Updating search results...

Search Resources

691 Results

View
Selected filters:
  • ecology
Biomass - Investigating Gases
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

In this lab activity students generate their own biomass gases by heating wood pellets or wood splints in a test tube. They collect the resulting gases and use the gas to roast a marshmallow. Students also evaluate which biomass fuel is the best by their own criteria or by examining the volume of gas produced by each type of fuel.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Eric Eric Benson
Melissa Highfill
US Department of Energy - Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - Energy Education and Workforce Development
Date Added:
01/22/2018
Biomimicry and Sustainable Design - Nature Is an Engineering Marvel
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

Students are introduced to the concepts of biomimicry and sustainable design. Countless examples illustrate the wisdom of nature in how organisms are adapted for survival, such as in body style, physiological processes, water conservation, thermal radiation and mutualistic relationships, to assure species perpetuation. Students learn from articles and videos, building a framework of evidence substantiating the indisputable fact that organisms operate "smarter" and thus provide humans with inspiration in how to improve products, systems and cities. As students focus on applying the ecological principles of the previous lessons to the future design of our human-centered world, they also learn that often our practices are incapable of replicating the precision in which nature completes certain functions, as evidenced by our dependence on bees as pollinators of the human food supply. The message of biomimicry is one of respect: study to improve human practices and ultimately protect natural systems. This heightened appreciation helps students to grasp the value of industry and urban mimetic designs to assure protection of global resources, minimize human impact and conserve nonrenewable resources. All of these issues aid students in creating a viable guest resort in the Sonoran Desert.

Subject:
Career and Technical Education
Ecology
Forestry and Agriculture
Life Science
Technology and Engineering
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Provider:
TeachEngineering
Provider Set:
TeachEngineering
Author:
TeachEngineering.org
VU Bioengineering RET Program,
Wendy J. Holmgren
Date Added:
09/18/2014
Bioprospecting for cellulose-degrading microbes: Individual Isolate Method
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

This is a long-term inquiry activity in which students investigate locations they believe harbor cellulose-digesting microbes, collect samples, isolate them on selective media, and screen them for cellulase activity. These novel microbes may be useful for the production of cellulosic ethanol. In the process they learn about plating techniques, serial dilutions, symbiotic relationships and enzyme specificity. Two methods are provided, one focusing on isolation of pure microbial strains, the other focusing on finding symbiotic communities of microbes. The companion activity is here: https://www.glbrc.org/outreach/educational-materials/bioprospecting-cellulose-degrading-microbes-filter-paper-assay

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Simulation
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center
U.S. Department of Energy
Date Added:
02/07/2023
Birds, Mosquitoes, and Viruses
Read the Fine Print
Some Rights Reserved
Rating
0.0 stars

In this activity, students distinguish between directly and indirectly transmitted diseases and participate in a group game to simulate the spread of vector-borne diseases. They then research a particular pathogenic disease to learn how global warming and biodiversity loss can affect disease transmission.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Ecohealth
Date Added:
02/07/2023
Black Carbon
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

This video describes what black carbon is, where is comes from, and how it contributes to sea ice melt and global warming.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
David Ladd
Katie Snider
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)
Rob Reese
Date Added:
02/07/2023
Black bear population in Wisconsin - status and distribution
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC
Rating
0.0 stars

Wisconsin's occupied bear range is expanding, which means residents can expect to see black bears in areas outside of the bear's traditional range. An abundant population and suitable bear habitat have facilitated the southerly movement of occupied bear range in Wisconsin. Wisconsin's black bear population is considerably higher than it was 30 years ago.

Wisconsin's bear population was estimated to be about 9,000 bears in 1989. The most recent data indicates the bear population is currently estimated to be a little over 24,000 bears. DNR manages bear population size through regulated hunting. The number of hunting permits have steadily increased following studies showing higher numbers of bears. In the near future, opportunities will be provided to the public to comment on the desired numbers of bears in each of the state's bear management regions as the DNR prepares a new bear management plan.

Wisconsin is not alone in its expanding bear range. The results from a 2008 survey of eastern United States and Canadian Provinces that actively manage black bear populations indicated that 75% of these jurisdictions report an increase in bear range. Only Vermont reported a contracting bear range.

Subject:
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Biology
Career and Technical Education
Ecology
Environmental Science
Forestry and Agriculture
Life Science
Zoology
Material Type:
Data Set
Diagram/Illustration
Interactive
Author:
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Date Added:
04/21/2024
Blooming Thermometers
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

In this activity, students develop an understanding of the relationship between natural phenomena, weather, and climate change: the study known as phenology. In addition, they learn how cultural events are tied to the timing of seasonal events. Students brainstorm annual natural phenomena that are tied to seasonal weather changes. Next, they receive information regarding the Japanese springtime festival of Hanami, celebrating the appearance of cherry blossoms. Students plot and interpret average bloom date data from over the past 1100 years.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Lisa Gardiner
National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
et al.
Date Added:
01/22/2018
A Bug's Life: Under A Rock!
Conditional Remix & Share Permitted
CC BY-NC-SA
Rating
0.0 stars

This activity is a biology lab investigation where students create habitats to observe decomposers in a controlled setting.

