Scientist in the Classroom
Elementary School Activitiy Manual Grades K-5
Scientist in the Classroom Program
2302 Noble Road
Raleigh, NC 27608
Phone: (919) 856-3047
Fax: (919) 856-2880
Numerical Listing of Activities
1 Experiment Skit
2 Creating a Science Fair Experiment
3 More or Less or the Same
4 Examine the Stars
5 Classifying Properties of Objects
6 How People Change Over Time
7 Growing Plants
8 Soil or Dirt?
9 Animals Change with the Seasons
10 Plants Change with the Seasons
11 Thinking Like a Scientist
12 Changing Things
13 Food Processing
14 Waves of Sound and Light
15 Energy From Chemicals
17 Push and Pull
18 Electrical Safety
19 Rocks and Minerals
20 Habitats for Plants and Animals
21 Number Patterns
22 The Air in Airplane
23 Save Our Water
25 Earthquakes and Volcanoes
26 Maps and Orienteering
27 Plot That Storm
28 Sports Science
29 Woodworking Mathematics
30 Symmetry and Patterns
31 Travelling With Mathematics
32 Weather Basics
33 Mixing Solutions
34 Pollution: Causes and Solutions
35 Computers
36 Buildings and Earthquakes
37 Solar Engineering
38 What Are the Chances
39 Measuring Metric
40 Courts, Diamonds, Fields, Courses
41 Flowers and Seeds
42 Useful Plants
44 Kinds of Energy
45 Animal Care and Handling
46 Measuring Heat Energy
47 Hazardous Materials
48 Animals, Animals, Animals
49 Magnetism
50 Weather and You
51 Fossil Finds
51 Planets and Stars
53 Fields of Science
54 Nutrition
55 Monitoring the Weather
56 Ecological Balance
57 Radio and Television Technology
58 Safer Alternatives to Toxics
59 Satellites in Orbit
60 Rockets
61 Electrical Energy Experiments
62 Solid to Liquid to Gas
64 All Kinds of Plants
65 Food Sensations
66 Science Has Imp. the Qual. of Life
67 Microscopic Life
68 Natural History of North Carolina
69 Insects and Other Arthropods
70 Marine Life
71 Genetics and Inheritance
72 From Atoms on Up
73 The BIG BANG
74 Natural Resource Conservation
75 Science and Health
76 Plant Classification
77 Food Preservation and Storage
78 Potential and Kinetic Energy
79 Future Discoveries and Inventions
80 Powers of Ten
81 Number Bases
82 Soil and the Environment
83 Plant Disease
84 Pregnancy and Birth
85 Data Collection
86 Sampling and Surveys
87 Geometric Solids
88 Time and its Measurement
89 Estimating
90 Solving Numerical Patterns
91 Protractor and Construction
92 Human Growth Patterns
93 Safe and Harmful Med. and Drugs
94 Nutritional Foods from North Carolina
95 Smoke and the Human Body
96 Human Diseases
97 Health Professions
98 Body Systems (Pick One)
99 Biters and Grinders
100 Look at Your Eyes
101 No Bones About It
104 Useful Animals
Alphabetical Listing of Activities
64 All Kinds of Plants
45 Animal Care and Handling
9 Animals Change with the Seasons
48 Animals, Animals, Animals
99 Biters and Grinders
98 Body Systems (Pick One)
36 Buildings and Earthquakes
12 Changing Things
5 Classifying Properties of Objects
35 Computers
40 Courts, Diamonds, Fields, and Courses
2 Creating a Science Fair Experiment
85 Data Collection
25 Earthquakes and Volcanoes
56 Ecological Balance
61 Electrical Energy Experiments
18 Electrical Safety
15 Energy From Chemicals
89 Estimating
4 Examine the Stars
1 Experiment Skit
53 Fields of Science
41 Flowers and Seeds
77 Food Preservation and Storage
13 Food Processing
65 Food Sensations
51 Fossil Finds
72 From Atoms on Up
79 Future Discoveries and Inventions
71 Genetics and Inheritance
87 Geometric Solids
7 Growing Plants
20 Habitats for Plants and Animals
47 Hazardous Materials
97 Health Professions
6 How People Change Over Time
96 Human Diseases
92 Human Growth Patterns
69 Insects and Other Arthropods
44 Kinds of Energy
100 Look at Your Eyes
49 Magnetism
26 Maps and Orienteering
70 Marine Life
46 Measuring Heat Energy
39 Measuring Metric
67 Microscopic Life
33 Mixing Solutions
55 Monitoring the Weather
3 More or Less or the Same
68 Natural History of North Carolina
74 Natural Resource Conservation
101 No Bones About It
81 Number Bases
21 Number Patterns
54 Nutrition
94 Nutritional Foods from North Carolina
52 Planets and Stars
76 Plant Classification
83 Plant Disease
10 Plants Change with the Seasons
27 Plot That Storm
34 Pollution: Causes and Solutions
78 Potential and Kinetic Energy
80 Powers of Ten
84 Pregnancy and Birth
91 Protractor and Construction
17 Push and Pull
57 Radio and Television Technology
60 Rockets
19 Rocks and Minerals
93 Safe and Harmful Medicines and Drugs
58 Safer Alternatives to Toxics
86 Sampling and Surveys
59 Satellites in Orbit
23 Save Our Water
75 Science and Health
66 Science Has Improved the Quality of Life
95 Smoke and the Human Body
82 Soil and the Environment
8 Soil or Dirt?
37 Solar Engineering
62 Solid to Liquid to Gas
90 Solving Numerical Patterns
28 Sports Science
30 Symmetry and Patterns
22 The Air in Airplane
73 The BIG BANG
11 Thinking Like A Scientist
88 Time and its Measurement
31 Travelling With Mathematics
104 Useful Animals
42 Useful Plants
14 Waves of Sound and Light
32 Weather Basics
50 Weather and You
38 What Are the Chances
29 Woodworking Mathematics
ACTIVITY #: 1 GRADES: 3,4,5
TITLE: Experiment Skit
VOCABULARY: scientific method, dependent and independent variable, experiment
OBJECTIVES: demonstrate the scientific method in action
SUBJECTS: science and human endeavors
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min, before science fair
GRADE/GOALS: 3,4,5/1,2,3,4
GROUP SIZE: 50-200
SOURCES: anyone experienced in research using the scientific method
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Informal skit showing a scientist solving a problem by doing an
experiment. Skit features steps of the scientific method, and employs children playing active roles in the skit with teachers.
Problems can suit the expertise or interest of the visiting scientist.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: minimal props, posters with names of steps in scientific method
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect props, brief teachers and kids before skit on their parts
ACTIVITY #: 2 GRADES: 3,4,5
TITLE: Creating a Science Fair Experiment
VOCABULARY: experiment, dependent & independent variable, scientific method, control, hypothesis, measurement, interpretation, test
OBJECTIVES: thinking up an experiment for a science fair project; using scientific method
SUBJECTS: science and human endeavors
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min, before science fair
GRADE/GOALS: 3,4,5/1,2,3,4
GROUP SIZE: 25-50
SOURCES: anyone experienced in research using the scientific method
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Introduce 3-step process for thinking up an experiment. 1) Pick an object, 2) List what it can do, 3) List what things can change what it can do. Pick the dependent variable from list #2, the independent variable from list #3, and design the experiment, "What is the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable?" Demonstrate the steps of the scientific method, including observation, hypothesis, experiment, measurement, and interpretation.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: materials to perform sample experiments
PREPARATION REQUIRED: gathering materials for sample experiments, practicing, listing experiment ideas
ACTIVITY #: 3 GRADES: K
TITLE: More or Less or the Same
VOCABULARY: more, less, same,
greater, smaller, shorter, taller, higher, lower, number
OBJECTIVES: explore different
manifestations of quantity
SUBJECTS: physical science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 minutes
GRADE/GOALS: K/2.5
(measurement)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: scientists, engineers,
health professionals
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate
quantity in a variety of settings, including number, volume,
height, weight, intensity, density, and concentration. Illustrate
quantity as an element of solids, liquids, gases, sounds, and
even radiation (e.g. light). Emphasize numerical basis of
measuring quantities of solids, liquids, gases, and energy.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: glassware,
boxes, solid and liquid materials to measure
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect
materials, prepare for hands-on student participation
ACTIVITY #: 4 GRADES:
3,4,5
TITLE: Examine the Stars
VOCABULARY: astronomy,
constellations
OBJECTIVES: learn where to find
the major stars and constellations in the night sky
SUBJECTS: space science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min., could
include a field trip
GRADE/GOALS: 4/5.3
(solar system)
GROUP SIZE: 25-50
SOURCES: astronomers, physicists,
museum personnel, star-gazers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Use slides,
star-guides, photographs, and a compass to illustrate how to
locate major stars and constellations in the night sky. Discuss
astronomical distance and the meaning of different degrees of
brightness in stars. Suggest star-gazing during early evening to
observe brightest stars appearing before dimmer stars. Describe
movement of stars and constellations across the sky, describe
ways to observe this movement, and discuss what it implies.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: star-guides,
slides, photographs, compass
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare
step-by-step procedures for students to use to find different
stars and constellations and to track their movement
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR
SOURCES:
Teacher's Guide K-8: Wake Soil & Water Cons. Dist.
