All resources in Wisconsin-Based Science Storylines Resources

Fire and Smoke Map - North America - AirNow.gov

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The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map provides information that you can use to help protect your health from wildfire smoke. Use this map to see: Current particle pollution air quality information for your location; Fire locations and smoke plumes; Smoke Forecast Outlooks, where available; and, Recommendations for actions to take to protect yourself from smoke. These recommendations were developed by EPA scientists who are experts in air quality and health. The Map is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Forest Service (USFS)-led Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Material Type: Data Set, Interactive

Authors: EPA, US Forest Service

AirNow.gov Air Quality Monitor for your location

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AirNow is your one-stop source for air quality data. Our recently redesigned site highlights air quality in your local area first, while still providing air quality information at state, national, and world views. A new interactive map even lets you zoom out to get the big picture or drill down to see data for a single air quality monitor. AirNow reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), a color-coded index designed to communicate whether air quality is healthy or unhealthy for you. When you know the AQI in your area, you can take steps to protect your health. AirNow is a partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Park Service, NASA, Centers for Disease Control, and tribal, state, and local air quality agencies. Complete list of AirNow partners. Agencies all over the country send their monitoring data to AirNow for display. The Department of State provides data from U.S. Embassies and Consulates to inform personnel and citizens overseas, and the U.S. Forest Service and NOAA provide fire and smoke data. AirNow’s centralized data system provides quality control, national reporting consistency, and the ability to distribute data to the public, researchers, businesses, educators, and to other data systems. In AirNow, you’ll find: Current and forecast air quality maps and data for more than 500 cities across the U.S. Current and historical data for U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the world Current fire conditions including fire locations, smoke plumes, and air quality data from permanent and temporary air quality monitors Air quality data for Canada and Mexico Enviroflash emails, apps, widgets, and an API Health and air quality information for the public healthcare professionals teachers and students weathercasters

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Data Set, Homework/Assignment, Interactive, Learning Task, Lesson, Lesson Plan, Student Guide

Authors: EPA, NOAA, US Forest Service

HQIM Science Rubric

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This rubric is intended for use as an assets-based tool for finding High Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) for use as or within storylines adapted for use by Wisconsin educators and students. The tool is comprehensive and aspirational, combining standards from EQuiP and OpenSciEd, but most of the materials vetted within this space will not meet all criteria because they are not full units. Those using this tool are NOT conducting exhaustive reviews of materials, but providing their opinion on the strengths of the materials in these categories. The intent in developing this rubric was to find Wisconsin-relevant resources to swap in and out of a full HQIM storyline. Please review the open-ended comments to read what we believe to be the strengths of the materials and suggestions for how to use them within HQIM storylines.

Material Type: Rubric/Scoring Guide

Author: Sara Krauskopf

Adding Local Phenomena to Existing Science Units

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This module guides educators through five methods for adding local phenomena to existing units. It includes rationale for adding local phenomena and cautions for using it. It emphasizes the importance of knowing and surveying students and the community in order to make these local connections and equitably engage students.

Material Type: Module, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Aaron Burg, ACCESSE Project, Dennis Rohr, Kevin Anderson

Modifying Units to Align to NGSS: A Storyline Development Approach

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This module is intended to support a team of educators, or individual educators, in thinking through ideas for modifying an existing science unit to bring in more NGSS and storyline elements. It could also be used by a facilitator to guide a workshop (or series of workshops). The hope is that this type of unit will better support all students’ understanding and engagement.

Material Type: Module, Reference Material, Unit of Study

Authors: Kevin Anderson, Wisconsin Storyline Group

Northern Hemisphere phenology data -- Article from "Nature" and associated data

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These are source data and an article from the Journal "Nature" to use with students for anchoring the effects of Global Climate change on ice durations of local lakes. The article describes ice conditions and methadologies of 6 Wisconsin Lakes. There are links to raw data that can be used to generate graphs and develop sensemaking for students.  

Material Type: Data Set, Primary Source, Reading

Author: Aaron Burg

WUHS Biology Packets - Animals Unit

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Using three-dimensional scaffolds, these materials address the following topics:  - Cells and cell function- Animal growth and development- Digestion & cellular respiration - Biosynthesis Each packet is broken into five parts - data dive, core ideas, investigations, asssessments, and life connections. Formative assessments and checkpoints are embedded throughout each packet. The final packet prepares students for a summative assessment, with a provided practice assessment.Implementation instructions are embedded for each component of each packet. PDFs are included as attachments (in case the file formats are altered by this system). 