Subject:
Biology
Life Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:
Pedagogy in Action
Author:
Joan McKinnon
Date Added:
02/10/2023
Byrd Polar Research Center Climate Model Simulation
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

This set of animations and interactive simulations from the Byrd Polar Research Center at Ohio State University helps students develop an understanding of models used to understand the Earth system. Students consider the types of data that need to be included in a climate model, looking at inputs, outputs, and variables. The animations show how data is calculated for grid cells and assembled into a comprehensive model.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Simulation
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Byrd Polar Research Center
Ohio State University
Date Added:
10/10/2017
CO2 & the Atmosphere
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

This video is narrated by climate scientist Richard Alley. It examines studies US Air Force conducted over 50 years ago on the warming effects of CO2 in the atmosphere and how that could impact missile warfare. The video then focuses on the Franz Josef glacier in New Zealand; the glacier is used to demonstrate a glacier's formation, depth of snow fall in the past, and understand atmospheric gases and composition during the last Ice Age. Supplemental resources are available through the website.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Earth: The Operators' Manual
Geoff Haines-Stiles Productions
Date Added:
02/07/2023
C-ROADS: World Climate Simulator
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

C-ROADS is a simplified version of a climate simulator. Its primary purpose is to help users understand the long-term climate effects (CO2 concentrations, global temperature, sea level rise) of various customized actions to reduce fossil fuel CO2 emissions, reduce deforestation, and grow more trees. Students can ask multiple, customized what-if questions and understand why the system reacts as it does.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Simulation
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Climate Interactive
Date Added:
01/22/2018
Campus Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

Students conduct a greenhouse gas emission inventory for their college or university as a required part of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Macalester College
Suzanne Savanick
Date Added:
02/07/2023
Can Organic Farms and Mosquito Control Coexist?
Read the Fine Print
Educational Use
Rating
0.0 stars

Learn about one town's conflict over the issue of spraying pesticides to combat disease-carrying insects, in this video segment from Greater Boston.

Subject:
Ecology
Forestry and Agriculture
Life Science
Material Type:
Lesson
Provider:
PBS LearningMedia
Provider Set:
PBS Learning Media Common Core Collection
Author:
NIEHS
WGBH Educational Foundation
Date Added:
03/02/2011
Can Venus and Mars Be Made Habitable?
Read the Fine Print
Rating
0.0 stars

This activity is about planetary climate. Once familiar with the factors that determine a planet's surface temperature, learners will use an interactive spreadsheet model of a planet's atmosphere to determine if greenhouse gases, luminosity of the source, the distance of the planet from the source and the albedo of the planet can be manipulated so that the average surface temperature on Mars or Venus could support human life. Learners will then be asked to make some conclusions about these methods and suggest improvements for the spreadsheet model (see related resources for link to this model). The activity requires use of Microsoft Excel software. This is Activity D in the fourth module, titled "How do Atmospheres Affect Planetary Temperatures?," of "Earth Climate Course: What Determines a Planet's Climate?."

Subject:
Atmospheric Science
Earth and Space Science
Ecology
Forestry and Agriculture
Life Science
Mathematics
Physical Science
Physics
Material Type:
Data Set
Full Course
Student Guide
Provider:
NASA
Provider Set:
NASA Wavelength
Date Added:
10/13/2017
Candid Camera: Capturing the Secret Lives of Carnivores
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
Rating
0.0 stars

This is a Wisconsin-based case study with data on how the size and distance of an island from the mainland can affect the number of different types of carnivores found on the island (Species Richness). Students are asked to graph data collected from the Apostle Islands and make a claim evidence and reasoning statement supported by data.

This resource has been reviewed using the HQIM rubric https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1P6wGNGU0PZwuiwOe0AohGZUL07YU7zZc7MOdaUbYeAY/edit?usp=sharing

Subject:
Biology
Ecology
Environmental Science
Life Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Formative Assessment
Learning Task
Author:
Data Nuggets
Erik Olson
Date Added:
01/28/2024
Carbon Cycle
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

This activity from NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory introduces students to the scientific understanding of the greenhouse effect and the carbon cycle. The activity leads them through several interactive tasks to investigate recent trends in atmospheric carbon dioxide. Students analyze scientific data and use scientific reasoning to determine the causes responsible for these recent trends. By studying carbon cycle science in a visual and interactive manner, students can learn firsthand about the reasons behind our changing climate.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
NOAA/Earth System Research Laboratory
Date Added:
02/07/2023
Carbon Dioxide Exercise
Unrestricted Use
CC BY
Rating
0.0 stars

In this activity, students work in groups, plotting carbon dioxide concentrations over time on overheads and estimating the rate of change over five years. Stacked together, the overheads for the whole class show an increase on carbon dioxide over five years and annual variation driven by photosynthesis. This exercise enables students to practice basic quantitative skills and understand how important sampling intervals can be when studying changes over time. A goal is to see how small sample size may give incomplete picture of data.

Subject:
Physical Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Provider Set:
CLEAN: Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network
Author:
Randy Richardson
SERC - Starting Point Collection
Date Added:
01/22/2018