Astronomy Adventures 4001D Carya Dr. Raleigh, N.C. 27610
Phone: 919-250-1050
Contact: Shelia Jones
ACTIVITY #: 5 GRADES: K,1,2
TITLE: Classifying Properties of
Objects
VOCABULARY: texture, color, size, shape, sound,
odor, attributes, classify, organize, collection, relationship
OBJECTIVES: discover connection between the
senses and the basic properties of matter, develop and understand
concept of classification
SUBJECTS: physical and life sciences, math,
classification
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min
GRADE/GOALS: K/2.2 (classify)& 5.2
(use of senses)
1/2.2 (classify)& 5.2 (material
objects)
2/2.2 (classify)& 5.3 (matter)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: artists, environmental and civil
engineers, health professionals, textile scientists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Classify objects
according to basic properties. Demonstrate the different senses
used to detect each property. Isolate the use of individual
senses by hiding some objects in a box, not allowing some to be
touched, or allowing others to be smelled, but not seen or
touched. Objects could include fruits, textiles, rocks, woods,
metals and plastics. Illustrate how classification is used to
study to living and non-living things. Connect classification
concepts to the student's world with examples like video stores,
libraries, grocery stores, factories, people, schools, hobbies,
farming and gardening.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: variety of manipulatives,
extra helpers
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials,
prepare helpers
ACTIVITY #: 6 GRADES: K
TITLE: How People Change Over Time
VOCABULARY: aging, wrinkles, disease, growth
spurt, illness, death
OBJECTIVES: discover how people change with
time, growth, aging, and illness
SUBJECTS: physical and life sciences
TIME REQUIRED: 30 min
GRADE/GOALS: K/5.1 (self-awareness)
GROUP SIZE: 25-50
SOURCES: health professionals
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate the changes
people undergo over time, including height, weight, skin, voice,
and hair. Discuss things that do not change as people grow.
Measure height, make footprints and handprints to illustrate the
wide range of normal growth among the students. Request in
advance for students to bring to class photographs of when they
were a baby, or when their parents were children.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: people, skeleton,
photographs, slides, growth chart, paper to make prints
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect visual aids,
prepare assistants, request student photographs in advance
ACTIVITY #: 7 GRADES: 1,2,3,4,5
TITLE: Growing Plants
VOCABULARY: soil, dirt, water, roots, support,
food, oxygen, carbon dioxide, photosynthesis, respiration
OBJECTIVES: discover importance of soil, water,
light, and air to plant growth
SUBJECTS: earth and life sciences
TIME REQUIRED: 45 min for each of two or more
visits
GRADE/GOALS:
1/5.1 (needs of organisms)
2/5.2 (environmental adaptations)
3>/5.1,5.3 (interdependence of
plants & animals)
5/5.1 (plant communities)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: botanists, plant scientists,
nurseries, foresters, landscapers, agricultural extension agents
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Conduct mini-experiments
with different soils and different amounts of water or light,
demonstrating the effects of soil, water or light on the growth
of quick growing plants, such as beans or peas.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: seeds or plants, different
soils, pots
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials, plan
followup visit or e-mail correspondence
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Music Cassettes: Wake Soil &
Water Cons. Dist
Adventures on the Air Cycle 4001D Carya
Dr.; Raleigh, N.C. 27610
Billy B. Sings About Trees Phone:
250-1050; Contact: Shelia Jones
Teacher Guide & Video Tape: Chatham
County Ext.: ph 542-8202
River's Edge (5th Grade) Durham
County Ext.: ph 560-0533
Wake County Ext.: ph 250-1100
ACTIVITY #: 8 GRADES: 2,3,4
TITLE: Soil or Dirt?
VOCABULARY: organic, inorganic, soil, dirt,
layers, silt, clay, sand, metamorphic, sedimentary, igneous,
auger
OBJECTIVES: discover the origins of soil and
its many components
SUBJECTS: earth and life sciences
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 mn
GRADE/GOALS: 3/5.3 (rocks and soil)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: soil conservation service, soil
scientists, agricultural extension agents, gardeners, museum
personnel
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Discuss the three types
of rocks, the origin of soils, three types of soil particles, and
the components of good soil. Set up activity centers to allow
students to examine soil and rock types, soil layers, and make
soil by scraping rocks together. Use role-playing to demonstrate
soil formation.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: soil auger, rock samples,
organic matter, soil samples, buckets, newspaper, yard/forest
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect soil &
materials, scout yard, sample soil cores
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR
RESOURCES:
Video Tape: Wake Soil & Water Cons. Dist.
Soil & Water Conservation 4001D Carya
Dr.
II. Soil as a Resource Base Raleigh, N.C.
27610
Book: Sammy Soil Particle ph:
250-1050 Contact: Shelia Jones
Teacher Resource Guide: U.S. Dept. of Ag.
- SCS
Soil Cons. Ed. Kit- 4405 Bland Rd.;
Raleigh, NC 27609
Vol. I: Soil Resources ph: 790-2887
Teacher's Resource Book: Chatham County
Ext.: ph 542-8202
Soil & Water in N.C. (3rd &
4th) Durham County Ext.: ph 560-0533
River's Edge (5th Grade) Wake
County Ext.: ph 250-1100
ACTIVITY #: 9 GRADES: K,1,2,3,4
TITLE: Animals Change with the Seasons
VOCABULARY: hibernate, migrate, metamorphosis,
cocoon, nest, shed
OBJECTIVES: examine the changes animals undergo
from season to season, discuss why these changes occur
SUBJECTS: earth and life sciences
TIME REQUIRED: 20-40 min, repeat visits at
different seasons
GRADE/GOALS:
K/5.3 (interaction w/ the environment)
2/5.2 (environmental adaptations)
4/5.2 (animal behavior)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: soil conservation service, zoologists,
wildlife biologists, entomologists, museum personnel
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Discuss how an animal's
environment changes with the seasons, and why animals must adapt
to these changes. Illustrate how different animals change in
response to their environment with live and preserved specimens
and illustrations.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: animals, cocoons, worms,
insects, bird nests, stuffed animals, forest walk
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect specimens and
animals, scout nature walks in the vicinity of the school
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Music Cassette: Wake Soil &
Water Cons. Dist.
Billy B. Sings About Trees 4001D Carya Dr.
Raleigh, N.C. 27511
ph: 250-1050 contact: Shelia Jones
ACTIVITY #: 10 GRADES: K,1,2,3
TITLE: Plants Change with the Seasons
VOCABULARY: evergreen, dormant, buds, seeds,
flowers, leaves, stems
OBJECTIVES: discover changes plants undergo
from season to season, discuss why
SUBJECTS: earth and life sciences
TIME REQUIRED: 20-40 min, spring or fall best,
with repeat visits
GRADE/GOALS:
K>/5.3 (interaction w/ the environment)
2/5.1 (life cycles)
2/5.2 (environmental adaptation)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: botanists, landscapers, nurseries
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Bring examples of plants
at different life-cycle stages into class and examine. Conduct
nature walks through yards, farms and forests at different times
of the year.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: plant parts, plants, nature
walk
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect plants and parts,
scout walk in school vicinity
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Cassette Tapes: Wake Soil & Water Cons. Dist.
Billy B. Sings About Trees 4001D Carya Dr.
Raleigh, N. C. 27510
ph: 250-1050 contact: Shelia Jones
ACTIVITY #: 11 GRADES: K,1,2
TITLE: Thinking like a scientist
VOCABULARY: observation, predicting, curiosity,
experiment, report, cooperation
OBJECTIVES: introduce logical thinking used by
scientists
SUBJECTS: science and human endeavors
TIME REQUIRED: 3 min
GRADE/GOALS:
K,1,2/1.1-1.5 (nature of science)
K,1,2>/4.1-4.4 (attitudes toward
science)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: all scientists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Using several short and
simple experiments demonstrate how a scientist becomes curious
about a question, applies logical thinking to plan an experiment,
cooperates with fellow experimenters, and carefully observes what
happens and is able to make future predictions.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: simple experimental
equipment
PREPARATION REQUIRED: plan for experiments and
student participation
ACTIVITY #: 12 GRADES: 1,2
TITLE: Changing Things
VOCABULARY: melting, molding, cutting, bending,
scraping, crumbling
OBJECTIVES: discover how materials can change
in shape, color, texture, etc.