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Data Set, Formative Assessment, Homework/Assignment, Lecture Notes, Lesson, Lesson Plan, Module

Author: Craig Kohn

WUHS Biology Packets - Matter & Energy Unit

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Using three-dimensional scaffolds, these materials address the following topics:  - Atoms, elements, and molecules.- Properties of matter and energy. - Reasoning across systems and scale- Conservation of matter- Combustion as a rearrangement reaction- Chemical bondsEach packet is broken into five parts - data dive, core ideas, investigations, asssessments, and life connections. Formative assessments and checkpoints are embedded throughout each packet. The final packet prepares students for a summative assessment, with a provided practice assessment.Implementation instructions are embedded for each component of each packet. PDFs are included as attachments (in case the file formats are altered by this system). 

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Data Set, Homework/Assignment, Lecture Notes, Lesson, Lesson Plan, Module

Author: Craig Kohn

WUHS Biology Packets - Plants Unit

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Using three-dimensional scaffolds, these materials address the following topics:  - Plant Cells and cell function in comparison to animal cells. - Photosynthesis- Biosynthesis - Planning and conducting investigations & experiments. Each packet is broken into five parts - data dive, core ideas, investigations, asssessments, and life connections. Formative assessments and checkpoints are embedded throughout each packet. The final packet prepares students for a summative assessment, with a provided practice assessment.Implementation instructions are embedded for each component of each packet. PDFs are included as attachments (in case the file formats are altered by this system). 

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Data Set, Formative Assessment, Homework/Assignment, Lecture, Lecture Notes, Lesson, Lesson Plan, Module

Author: Craig Kohn

WUHS Biology Packets - Ecosystems Unit

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Using three-dimensional scaffolds, these materials address the following topics:  - Interactions among living species.- 10% rule and carrying capacity.- Ecosystem disruptions, including climate change.  - Sustainability.  Each packet is broken into five parts - data dive, core ideas, investigations, asssessments, and life connections. Formative assessments and checkpoints are embedded throughout each packet. The final packet prepares students for a summative assessment, with a provided practice assessment.Implementation instructions are embedded for each component of each packet. PDFs are included as attachments (in case the file formats are altered by this system). 

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Data Set, Formative Assessment, Homework/Assignment, Interactive, Lecture, Lecture Notes, Lesson, Lesson Plan, Module, Simulation

Author: Craig Kohn

WUHS Biology Packets - Traits & Genes Unit

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Using three-dimensional scaffolds, these materials address the following topics:  - Relationships between DNA, proteins, and traits.- How mitosis enables each cell to receive a copy of DNA.- How gametes like sperm and eggs are formed and transmit parents' genes to offspring.  - Predicting traits based on parents' genotypes and phenotypes using Punnett squares.  Each packet is broken into five parts - data dive, core ideas, investigations, asssessments, and life connections. Formative assessments and checkpoints are embedded throughout each packet. The final packet prepares students for a summative assessment, with a provided practice assessment.Implementation instructions are embedded for each component of each packet. PDFs are included as attachments (in case the file formats are altered by this system). 

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Data Set, Formative Assessment, Homework/Assignment, Interim/Summative Assessment, Lecture, Lecture Notes, Lesson, Module

Author: Craig Kohn

Generation Genus - K through 8th grade Science and Math Curriculum

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Generation Genius is a K-8 teaching resource that brings school science standards to life through fun and educational videos paired with lesson plans, activities, quizzes, reading material and more. Our videos are produced in partnership with the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), and aligned to standards in all 50 states. There is a cost to Generation Genus curriculum: https://www.generationgenius.com/subscribe/

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Curriculum Map, Diagram/Illustration, Full Course, Homework/Assignment, Interactive, Learning Task, Lesson, Rubric/Scoring Guide

Authors: Dr. Jeff Vinokur, Eric S. Rollman

Mississippi River Climate Change: Status, Challenges and Adaptations

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Climate change is causing significant degradation to the Mississippi River ecosystem. Increased water and sediment delivery are making maintenance of the navigation channel difficult and diminishing the quality and quantity of critical backwater habitat. Adaptation to these changing conditions requires optimizing connection between channels and backwater habitat, creating deep water refugia in backwaters, planning for increased navigation channel dredging, and making strategic infrastructure retrofits. Many successful adaptations have been implemented on the Mississippi River, but more are needed to keep pace with the rate of ecosystem degradation resulting from climate change.

