Students learn basic data analysis tools and techniques in AP Statistics, but often don’t work with large sets of real-world data. This project gives students exposure to how data is analyzed in many of America’s top corporations, universities and banks. By using multiple input variables, students learn how to develop realistic prediction models for the demand for goods and services.
Aquatic Ecology Studies: Exercises in Scientific Literacy is a collection of lessons designed primarily for earth science and biology classrooms. The lessons may be taught in a cluster as part of a water resources unit or they may be used individually to enrich any preparation with special focus on NCSCOS secondary science goal 1.05: analyze reports of investigations from an informed scientifically literate viewpoint. The aquatic ecology theme pays particular attention to aquatic environmental issues of eastern North Carolina and connects learners to authentic data and technology resources from the Center for Applied Aquatic Ecology at North Carolina State University. The lessons are created for collaborative group classrooms, promote technology integration and are formatted to enhance the development of project based learning frameworks. Diverse learning outcomes and contexts for skill development are addressed in each lesson and the overview document in depth.
Did you know that it takes less than seven-seconds to decide whether you will buy most items? What influences us to make those snap decisions? Advertising? Packaging? The product? This theme unit investigated what drives consumer behaviors. Students examined often overlooked pieces of our environmental impact by analyzing the “stuff” in our lives…what we own, buy, consume, and discard. Inspired by Annie Leonard’s short film The Story of Stuff (www.storyofstuff.com), we followed the life cycle of products from extraction, production, distribution, consumption, and disposal. We considered the hidden costs, human costs, and environmental costs of our “stuff.”
To add to the existing curriculum for teachers on how to use the resources of PARI (Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute) in the classroom. Students will learn about and utilize PARI’s 4.6m Smiley radio telescope to conduct real scientific investigations of the Universe. Online supporting podcasts, activities and quizzes will allow students to conduct first-hand inquiry driven research, thus giving personal value/ownership to the experience.
Ms. Elmo, in partnership with Dr. Lisa Bullard, NC State’s Director of Undergraduate Studies in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, has created lessons that link the understanding of concepts in chemistry to skills learned in algebra II. Using systems of equations in solving problems, Ms. Elmo’s students are utilizing matrices to balance chemical reactions and direct and inverse variations. This fresh approach reinforces students’ understanding of the relationship between two disciplines that have traditionally been taught separately.
Ms. Elmo, in partnership with Dr. Lisa Bullard, NC State’s Director of Undergraduate Studies in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, has created lessons that link the understanding of concepts in chemistry to skills learned in algebra II. Using systems of equations in solving problems, Ms. Elmo’s students are utilizing matrices to balance chemical reactions and direct and inverse variations. This fresh approach reinforces students’ understanding of the relationship between two disciplines that have traditionally been taught separately.
What has a forest done for you lately? What happens to the animals in an area once it has been timbered? Why is wood considered a renewable resource? What happens in an area once it has been timbered? These questions at first seem easy enough to answer, however on reflection they are really not so clear.
Children with severe speech and physical disabilities are being included in the regular education setting at a higher rate due to the increasing number of integrative education opportunities and placement of students in the least restrictive environments in the education setting. There are students in our regular public school classrooms whose severe speech and physical disabilities require their use of alternatives to speech and other types of assistive technology tools to make them successful in the regular education setting. These speech devices, referred to as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) provide a special challenge to the student and the school teaching staff. These devices and assistive technology needs requires teachers to think differently about how a student will discuss, report and/or ask questions about science discussions as well as how they will draw, design and write to complete lessons and science journals. These students are expected to participate in the standard course of study however; they may often require many adaptations and/or modifications to the curriculum in order to be able to fully participate like their typically developing peers. Regular education teachers are often not equipped with the background knowledge to know how to make these adaptations/modifications successful for the student. This Kenan project will focus on developing a multitude of ideas for teachers, therapist and other school staff to access on how to adapt and/or modify the K-2 science curriculum. A road map for ideas will be linked with the standard course of study so that teachers can access the ideas quickly and easily when needed.
Students will be involved in hands-on, inquiry activities that integrate various subject areas in order to learn and apply concepts of food chemistry and nutrition.
Students will be involved in hands-on, inquiry activities that integrate various subject areas in order to learn and apply concepts of food chemistry and nutrition.
Our economy in North Carolina began as a largely agrarian one. Many of our traditions today hearken back to that agricultural past, including the traditional school calendar. As time has passed, North Carolina gained many jobs from textile manufacturing. Farms consolidated and there were less small family farm operations and more, large scale industrial farms. Over the past few decades, textile and furniture manufacturing jobs have been lost by North Carolina – many of these jobs have gone overseas. The new jobs that have been coming in to replace these are biotechnology jobs. These jobs pay well, but require more training and expertise than traditional manufacturing jobs.
Have you ever wondered how engineers design roller coasters? Have you ever pondered how the height of the first hill influences the riders’ experiences? This project aims to give students insight into such questions while introducing them to the fundamental concepts of energy and energy conservation. A month-long process, students acquire a conceptual understanding of energy conservation and use that understanding to design their own roller coaster. While written for high-physics students, one could easily adapt this project for physical science students.
This unit teaches students to utilize and develop critical thinking skills throughout each eighth grade science content strand. The inquiry based lessons lead students to create testable questions; design and perform experiments; collect, organize, and analyze data; and use these results to decide on the next step in the scientific process. Current topics, local issues, and real life situations are used to help students find meaning in the materials while learning the necessary critical thinking skills.
Large sets of data, accessible through new technology, are paramount to forecasting trends in business and economics. In Algebra I, students typically study data sets with one predictor variable and one response variable. But in the real world, most response variables have numerous predictors which may significantly impact the data. It is important to be able to identify their effects and use them appropriately to make sound, valid predictions.
The “Investigating Alternative Fuels for Vehicles” curriculum focus will allow students to learn about alternative fuels used to power vehicles. Students will expand their knowledge through discussion, inquiry-based activities, and research on the innovative technology related to alternative fuel vehicles. This project will expose students to the role that alternative energy have in reducing global warming and conservation of natural resources.