SUBJECTS: physical science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min
GRADE/GOALS: 1/5.2 (material objects)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: physicists, engineers, chemists,
textile scientist
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Melt, mold, cut, bend,
scrape, crumble materials to see how they will change in shape,
color, texture, size, etc. Include materials for students to
manipulate. Demonstrate separation or sorting of objects based on
different properties. Illustrate changing colors with textile and
food dyes. Could include demonstrations of changing the strength
of fabrics through various treatments and techniques.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: materials and the tools to
change them with
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials,
practice changing them
ACTIVITY #: 13 GRADES: 3
TITLE: Food Processing
VOCABULARY: cooking, freezing, drying, canning,
protein, enzyme, solution, leavening agent, acid, coagulation,
clotting
OBJECTIVES: Discover different methods used to
process foods, and illustrate how these methods affect flavor,
shelf life, appearance, and cost
SUBJECTS: life science
TIME REQUIRED: 45-60 min
GRADE/GOALS: 3/5.6 (nutrition)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: food scientists, nutritionists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Taste test apples
processed and preserved in a variety of ways, e.g., fresh, dried,
canned, apple sauce, fruit roll-ups, and jelly. Demonstrate the
coagulation of milk and discuss how this is used in food
processing. Experiment with different enzymes used in food
processing, e.g., enzymatic browning of apples and bananas,
pineapple bromelin and the setting of Jello. Demonstrate the
production of gases by leavening agents and illustrate how these
agents are used in food processing.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: apple products, pineapple
products, milk, vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, Jello, baking
powder, baking soda, yeast, cheesecloth, toothpicks, towels,
bread and cake, kitchen utensils, glassware
PREPARATION REQUIRED: Collect food products and
necessary utensils, test procedures beforehand
ACTIVITY #: 14 GRADES: 3,4
TITLE: Waves of Sound and Light
VOCABULARY: waves, vibration, bowing, pluck,
strike, blow, propagation, audio, tone, pitch, eyes, ears
OBJECTIVES: learn how sound is produced,
changed, transmitted, detected, and used
SUBJECTS: physical science, life science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min
GRADE/GOALS: 3/5.4 (energy systems)
GROUP SIZE: 25-100
SOURCES: musicians, physicists, engineers,
health professionals
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Introduce the wave nature
of sound and/or light. Demonstrate sound and/or light generation.
Program could work with a small group in making and studying
sound and light, with lots of hands-on participation, or a large
group with a stage presentation using different instruments.
Could focus on or include how waves of sound and/or light are
detected by the human sensory system.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: wave-generating
instruments, instruments that measure light or sound, appliances
and products that use light or sound, musical instruments,
lasers, flashlights, fiber optics, oscilloscope
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect tools, practice
generating and measuring sounds
ACTIVITY #: 15 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Energy From Chemicals
VOCABULARY: heat, light, chemical reaction,
fire, combustion, burn, oxidize
OBJECTIVES: discover how chemical reactions
produce energy
SUBJECTS: physical science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min
GRADE/GOALS:
4/5.4 (interaction of matter & energy)
4/5.5 (heat)
GROUP SIZE: 25-50
SOURCES: physicists, chemists, engineers.
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Burn something to produce
heat and light. Combine chemicals to produce heat. Combine
chemicals to produce light. Enlist student assistants to help
with demonstrations. If possible include materials students can
safely use themselves to demonstrate the release of chemical
energy. Measure the heat produced. Design an experiment to
determine which of several procedures releases more heat.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: fuels, combustion chambers,
heat and light measuring instruments, model steam engine
PREPARATION REQUIRED: ensure safety of
demonstrations and hands-on activities
ACTIVITY #: 17 GRADES: 2,3,4
TITLE: Push and Pull
VOCABULARY: pulley, lever, inclined plane,
wheel, axle, gear, force
OBJECTIVES: discover how simple machines work
and what they can do, include practical applications
SUBJECTS: physical science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min
GRADE/GOALS: 4/5.6 (simple machines)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: engineers, clockmakers, architects,
physicists, mechanics
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Build and use simple
machines to do work. Include simple machines each student can
help build and operate. Demonstrate simple machines in everyday
things. Guide students in conducting experiments examining the
operation of simple machines. These experiments will examine the
relationship between force and distance, the uses of gears in
changing speed or direction, and the uses of pulleys in lifting.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: machines, spring scales,
levers, pulleys, gears, inclined planes, axles, wheels
PREPARATION REQUIRED: plan simple machines for
construction and use by students, plan experiments for students
to design and execute
ACTIVITY #: 18 GRADES: 1,2,3,4,5
TITLE: Electrical Safety
VOCABULARY: safety, shock, conductor,
insulator, fuse, breaker, circuit, ground
OBJECTIVES: demonstrate safe use of
electricity, electrical safety mechanisms and their use everyday
and in an emergency
SUBJECTS: physics
TIME REQUIRED: 20-40 min
GRADE/GOALS:
1/5.3 (safety)
5/5.2 (sources & forms of
energy)
GROUP SIZE: 25-50
SOURCES: electricians, electrical inspectors,
electrical engineers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate use of fuses,
breakers, other electrical safety mechanisms in homes and
appliances, discuss safety practices and emergency procedures.
Bring sample fuses (new and blown), breakers, wires, cables,
plugs, and receptacles for students to handle. Drill safety
techniques.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: wires, fuses, breakers,
plugs, insulating materials
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials, plan
hands-on activities
ACTIVITY #: 19 GRADES: 3,4,5
TITLE: Rocks and Minerals
VOCABULARY: hardness, color, crystal, streak,
luster, magnet
OBJECTIVES: discover the properties of rocks
and minerals and classify rocks and minerals
SUBJECTS: earth science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
3/5.3 (rocks & soil)
5/5.3,5.4,5.5 (natural resource use
& preservation)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: quarries, rock and mineral clubs,
museum personnel, geologists, gemologists, soil conservation
service
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Use "rock box"
to test and classify rocks and minerals according to different
characteristics. Demonstrate tools required for each test.
Include samples for students to test. Include samples of the uses
of different rocks and minerals, e.g., pumice - soap,
toothpastes, polish, and stone-washed jeans.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: "rock box" with
rocks, minerals, and tools, charts, samples
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect enough samples
for students to test, plan student test activities
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF MATERIALS:
Children's Book: Wake Soil & Water Cons. Dist.
The Magic School Bus Inside 4001D
Carya Dr.
the Earth Raleigh, N.C. 27610
ph 250-1050 Contact: Shelia Jones
Teacher Manual: Chatham County
Ext.: 542-8202
River's Edge (5th Grade) Durham
County Ext.: 560-0533
Wake County Ext.: 250-1100
ACTIVITY #: 20 GRADES: 1,2,3,4,5
TITLE: Habitats for Plants and Animals
VOCABULARY: ecology, home, shelter, extinction,
environment, protection, habitat, niche, population
OBJECTIVES: discover the variety of homes for
plants and animals on earth
SUBJECTS: earth and life sciences
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min
GRADE/GOALS:
1/5.1 (needs of organisms)
2/5.2 (environmental adaptations)
3/5.1 (interdependence of plants
and animals)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: biologists, ecologists, foresters,
environmentalists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Show examples of the
types of homes animals build, such as hives, shells, nests, and
burrows. Discuss the habitats in which different plants and
animals live. Could include a nature walk. Bring sample homes for
students to examine closely. Ask students to infer something
about the organism based on the characteristics of its home and
where it's usually found. Discuss extinction as a loss of
suitable homes.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: animal and plant homes,
nature walk
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect homes and scout
nature walk
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF MATERIAL:
Slide/Tapes Presentation: N.C. Wildlife Fed.
Forests Are More Than Trees 1024
Washington St.
35mm film: Raleigh, N.C. 27605
Living Coasts ph 829-1192
American Wetlands Contact:Ellen Cook
So Little Time
Teacher Guides K-2: Land for Life
Wake Soil & Water Cons. Dist.
Teacher Guides K-8: 4001D Carya Dr.
Discovering Deserts Raleigh, N.C.
27610
Diving Into Oceans 250-1050
Endangered Species: Wild & Rare
Rain Forests: Tropical Treasures
Trees Are Terrific
Wading Into Wetlands
Manure, Meadows & Milkshakes
Coloring Books:
N.C. Colorful WILD Places
Habitat Is Where It's At
Wetlands
Cassette Tapes:
Romp in the Swamp
Audubon Adventures
ACTIVITY #: 21 GRADES: K,1,2,3,4,5
TITLE: Number Patterns
VOCABULARY: patterns, symmetry, coordinate,
sequence, spiral
OBJECTIVES: learn to recognize number patterns
where they exist, discover the applications of these patterns
SUBJECTS: math
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min
GRADE/GOALS: K-5 mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: mathematicians, engineers,
statisticians
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Discover number patterns
in the natural world. Illustrate how these number patterns can be
used to describe or predict natural events or objects, or create
architectural or artistic designs, or explain natural
occurrences.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: number patterns and
sequences, natural objects that demonstrate number patterns,
e.g., seashells, pine cones, and flowers
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials
ACTIVITY #: 22 GRADES: 1,4
TITLE: The Air in Airplane
VOCABULARY: lift, air pressure, force, wings,
gravity, speed
OBJECTIVES: discover how air exerts the force
that helps planes fly
SUBJECTS: physical and earth sciences
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min
GRADE/GOALS:
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: pilots, physicists, engineers,
mechanics
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate model wings
and airplanes to demonstrate lift, thrust, drag, and gravity.