Material Type: Data Set, Diagram/Illustration

Authors: Jeremy King, Sara Strassman, Shawn Giblin

Welcome to Our Mississippi: Educational Activities about the Upper Mississippi River

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is pleased to present this balanced, comprehensive guidebook to help teachers inform future decision-makers about this important natural resource. Our Mississippi has been years in the making. In 1986, Congress designated the Upper Mississippi River System as both a nationally significant ecosystem and a nationally significant navigation system. Since then, the Corps has worked with multiple groups and agencies to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of the river. This guidebook is a result of several different programs and partnerships that included other federal agencies, five states, and a wide variety of environmental, conservation, navigation, and industry groups to strike that ever-crucial balance of human and wildlife interests.

Material Type: Curriculum Map, Module, Unit of Study

Author: OurMississippi.org

Spatially Explicit Fish Habitat Conditions Analysis for Watershed Planning & Prioritization

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In 2012, the Fishers & Farmers Partnership for the Upper Mississippi River Basin (FFP) contracted to have a spatially explicit analysis of fish habitat condition performed using Geospatial Information Systems (GIS). Spatially explicit habitat assessment models, such as the models used in this map book, provide a robust interpretation of terrestrial and aquatic data and the relationships and influence of landscape activities (Martin et al., 2012). Aquatic and terrestrial data were collected throughout the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB) and modeled using Boosted Regression Tree (BRT) modeling and validated using an internal cross-validation method (Elith et al., 2008). The FFP, and their fiscal agent the Dubuque County Historical Society, entered a cooperative agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for composition of geospatial data and printable map books to guide conservation efforts throughout the basin. The UMRB is comprised of 139 Hydrologic Unit Code-8 (HUC-8) watersheds and over 180,000 catchments (1:100k National Hydrography Dataset) and 12 different Level III Eco-Regions (CEC, 1997). The diversity of the landscape across the basin, and the sheer size of the basin, poses management and prioritization issues when performing large scale assessments. The production of state-scale map books provides a local assessment of modeling outcomes for distribution and reference. The data represented in this map book were derived from models, analyses, and data developed by Downstream Strategies, LLC. and their partners (DS). Data were provided to PA contracted by the FFP to serve as the Science Team Lead and Geospatial Coordinator.

Material Type: Case Study, Data Set

Author: FISHERSANDFARMERS.ORG

Illinois Biology Phenomenon-Driven Storylines

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Biology entire year curriculum which allows students to develop their own driving questions which address NGSS standards and will lead them through their learning via collaborative groups of peers. There are six different storylines that cover a year long high school Biology course. The activities are designed for all students and are culturally-responsive. The lesson plans are free for educators, and the materials required are designed to be economically feasible for all students and school's with limited resources. There is also a Facebook working group called Illinois Biology Storylines Group which is also very beneficial for educators to share information about activities.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Curriculum Map, Formative Assessment, Full Course, Homework/Assignment, Lesson Plan, Syllabus

Authors: et al., Jason Crean, Kristin Rademaker

Course Map - HS Earth & Space Science Course Designed to NGSS/NYSSLS

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Through ongoing partnership with teachers across New York City, New Visions has developed this course map for a high school earth & space science course fully designed to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the New York State Science Learning Standards (NYSSLS). Each unit follows a common structure: students engage with an anchor phenomenon and develop questions; go through sequences of learning and sense-making to develop and iterate on answers to those questions; then complete a three-dimensional performance task. Unit 1: Discovering New Worlds Topic: Solar System Unit 2: Probability of Life in the Universe Topic: Early Solar System, Orbital Motion, and Origin of the Universe Unit 3: Earthquakes and Tsunamis: Are we at Risk? Topic: Earth’s Interior_ Waves, Energy and Risk Unit 4: Climate Change Throughout Human History Topic: Coevolution of Climate and Life Unit 5: Human Decision Making Topic: Human Sustainability Unit 6: More Hurricanes and Blizzards in NYC? Topic: Climate Change and Severe Weather

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Assessment, Curriculum Map, Formative Assessment, Full Course, Homework/Assignment, Lesson Plan, Syllabus

Author: New Visions for Public Schools