Science Education Resources

Delta Education includes FOSS, DSM and SCIS

NSTA - The Elementary School Classroom

NSTA - The Middle School Classroom

Interactive Science Activities

AAAS Science Netlinks - interactive science activities.

BBC Education - the "Beeb"

NOVA - interactive

FOSSWeb - free previews

ExploreLearning - on-line "gizmos"

The Exploratorium in San Francisco

Bill Nye - The science guy

PBS - Teacher source science page

The Jason Project - real science, real time, real learning

NASA - science challenges

GED 695 Exploring Science and Design Technology

at Williston Central School

July 17 - 28 2006

Here's another type of RBR, the Comeback Can.

The Rubber Band Roller (RBR)project is a great activity for developing the design technology process skills. Most of us found that the roller would not work the first time, But after a couple of hours of designing, testing, modifying, and  testing again, they worked great. It's a matter of increasing the good friction and decreasing the bad friction. Maria won the distance race and Tom won the speed trial.

For a consumer science activity we tested paper towels to see which were the most absorbent, the strongest, and the most hard wearing. Surprisingly, we found that the Shaws generic brand was the best  paper towel, and the best  value for money.

Anne and Maureen presented a Design Technology activity in which we had to build a strong structure using straws and paper clips. Triangle provide the greatest strength but they, too, need to be braced,

Mike conducted an activity that demonstrated the way hot air rises. Rising hot air causes convection currents which are one of the causes of the wind that blows the leaves on the trees and causes storms.

We explored our fingerprints using the GEMS activity book on Crime Science. Some of us had very feint fingerprints; some of us had a combination of whorls, loops, and arches, while others had all the same. This is called a fingerprint formula.

Tad lead us through a series of activities in the Computer-based Science Lab. (CBSL) at Williston Central School. We used the Vernier EKG heart-rate probes to monitor changes in heart rate while at rest, during exercise, and at rest again. The program enabled us to see a graphic readout of heart rate changes on the computer monitor. We discovered that an at-rest pulse can vary from 50 to over 100 in different people.         We also explored on-line interactive science activities so as those at the BBC, The Exploratorium and at the NOVA and PBS web-sites

We explored hard and soft boiled eggs with Janet and Linda The eggs might look the same on the outside but they behave quite differently when you do things to them. Try spinning them. Try canned goods. What do you notice?

Barb introduced us to the delights of earth worms. We observed closely and kept a journal of our observations. After the science activities the worms returned happily to their nice damp containers.

Dave and Tim did two activities with magnetism, We held red markers (north pole) in our right hands and blue markers (south pole) in our left hands. We moved around the room being repelled and attracted until we, magically, had formed a circle.

Tom and George put together an activity to measure the speed of sound. It involved a lot of non-verbal communication because we were 300 meters apart.

Linda introduced us to an activity on motion from the FOSS science kits.

Tad led us through a chemical reaction activity. We used all our senses to observe the reaction; except taste, of course.

We started learning about Inquiry Centered Science by  exploring pendulums. Sometimes, what you think is going to make a difference makes absolutely no difference at all

Last updated July 29, 2006