Build and fly model airplanes.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: model airplanes, materials
to build wings, wind-generator
PREPARATION REQUIRED: build sample wings or
planes, plan student participation in building and testing
activities
ACTIVITY #: 23 GRADES: 2,3,4,5
TITLE: Save our Water
VOCABULARY: wetland, watershed, diversity,
plankton, indicator species
OBJECTIVES: understand importance of our
wetlands & water conservation
SUBJECTS: earth and life sciences
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
2/5.2 (environmental adaptations)
2/5.4 (weather)
3/5.1 (interdependence of plants
& animals)
5/5.1 (plant communities)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: ecologists, aquatic biologists,
environmentalists, water treatment operators
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES:
Introduce the concept of wetlands. Show a simplified water cycle
and how we are part of the system, the need to conserve water
usage, and how each person can help.
Show different types of wetlands and the
diversity of organisms found in them. Discuss the importance of
wetlands-may include the use of indicator species,
characteristics of healthy v. unhealthy systems. Take
measurements and observations of nearby wetlands and discuss
results.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: water from various sources,
hand lenses, measuring devises, simple water filters
PREPARATION REQUIRED: locate water bodies on
school grounds, collect water samples
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Slide/Tape Presentations:
We Care About Oceans N.C. Wildlife
Fed.
We Can't Live Without it 1024
Washington St.
Raleigh, N.C. 27605
ph 833-1923
Teacher's Guides: Wake Soil & Water
Cons. Dist.
Water Education (K-8) 4001D Carya
Dr.
Living in Water (4-8) Raleigh, N.C.
27610
Streamwalking for Kids (4-8) ph
250-1050
Water & Me (K-2) Contact:
Shelia Jones
The Story of Drinking Water(K-2)
Teacher Book:
Sound Advice: How to Live in Harmony
with Our Coast
Children's Book:
The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks
Teacher's Guide: Chatham County. Ext.:
542-8202 River's Edge Durham County Ext.: 560-0533
Wake County Ext.: 250-1100
ACTIVITY #: 25 GRADES: 3,4,5
TITLE: Earthquakes and Volcanos
VOCABULARY: continents, continental drift,
earthquakes, coordinates, latitude, longitude, maps, volcanos,
faults, crust, plates, lava
OBJECTIVES: Explore the forces changing the
face of the earth
SUBJECTS: earth science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS: 5/5.5 (earth over time)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: geologists, cartographers, engineers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate plate
tectonics, volcanos, and earthquakes as forces that change the
surface of the earth. Examine the plate tectonic origin of
earthquake zones. Draw outlines of major continents before,
during, and after major historical continental drift episodes
using sets of given longitude and latitude coordinates.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: maps, slides, films, rocks
and minerals, globe, soil, plaster of Paris
PREPARATION REQUIRED: Prepare maps, collect
visual aids
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Teacher's Guide K-8: Wake Soil & Water Cons. Dist.
Geology: The Active Earth 4001D
Carya Drive
Children's Book: Raleigh, N.C. 27510
The Magic School Bus Inside ph
250-1050
the Earth Contact: Shelia Jones
ACTIVITY #: 26 GRADES: 2,3,4,5
TITLE: Maps and Orienteering
VOCABULARY: degrees, angles, direction, obtuse
angle, right angle, acute angle, coordinates, graph, estimation,
maps, symbols, scales, key, legend
OBJECTIVES: demonstrate map-reading and
map-making skills, measuring by degrees
SUBJECTS: math, geometry, angles, measurement,
problem-solving, graphs
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS: 3-5/ mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: architects, engineers, cartographers,
geologists, orienteering clubs
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Construct scaled maps of
a classroom or a school playground. Use these maps to locate
hidden objects in the classroom or the playground. Practice using
measuring instruments, ruler, compass, protractor, legend, degree
measurements, and scaling to pinpoint locations. Lead group on
treasure hunt using orienteering skills. Illustrate use of
photographs in making maps. Locate student homes on city map,
then determine coordinates.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: rulers, paper, pencils,
maps, aerial photographs, compass, protractor, graph paper
PREPARATION REQUIRED: hide "treasure"
in classroom or playground
ACTIVITY #: 27 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Plot That Storm
VOCABULARY: coordinates, scales, legends, key,
latitude, longitude, weather
OBJECTIVES: practice math problem-solving and
coordinate graphing skills using severe weather problems and
weather maps
SUBJECTS: math, earth science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min., repeat visit(s)
appropriate to follow storms
GRADE/GOALS: 5/5.6 (weather and climate)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: cartographers, meteorologists,
geographers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Plot weather systems as
they move across a major continent or ocean, using prepared sets
of coordinates. Calculate rates of movement of weather systems
and fronts based on time intervals among consecutive sets of
coordinates. Project anticipated time of arrival of storms at
several locations. Plot the actual tracks of severe storms as
they move (e.g. hurricanes).
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: graph paper, scale models,
rulers, calculators, drawing instruments
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare sets of
coordinates
ACTIVITY #: 28 GRADES: 1,2,3,4,5
TITLE: Sports Science
VOCABULARY: angle, reaction, gravity, force,
momentum, vectors
OBJECTIVES: stimulate student interest in
science and math by discovering how science and math principles
apply in sports
SUBJECTS: life and physical sciences, math
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min
GRADE/GOALS: 4/5.4 (interaction of
matter & energy)
GROUP SIZE: 25-50
SOURCES: physicists, health professionals,
sportswriters, scholar athletes
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate mathematical
and scientific aspects of sports' skills like shooting a
basketball, throwing or hitting a ball, running, or swimming.
Experiment with optimum angle for the longest throw, air
resistance of different shapes, and angles of collisions.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: sports equipment,
measurement tools, gym or ball field, ping pong balls, pool
balls, wind tunnel
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare for student
participation in practice and measurement of specific skills
ACTIVITY #: 29 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Woodworking Mathematics
VOCABULARY: perimeter, angle, circumference,
area, volume, length
OBJECTIVES: discover the importance of math in
carpentry
SUBJECTS: math, geometry, measurement
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min., repeat visit(s)
appropriate
GRADE/GOALS: 4,5/ mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: carpenters, engineers, hobbyist,
furniture manufacturer
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate the uses of
math in making tables, chairs, desks, beds, and other things out
of wood. Assist students in making detailed plans for building a
favorite item, highlighting the need and use of math skills.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: wood, tools, paper, rulers,
calculators
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare student
participation in drawing plans
ACTIVITY #: 30 GRADES: K,1,2,3,4,5
TITLE: Symmetry and Patterns
VOCABULARY: symmetry, patterns, repeat,
sequence, predict, parallel, extend, balance, estimation, area,
angle, perimeter, circumference, same, different
OBJECTIVES: develop concept of patterns, learn
to recognize patterns, discover uses of patterns and symmetry in
the environment and in everyday life
SUBJECTS: math, patterns
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min
GRADE/GOALS: K-5/ mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: engineers, architects, interior
designers, artists, printers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Discover non-numerical
patterns and symmetry in the environment (nature, wallpaper,
clothing, tiles, bricks, buildings, weather, windows, quilts,
music). Lead students in predicting and extending patterns,
including symmetrical patterns. Help students become aware of
patterns as a strategy in problem solving. Lead students on a
pattern and/or symmetry scavenge hunt. Demonstrate mathematical
basis of patterns and symmetry. Discuss functions of patterns and
symmetry in objects, e.g. airplanes, living organisms, and
architecture. Have students complete a "half picture"
using the concept of symmetry.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: graph paper, measuring
tools, pictures, building blocks, pattern blocks, slides,
"half pictures", preserved animal and plant specimens,
seashells, pine cones, flowers, music.
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare student
participation activities
ACTIVITY #: 31 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Travelling With Mathematics
VOCABULARY: geography, time zones, great circle
route, latitude, longitude
OBJECTIVES: practice measurement skills,
map-reading, problem-solving skills
SUBJECTS: math, measurement, graphing,
problem-solving, earth science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min
GRADE/GOALS: 4,5/ mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: pilots, meteorologists, cartographers,
geographers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Given a top speed for a
passenger plane, work out the time required to reach various
cities, and the time-of-day one would arrive given a local
departure time. Figure the shortest route to include stops at six
cities before reaching a final destination. Figure the least
number of stops required given fuel load and consumption and
available airports for refueling along the way to a cross-country
destination.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: globe, maps, measuring
instruments, calculators
PREPARATION REQUIRED: set up maps with cities,
predetermine optimum routes and timing
ACTIVITY #: 32 GRADES:2,3,4
TITLE: Weather Basics
VOCABULARY: weather, climate, fronts, high
pressure, low pressure
OBJECTIVES: learn the basics of weather
SUBJECTS: earth science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
2/5.4 (weather and related cycles)
5/5.6 (weather and climate)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: meteorologists, climatologists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Explore what makes
weather and how geography and atmospheric conditions affect
weather patterns. "Make weather" in the classroom.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: materials for simulating
weather, weather maps
PREPARATION REQUIRED: practice simulating
weather
ACTIVITY #: 33 GRADES: 3,4,5
TITLE: Mixing Solutions
VOCABULARY: solution, suspension, dissolve,
precipitate, coagulate, evaporate, measurement, volume, ratio
OBJECTIVES: work with measuring and mixing
liquid solutions and suspensions, understand ratios
SUBJECTS: physical science, math
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS: 3/5.5 (solutions and
mixtures)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: chemists, biochemists, pharmacists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Explore the different
ways liquids and solids can intermix. Measure changes in volume,
color, clarity, and temperature as materials dissolve,
precipitate, and evaporate. Explore food and textile dyes, food
processing, and chemical (especially petroleum) processing as
practical applications of mixing solutions.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: chemicals, glassware,
hotplate, balance, thermometer
PREPARATION REQUIRED: review safety precautions
for hands-on activities involving chemicals
ACTIVITY #: 34 GRADES: 5
TITLE: Pollution: Causes and Solutions
VOCABULARY: pollution, fossil fuel,
conservation, atmosphere, mass transportation, ozone, greenhouse
effect, global warming
OBJECTIVES: show the different sources of
pollution and illustrate potential and actual solutions
SUBJECTS: conservation
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
5/5.3 (natural resource preservation)
5/ 5.6 (weather and climate)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: engineers, environmentalists, planners
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate various
sources of air and water pollution. Design experiments to test
the effects of this pollution on living things and valuable
materials. Demonstrate or illustrate solutions to pollution
problems. Focus could be on specific pollution problems facing a
growing Triangle area.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: slides, pictures, model
trains, maps
PREPARATION REQUIRED: create or collect
problems to serve as subjects for experiments to be designed by
students
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Slide/Tape Presentation: N.C. Wildlife
Fed.
