of wolves (6 sec): https://youtu.be/iyPHYi0ImVM?t=28
1.L.1 Benefits of foraging (45 sec): https://youtu.be/iyPHYi0ImVM?t=4
What can your dogs motor coordination tell you about their personality? Join us for this week’s Pet Detectives to learn how to identify whether your dog is a righty or lefty and what this might reveal about their daily emotional state!
We have created a helpful clip if you're unable to watch the full video:
K.L.1 Right Paw vs. Left Paw dominance and what that means (30 sec): https://youtu.be/emw9T4tuL5A?t=145
Your dog might understand more than you think! Join us for this week’s Pet Detectives to learn how dogs are so in tune with humans that they pay attention to and understand the slightest gestures! Do you get the point?
We have created a helpful clip if you're unable to watch the full video:
K.L.1 Dogs vs. Chimpanzees understanding pointing (54 sec): https://youtu.be/CZ3w-QNOowA?t=6
Afraid of the dark? Hopefully after these fun experiments in our series Science in the Dark you will have a greater appreciation for the night. Using our sense of touch, we will get “hands-on” with our first set of experiments!
We have created a helpful clip if you're unable to watch the full video:
K.P.2 Sense of Touch (15 sec): https://youtu.be/qmhrbAD0Lz8?t=134