Let's Clean Air 1024 Washington
St.; Raleigh, N.C. 27605
ph: 829-1192
Music Cassettes: Wake Soil & Water
Cons. Dist.
Let's Clean Up Our Act 4001D Carya
Drive
A Kid's Eye View of the Env. Raleigh,
N.C. 27610
Teacher's Guide (K-8): ph: 250-1050
Pollution Contact: Shelia Jones
ACTIVITY #: 35 GRADES: K,1,2,3,4,5
TITLE: Computers
VOCABULARY: voltage, current, disk, input,
output, keyboard, monitor, processor, binary, amplitude,
hardware, software, program
OBJECTIVES: Explore the insides of a computer,
learn the basics of computer processing, discover programming and
the practical applications of computer technology at home, in
schools, and in the workplace
SUBJECTS: computer science, math
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS: K-5/ computer education
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: computer scientists, mathematicians,
engineers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Disassemble a computer
and illustrate the functions of the different parts. Demonstrate
the binary language as the basis of computer operation. Examine
input and output, storage, communication, and memory. Explore
hardware and software applications of computer technology with
examples from home appliances, school computer labs, business and
industrial environments, and engineering and scientific research.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: computers, modem, printer,
chips, boards, software packages
PREPARATION REQUIRED: pretest software
packages, prepare examples to maximize hands-on opportunities,
coordinate with available computers in the school
ACTIVITY #: 36 GRADES: 3,4,5
TITLE: Buildings and Earthquakes
VOCABULARY: stress, strain, load, waves,
seismograph, collapse, fail
OBJECTIVES: show how buildings can fail in an
earthquake, how they're built to resist the stresses and strains
of earthquakes
SUBJECTS: math, earth sciences
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS: 5/5.5 (earth over time)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: architects, engineers, building
inspectors, geologists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate the stresses
and strains that earthquakes can cause. Demonstrate the
techniques used to enable buildings to withstand the forces of an
earthquake. Solve simple architectural design problems related to
earthquake risk.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: slides, drawings, models,
seismograph
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare sample problems
for students to solve
ACTIVITY #: 37 GRADES: 4, 5
TITLE: Solar Engineering
VOCABULARY: solar energy, heat transfer, heat
storage, passive solar, active solar, angle, slope
OBJECTIVES: discover the uses of geometry and
physics in engineering for solar energy
SUBJECTS: physical sciences, conservation,
math, geometry
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min., could include a
field trip
GRADE/GOALS:
4/5.5 (heat energy transfer)
5/5.5 (sources and forms of energy)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: architects, engineers, solar energy
industry
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate importance of
sun angle, slope, and exposure in utilizing solar energy for home
heating and cooling. Distinguish between active and passive solar
energy use. Could include a field trip to the NC Solar House at
N.C. State University, near the McKimmon Center.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: slides, drawings, graph
paper, models, ruler, calculators, compass and protractor
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare simple problems
requiring use of compass and protractor, scout and arrange field
trip
ACTIVITY #: 38 GRADES: 5
TITLE: What Are the Chances
VOCABULARY: risk factor, probability, safety,
statistic, mean, variation, mode, median, chance, odds
OBJECTIVES: show the use of probability and
statistics in assessing risk factors, and explore the uses of
statistics and probability in sports and games
SUBJECTS: math, statistics, probability,
graphing
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min., repeat visit(s)
appropriate
GRADE/GOALS: 5/ mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: engineers, insurance industry,
statisticians
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Calculate risk factors
for different grades and classes based on survey data collected
at school. Risks could include missing class due to illness,
having a test, getting in trouble, or other measurable events.
Explore sports and games statistics and probabilities. Have class
keep records of their own sports and games activities, then
analyze and interpret the data and predict trends.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: graph paper, calculators,
computers
PREPARATION REQUIRED: plan time for student
survey and repeat visit(s)
ACTIVITY #: 39 GRADES: 2,3,4,5
TITLE: Measuring Metric
VOCABULARY: length, area, volume, mass,
velocity, intensity, concentration, density, temperature, milli-,
centi-, kilo-, Celsius
OBJECTIVES: introduce metric weight, volume,
length, and temperature in everyday life, practice measuring in
metric
SUBJECTS: math, measurement
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min
GRADE/GOALS: 2-5/ mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: surveyors, pharmacists, engineers,
scientists, mathematicians
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Introduce metric prefixes
and illustrate prefix relationships. Concentrate on working
within metric system in measuring length, weight, volume, and
temperature. Use household examples. Have students measure and
estimate in metric. Carry out a metric shopping relay race that
teaches students to "think metric".
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: measuring instruments,
graph paper, things to measure, pictures of clothing illustrating
temperature
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare measurement or
estimation problems, gather household items for measurement or
estimation
ACTIVITY #: 40 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Courts, Diamonds, Fields, and
Courses
VOCABULARY: angle, triangulate, rectangle,
square, diamond, rhombus, parallelogram, quadrilateral
OBJECTIVES: demonstrate the use of geometry in
designing playing fields and courses
SUBJECTS: math, geometry, measurement
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min
GRADE/GOALS: 4,5/mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: sports referees, surveyors,
cartographers, engineers, mathematicians
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Practice laying out
tennis courts, basketball courts, golf courses, soccer fields,
football fields, and baseball diamonds according to the required
rules of play. Preliminary work could be done using paper and
pencil indoors. Should include laying out a basketball court or a
baseball diamond on an actual lot or field.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: graph paper, field,
measuring devices, compass
PREPARATION REQUIRED: scout fields and lots,
locate official rules of play for different sports requiring
fields, courses, or courts
ACTVITY #: 41 GRADES: 2,3,4,5
TITLE: Flowers and Seeds
VOCABULARY: pollination, stamen, pistil, ovary,
petal, pollen, egg, root, stem, leaf, bud, germination, seed
OBJECTIVES: knowledge of plant growth from
seeds and the life cycle stages of plants
SUBJECTS: life science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min., repeat visits
appropriate
GRADE/GOALS:
2/5.1 (life cycles)
3/5.1 (interdependence of plants
& animals)
5/5.1 (plant communities)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: horticulturist, botanists, gardeners,
nurseries, biologists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate that seeds
germinate and grow to produce plants, even big trees. Germinate
different kinds of seeds. Grow plants from seed. Discuss plant
life cycle from seed to flower. Demonstrate functions of
different kinds of seeds. Demonstrate the different forms that
the basic parts of a flower can take. Dissect flowers to identify
parts and functions. Pollinate flowers an observe seed
production. Discuss the role roots play in the growth of plants.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: seeds, potting materials,
plants, magnifying glass, large flower for dissection
PREPARATION REQUIRED: arrange schedules for
repeat visits, collect variety of flowers and seeds, plan
pollination and seed germination experiments/demonstrations
ACTIVITY #: 42 GRADES: 2,3,4,5
TITLE: Useful Plants
VOCABULARY: pharmacy, medicine, textiles, agriculture
OBJECTIVES: learn how plants are useful to people
SUBJECTS: life science, conservation
TIME REQUIRED: 30-40 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
3/5.1 (interdependence of plants & animals)
5/5.1 (plant communities)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: pharmacologists, food scientists, biologists,
ecologists, textile scientists, plant scientists, agricultural
extension agents
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate uses of plants with examples
from medicine, cosmetics, clothing, agriculture, etc. Include
materials for students to handle. Include both obvious and not
obvious examples of useful plants. Mention the search for new
varieties of useful plants and the developing role of
biotechnology in creating new varieties. Emphasize the importance
of existing biological diversity and the threat of biological
extinction. Bring examples of the variety of products that come
from local farms.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: sample plant products, include products
from North Carolina farms
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials to share
ACTIVITY #: 44 GRADES: 2,3,4,5
TITLE: Kinds of Energy
VOCABULARY: energy, electricity, heat, light, mechanical,
wind, water, fossil fuels, gravity, pressure
OBJECTIVES: know that energy has different forms, and discover
their uses
SUBJECTS: physical science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min
GRADE/GOALS:
3/5.4 (energy systems)
4/5.4 (interaction of matter & energy)
5/5.2 (sources and forms of energy)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: engineers, physicists, chemists, electricians
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate different forms of energy in
action. Include energy examples each student can experience
individually. Illustrate the transfer of energy from one form to
another. Allow students to set up and operate projects that
produce and use various forms of energy, such as heat, light,
gravitational, chemical, and electrical. Discuss and illustrate
the practical uses of each of these forms. Describe the sources
and uses of fossil fuels.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: cards, pictures of energy sources, lamps,
candles, machines, fans
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collection of needed materials,
preparation for student participation
ACTIVITY #: 45 GRADES: K,1,2,3,4,5
TITLE: Animal Care and Handling
VOCABULARY: grooming, nutrition, vaccination, veterinarian,
domestic, tame, wild, disease
OBJECTIVES: discover proper care and management of domestic
and wild animals
SUBJECTS: life science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min
GRADE/GOALS: 1/5.1 (needs of organisms)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: veterinarians, pet shop workers, zoologists,
hobbyists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Bring live pets and demonstrate proper
care including grooming, nutrition, preventative health care, and
habitat. Demonstrate instruments used in animal grooming, health
care, and disease treatment. Illustrate the differences between
domestic and wild animals, and the different kinds of care
required.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: stethoscope, live animals, preserved
specimens, grooming aids, food samples
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare animals for transport and
introduction in a school classroom, prepare students for animals
in the classroom
ACTIVITY #: 46 GRADES: 2,3,4,5
TITLE: Measuring Heat Energy
VOCABULARY: thermometer, temperature
OBJECTIVES: learn how heat energy is measured
SUBJECTS: physical science
TIME REQUIRED: 45-60 min
GRADE/GOALS:
2/5.4 (weather & related cycles)
4/5.5 (heat energy transfer)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: meteorologists, chemists, physicists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Record daily temperatures in different
locations. Conduct experiments demonstrating heat transfer and
dispersion. Demonstrate different ways to measure heat energy.
Assist students in assembling heat measuring devices.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: various thermometers (Celsius,
Fahrenheit), materials to make thermometers
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collection of thermometers and materials
for students to make their own
ACTIVITY #: 47 GRADES: K,1,2,3,4,5
TITLE: Hazardous Materials
VOCABULARY: chemical, hazardous, poison, flammable, explosive,
corrosive, water table
OBJECTIVES: learn about hazardous household materials and how
they are a danger to us and our environment
SUBJECTS: conservation, science and human endeavors, earth
science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min
GRADE/GOALS:
K-5/5.4 (wise use of natural resources)
1/5.3 (safety)
2/5.3 (matter)
5/5.4 (wise use of natural resources)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: municipal government, conservationists, chemists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate the products used in the home
that contain hazardous chemicals. Classify hazardous materials
that appear in the home. Role play the effects of pollution on
the environment. Demonstrate the proper disposal of household
hazardous wastes.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: common household cleaners, paints, and
pesticides
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect household materials, arrange
field trip to water plant or wastewater treatment plant
ACTIVITY #: 48 GRADES: K,1,2,4
TITLE: Animals, Animals, Animals
VOCABULARY: same, different, compare, behavior, vertebrate,
invertebrate, habitat, niche, adaptation, classification,
environment, hibernate, migrate
OBJECTIVES: learn similarities and differences among animals,
and the variety of ways animals adapt to their environment
SUBJECTS: life science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
1/5.1 (needs of organisms)
2/5.1 (life cycles)
2/5.2 (environmental adaptations)
3/5.1 (interdependence of plants & animals)
4/5.1 (animal groupings)
4/5.2 (animal behavior)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: farmers, zoologists, veterinarians, museum personnel,
wildlife biologists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate with live and preserved
specimens the great variety of animal life, including fish,
reptile, amphibian, arthropod, bird, and mammal. Include some
illustration of the variety of forms possible even within one
group of animal, eg, birds. Illustrate habitats for different
animals and discuss animal adaptation to different environments,
and resulting evolutionary changes. Describe different
adaptations to meet the same basic need, eg., locomotion or
eating. Could include a nature walk around the school grounds or
a field trip to a museum or a farm.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: live,preserved animal
specimens,food,visual aids
PREPARATION REQUIRED: arrange to bring live animals to school,
scout vicinity of school for a nature walk, plan field trip
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Slide/Tape Presentation: N.C. Wildlife Federation
Predators - They're Part of the Picture 1024
Washington St.; Raleigh 27605
ph: 833-1923
Teacher Guide (K-8): Wake Soil & Water
Cons. Dist.
Let's Hear It For Herps 4001D Carya Dr.
Teacher's Guide (K-12): Wolf Pac Raleigh,
N.C. 27610
Birds! Birds! Birds! ph: 250-1050
Amazing Mammals: Pt I & II Contact:
Shelia Jones
ACTIVITY #: 49 GRADES: 2,3,4,5
TITLE: Magnetism
VOCABULARY: magnet, poles, attract, repel, generator, solar
cell, battery, static, compass, iron, electromagnet
OBJECTIVES: gain knowledge of the nature and uses of magnetism
SUBJECTS: physical science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min
GRADE/GOALS:
1/5.2 (material objects)
2/5.3 (matter)
3/5.4 (energy systems)
4/5.4 (interaction of matter & energy)
5/5.2 (sources & forms of energy)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: engineers, physicists, electricians
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate different kinds of magnets
and common features of all magnets. Explore natural magnets,
motors, generators, and other sources of magnetic force. Conduct
experiments demonstrating the nature and uses of magnetism, and
the ability of electrical energy to create a magnet. Examine a
computer disk and a cassette tape as magnetic information storage
devices.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: magnets, batteries, solar cell, generator,
wire, electromagnet, electric engine, computer disk, cassette
tape, motor, compass, iron filings
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare experiments for student
participation
ACTIVITY #: 50 GRADES: K,2,5
TITLE: Weather and You
VOCABULARY: forecasts, storms, precaution
OBJECTIVES: learn about weather conditions and appropriate
behaviors
SUBJECTS: earth science
TIME REQUIRED: 30 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
2/5.4 (weather & related cycles)
5/5.6 (weather & climate)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: meteorologists, climatologists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate different types of weather.
Listen to and interpret weather forecasts, and determine how to
react to them (what to wear, seasonal changes, safety precautions
for approaching storms).
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: slides, pictures, clothing for various
conditions
PREPARATION REQUIRED: assemble clothing examples
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Teacher Guide (K-8): Wake Soil & Water
Cons. Dist.
Wild About Weather 4001D Carya Dr.
Raleigh, N.C. 27610
ph: 250-1050 Contact: Shelia Jones
ACTIVITY #: 51 GRADES: 2,5
TITLE: Fossil Finds
VOCABULARY: dinosaur, fossil, evolution, adaptation,
extinction, species, natural selection, layer, geology
OBJECTIVES: discover the history of life on earth, including
its evolution, diversity, and the methods used to study it
SUBJECTS: earth science, life science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min
GRADE/GOALS:
2/5.5 (prehistoric life)
5/5.5 (earth over time)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: geologists, paleontologists, museum scientists,
biologists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate how fossils are formed. Show
real fossils. Role play a dinosaur time line or construct models
of evolutionary change. Define extinction and illustrate forces
that could have caused dinosaurs to become extinct. Describe how
animals and plants adapt to changing environments, and how these
adaptations can lead to new forms of living things.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: models, fossils, time lines, illustrations
PREPARATION REQUIRED: confer with teacher prior to visit to
assess class focus
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Teacher Guide (K-8): Wake Soil & Water
Cons. Dist.
Digging Into Dinosaurs 4001D Carya Dr.
Raleigh, N.C. 27610
250-1050 Contact: Shelia Jones
ACTIVITY #: 52 GRADES: 2,3,4
TITLE: Planets and Stars
VOCABULARY: solar system, constellations, planets, suns,
orbits, meteor, comet, meteorite, asteroid, gravity, orbit,
friction, astronomy, galaxy
OBJECTIVES: discover our solar system and all its members, and
learn about the stars and galaxies that make up the universe
SUBJECTS: earth science, space science, physical science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min
GRADE/GOALS: 4/5.3 (solar systems)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: astronomers, physicists, museum scientists, engineers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate variety of planets and other
bodies in our solar system, stars in our galaxy, and galaxies in
the universe! Illustrate planetary discoveries made by Voyagers I
and II spacecraft. Discuss Magellan mission to Venus underway,
and Galileo spacecraft mission to Jupiter. Discuss space
telescope mission. Describe what meteors are, why they are
visible, and why they are more numerous at certain times of the
year
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: solar system and spacecraft models, star
charts, photographs, distance models, meteorites, telescope
PREPARATION REQUIRED: plan interesting demonstrations of sizes
and distances involved in astronomy, collect meteorites and
visual aids, prepare models
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Teacher Guide (K-8): Wake Soil & Water
Cons. Dist.
Astronomy Adventures 4001D Carya Dr.
Raleigh, N.C. 27610
ph: 250-1050 Contact: Shelia Jones
ACTIVITY #: 53 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Fields of Science
VOCABULARY: connections, relationships, interdisciplinary,
multidisciplinary, stereotype, research, engineering, invention,
discovery, application, development, technician
OBJECTIVES: discover the variety of scientific and engineering
disciplines, learn the differences between them, the connections
among them, and the career opportunities
SUBJECTS: science and human endeavors
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min
GRADE/GOALS:
4-5/goals 1 (nature of science)
4-5/goals 4 (attitudes toward science)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: scientists, engineers, health professionals,
technicians, mathematicians
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Describe the variety of scientific and
engineering fields and what they do. Illustrate the differences
between science and engineering and the disciplines of each.
Demonstrate the connections between science and engineering and
among the fields of science and engineering. Describe the variety
of careers that involve scientific or engineering backgrounds or
experience, including technician positions.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: diagrams, slides, charts
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare a lively presentation
ACTIVITY #: 54 GRADES: 3,4,5
TITLE: Nutrition
VOCABULARY: carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamin, mineral,
calories, dietary
OBJECTIVES: Demonstrate the four basic food groups, discover
the recommended dietary allowance, and explore labels on packaged
foods to calculate dietary budgets
SUBJECTS: life science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min
GRADE/GOALS: 3/5.6 (nutrition)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: food scientist, nutritionists, health professionals
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Bring examples of the four basic food
groups. Examine dietary information on packaged foods. Calculate
dietary budgets for calories, vitamins, cholesterol, protein,
fat, carbohydrate, and salt. Discuss the effects of food
preparation methods on nutritional content of foods.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: foodstuffs, charts with recommended
dietary allowances, calculators
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect foods and charts
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Filmstrip/Cassette/Teacher's Guide: American
Cancer Soc.
Early Start to Good Health (K-3) Raleigh -
834-1636
Health Network (4-6) Durham - 490-1875
Posters & Brochures Chapel Hill - 490-5787
Teacher's Guides: Wake Soil & Water Cons.
Dist.
Food Energy & You (4-8) 4001D Carya
Drive
World Food Day (K-12) Raleigh, N.C. 27610
ph: 250-1050 Contact: Shelia Jones
ACTIVITY #: 55 GRADES: 2,4
TITLE: Monitoring the Weather
VOCABULARY: meteorology, thermometer, barometer, anemometer,
hygrometer, windvane, raingauge
OBJECTIVES: learn what we measure when we monitor the weather,
and examine the instruments used by weather forecasters
SUBJECTS: earth science
TIME REQUIRED: 45-60 min., repeat visit(s) appropriate
GRADE/GOALS:
2/5.4 (weather & related cycles)
5/5.6 (weather & climate)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: meteorologists, climatologists, engineers, mechanics
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Explore temperature, air pressure, and
water in the air. Measure each of these factors. Construct
home-made instruments to measure changes in these features of the
weather. Set up a weather station in the classroom. Help students
start a daily classroom record of the local weather. Practice
charting and graphing skills while presenting recorded weather
measurements.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: weather instruments, materials for making
homemade weather instruments, graph paper
PREPARATION REQUIRED: practice building home-made instruments
ACTIVITY #: 56 GRADES: 1,2,3,4,5
TITLE: Ecological Balance
VOCABULARY: interdependent, environment, food chain,
conservation, pollution, population, niche
OBJECTIVES: discover the diversity and interdependence of
living things and their environment
SUBJECTS: life science, conservation
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
1/5.1 (needs of organisms)
2/5.2 (environmental adaptations)
3/5.1 (interdependence of plants & animals)
4/5.2 (animal behavior)
5/5.1 (plant communities)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: wildlife biologists, ecologists, zoologists,
botanists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Examine diversity of life found in
different plant/animal communities, eg. aquarium, pond, rotting
log, square of leaf litter and soil dug up. Discover the
relationships among the plants and animals in a forest or a
farmer's field. Role play food chain games. Discuss population
growth in relation to the carrying capacity of the environment.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: magnifying glasses, pictures of food
chains, bucket and trowel, fish nets
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare role-playing, scout appropriate
forest or farm walks, ponds etc.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Slide/Tape Presentation: N.C. Wildlife Fed.
Forests Are More Than Trees 1024
Washington St.
35 mm film: Raleigh, N.C. 27605
So Little Time 833-1923
Diving Into Oceans 4001D Carya Drive
Endangered Species Raleigh, N.C. 27610
Rain Forest: Tropical Treasures ph:
250-1050 Contact: Shelia Jones
Trees are Terrific
Wading into Wetlands
Manure, Meadow & Milkshakes
Teacher's Guide (K-12): Wolf Pac
Sharing Nature with Children
Sharing the Joy of Nature
Keepers of the Earth
Coloring Books: N.C. Colorful WILD Places
Habitat is Where It's At
Music Cassette: Audubon Adventure
Video Tapes: The Lorax
Rain Forest Rap
ACTIVITY #: 57 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Radio and Television Technology
VOCABULARY: electrical energy, frequency, broadcast, signal,
station, wavelength, vacuum tube, transistor, switch
OBJECTIVES: Discover how radio and TV signals are produced,
how they reach your home, and how your radio or TV produces
sounds or pictures from these signals
SUBJECTS: physical science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS: 3/5.4 (energy systems)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: engineers, electricians, TV repair person
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Bring in televisions and radios that can
be disassembled and reassembled, and that work. Use role playing,
models, and illustrations to describe how radio signals are
produced, transmitted, received, and translated into sound. Could
include amateur radio demonstration.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: radios, televisions, wave generator,
models
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect radios and televisions and wave
generator, prepare models
ACTIVITY #: 58 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Safer Alternatives to Toxics
VOCABULARY: alternative, toxic, aerosol, nontoxic, danger,
poison, warning, caution, labels, symbols
OBJECTIVES: discover how to interpret labels according to
degree of toxicity; learn about and make safer alternative
products
SUBJECTS: science and human endeavors, conservation, life
science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS: K-5/3.1 (safety)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: municipal government, conservationist, engineer
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Have groups of students divide products
into categories based on how dangerous they think they are.
Discuss official meanings of the terms "danger",
"poison", "warning", " and
"caution". Regroup the products. Describe safer
alternatives for the toxic products, and make alternatives, eg.,
furniture polish.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: household products, furniture polish,
vegetable oil, lemon juice, white vinegar, soft cloth
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials, prepare discussion
ACTIVITY #: 59 GRADES: 3,4
TITLE: Satellites in Orbit
VOCABULARY: moon phases, rotation, revolution, high and low
tides, orbit, gravity, friction, period
OBJECTIVES: learn how satellites stay in orbit, and about
earth as a satellite of the sun and the moon as a satellite of
earth
SUBJECTS: earth science, space science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS: 3/5.2 (earth cycles)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: astronomers, meteorologists, geologists, geographers,
museum personnel
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate how a satellite stays in
orbit around another object in space. Demonstrate the movement of
the earth around the sun, and of the moon around the earth using
solar system and earth-moon models. Illustrate how these
movements change the position and appearance of the sun and the
moon from the surface of the earth. Describe how these movements
affect our climate and oceanic tides. Students could role-play
some of these interactions.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: solar system models, earth-moon system
models, flashlight, globe
PREPARATION REQUIRED: develop use of sun-earth-moon model to
demonstrate phases of the moon, night/dark cycles, seasonal
weather changes, and tides
ACTIVITY #: 60 GRADES: 2,3,4
TITLE: Rockets
VOCABULARY: thrust, gravity, payload, force, momentum,
velocity, mass, acceleration
OBJECTIVES: learn how rockets work and what they are used for
SUBJECTS: earth science, physical science, space science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min., repeat visits appropriate
GRADE/GOALS:
GROUP SIZE: 25-50
SOURCES: aerospace engineers, physicists, engineers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate how rockets work,
highlighting the basic natural laws involved. Build and fire a
model rocket. Discuss the uses rockets have today and may have
tomorrow. Illustrate rockets used in spaceflight. Highlight
safety precautions required when handling explosive materials.
Have students work in teams to ensure the safe preparation,
launch, and recovery of model rockets.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: model rocket set, slides, pictures
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare model rocket, arrange
appropriate time and place to fire rocket
ACTIVITY #: 61 GRADES: 1,2,3
TITLE: Electrical Energy Experiments
VOCABULARY: electrons, magnets, repel, attract, circuit,
positive, negative
OBJECTIVES: understand electricity, electromagnetism, static
electricity, electrical circuits, and electrical safety
SUBJECTS: physical science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS: 3/5.4 (energy systems)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: electricians, electrical engineers, physicists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate static electricity, simple
circuits, and electromagnets. Conduct experiments illustrating
the principles of electricity and magnetism.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: wire, batteries, materials for
experiments, magnets
PREPARATION REQUIRED: plan experiments to be executed with the
assistance of students
ACTIVITY #: 62 GRADES: 2,3,4
TITLE: Solid to Liquid to Gas
VOCABULARY: solid, liquid, gas, boiling, condensation, volume,
graduated cup,temperature
OBJECTIVES: know the basic properties of matter, and discover
how to change from one state to the other two
SUBJECTS: physical science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
2/5.3 (matter)
4/5.4 (interaction of matter & energy)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: meteorologists, chemists, physicists, engineers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Compare and contrast solids, liquids,
and gases. Measure their various properties: length, weight,
size, buoyancy, volume, pressure, color, density, conductivity,
temperature, etc. Conduct experiments that demonstrate how a
substance changes from one state to another and back again.
Examine the influence of changes of state on temperature and vice
versa.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: hot plate or other heat source, lab
glassware, ice-cooler, graduated cylinders, measuring
instruments, liquid nitrogen
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare experiments for student
participation
ACTIVITY #: 64 GRADES: 1,2,3,4,5
TITLE: All Kinds of Plants
VOCABULARY: same, different, leaves, flowers, stems, shape,
roots, trunk, bark, compare
OBJECTIVES: discover the wide variety of plant life
SUBJECTS: life science
TIME REQUIRED: 20-40 min., could include a field trip
GRADE/GOALS:
1/5.1 (needs of organisms)
2/5.1 (life cycles)
5/5.1 (plant communities)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: botanists, landscapers, nurseries, foresters,
botanical gardens
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate with live and preserved
specimens the variety of plant life. Describe the growth and care
of plants. Discuss the different life cycles of plants. Use dried
plant materials in art projects. Let students identify odors from
different leaves, flowers, and fruits. Include a nature walk
around the school grounds. Could include a field trip to a
greenhouse, a botanical garden, or a nursery.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: live and preserved plant specimens
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect specimens, scout vicinity of
school for plant diversity, arrange field trip
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Teacher's Guide: Chatham County Ext.:542-8202
River's Edge Durham County Ext.:
560-0533
Wake County Ext: 250-1100
ACTIVITY #: 65 GRADES: K,1,2
TITLE: Food Sensations
VOCABULARY: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, hard, thick, sticky,
chewy, texture, taste
OBJECTIVES: discover the different kinds of tastes of food
SUBJECTS: life science, science and human endeavors
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS: K/5.2 (use of senses)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: food scientists, nutritionists, cooks
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Taste test different foods, rank on
different categories of taste. Have students identify basic
flavors in foods. Determine the effect of color on taste
sensations of food and drink.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: food products, cotton swabs, toothpicks,
cups, blindfolds, paper plates, paper towels
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare food for tests
ACTIVITY #: 66 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Science Has Improved the Quality of Life
VOCABULARY: electronics, transportation, agriculture, health,
communications
OBJECTIVES: illustrate ways scientific discoveries have
improved peoples' lives
SUBJECTS: science and human endeavors
TIME REQUIRED: 30-40 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
K-5/Goal 1 (nature of science)
K-5/Goal 4 (attitudes toward science)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: all science and engineering
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Describe scientific discoveries that
have improved peoples' lives. Bring in objects that were
discovered or developed as a direct or indirect result of
scientific research and exploration. Discuss discoveries that are
just now being translated into new products. Speculate on
emerging discoveries and what advances or products they may lead
to.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: inventions and products resulting from
research and exploration
PREPARATION REQUIRED: compile list of inventions and
explanation of how they were discovered
ACTIVITY #: 67 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Microscopic Life
VOCABULARY: light microscope, slide, protozoa, algae, rotifer,
bacteria, stage, eyepiece, objective, focus, magnification
OBJECTIVES: learn use of the microscope, preparation of
slides, discover microscopic life
SUBJECTS: life science
TIME REQUIRED: 40-60 min., repeat visit(s) appropriate
GRADE/GOALS: 5/5.1 (plant communities)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: health professionals, biologists, marine biologists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate the microscope in action.
Prepare several jars with pond and stream water, soil, shredded
paper, and eggs to serve as a source of microscopic life to
explore under the microscope. Close some jars tightly to exclude
oxygen and favor anaerobic life forms. Follow succession of
microscopic organisms that flourish in the different cultures.
Let students examine leaves, fruits, flowers, bread mold, and
yeast dissolved in water to identify helpful and harmful
microorganisms.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: microscopes, slides, Protoslo solution,
water samples, jars, petri dishes
PREPARATION REQUIRED: plan to allow several days or a couple
weeks for pond water to incubate and microscopic life to
proliferate in the jars
ACTIVITY #: 68 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Natural History of North Carolina
VOCABULARY: coastal plain, Piedmont, mountains, soils,
vegetation, water, lakes, rivers, sounds, islands, beaches,
wetlands
OBJECTIVES: increase awareness of the natural history of North
Carolina
SUBJECTS: life science, conservation
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
3/5.3 (rocks and soil)
4/4.2 (natural resource preservation)
5/5.3 (natural resource preservation)
5/5.4 (wise use of natural resources)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: zoologists, biologists, museum personnel,
veterinarians, farmers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Discuss soil formation, vegetation
history, coastal environments and issues, mountain ecology and
geology, agriculture, and conservation of natural resources in
North Carolina.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: rock and mineral samples, agricultural
products, charts and maps, visual aids
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials, prepare a lively
discussion of issues important to the students related to natural
history and resource conservation
ACTIVITY #: 69 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Insects and Other Arthropods
VOCABULARY: arthropod, insect, exoskeleton, entomology,
protective coloring, metamorphosis, mimicry
OBJECTIVES: discover the world of insects and other arthropods
SUBJECTS: life science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
4/5.1 (animal groupings)
4/5.2 (animal behavior)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: entomologists, pest control professionals,
zoologists, biologists, plant pathologists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate the characteristics of
arthropods with living and preserved specimens. Demonstrate the
variety of forms, behaviors, and adaptations of different
insects, eg., mimicry. Introduce students to insect collecting.
Show how insects use protective coloring. Discuss life cycles and
leave pupae for students to observe. Nature hike possible around
school.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: live and preserved arthropods, insect
collections and collecting equipment
PREPARATION REQUIRED: acquire live and preserved specimens
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Teacher's Guides: Wake Soil & Water Cons.
Dist.
Incredible Insects 4001D Carya Dr.
Incredible Insects Discovery Pak
Raleigh, N.C. 27610
Coloring Book: 250-1050
Coloring Fun With Insects Contact:
Sheliah Jones
ACTIVITY #: 70 GRADES: 4
TITLE: Marine Life
VOCABULARY: marine, phytoplankton, zooplankton, vertebrate,
invertebrate, cetacean, migration
OBJECTIVES: learn about forms and diversity of marine life
SUBJECTS: life science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
4/5.1 (animal groupings)
4/5.2 (animal behavior)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: marine biologists, zoologists, Sea Grant personnel,
museum personnel, environmentalists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate different forms of life found
in the ocean and their adaptations to these unique habitats.
Follow a marine food chain. Marine mammal anatomy and behavior
may be included with audio or videotapes of dolphins and whales.
A discussion of current topics such as whaling and threat of
extinction to whales, and effects on dolphins caused by open
ocean fishing could be included.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: slides, photographs, tape players (audio
and video tapes), whale and dolphin models and skeletons/bones
PREPARATION REQUIRED: practice integrating video and audio
tapes into a lively classroom presentation
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Coloring Book: Wake Soil & Water Cons. Dist
Seashore Life 4001D Carya Dr.
Raleigh, N.C. 27610
250-1050
ACTIVITY #: 71 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Genetics and Inheritance
VOCABULARY: genes, heredity, recessive, dominant, traits,
chromosomes, variability
OBJECTIVES: discover patterns of genetic variability and
inheritance of different human characteristics
SUBJECTS: life science, health
TIME REQUIRED: 45-60 min., repeat visit(s) appropriate
GRADE/GOALS: 5/5.1 (plant communities)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: geneticists, biologists, health professionals
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Record genetic differences among family
lineages and classmates (eg., eye and hair color, height, ear
lobes, and tongue curling). Demonstrate variability among the
general population compared to within a family. Discuss genes,
genetic inheritance, genetic variability, and dominant and
recessive genetic traits using data collected by the students.
Instruct students in making a family tree for an inherited trait.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: slides, photographs, chart paper, taste
test papers
PREPARATION REQUIRED: research the inheritance of eye and hair
color, height, ear lobes, tongue curling, or other measurable
human traits with a clear genetic basis, and arrange for repeat
visit(s)
ACTIVITY #: 72 GRADES: 2,4
TITLE: From Atoms on Up
VOCABULARY: molecule, proton, electron, neutron, element,
compound, atom
OBJECTIVES: learn the basic atomic and molecular structure of
matter
SUBJECTS: physical science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS: 3/5.4 (energy systems)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: physicists, chemists, nuclear scientists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Assemble models of an atom. Show how
parts of an atom interact with other atoms. Describe the basis of
electrical and chemical interactions among atoms and molecules.
Using students as parts of the atom, build, and demonstrate the
basic structure of the atom.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: atom model kits
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare atom models for use by each
student or small group
ACTIVITY #: 73 GRADES: 4
TITLE: The BIG BANG
VOCABULARY: universe, billion, gravity, speed of light
OBJECTIVES: learn some theories of the origin of the universe
SUBJECTS: space and physical sciences
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min.
GRADE/GOALS: 5/5.5 (earth over time)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: astronomers, planetarium personnel, physicists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Describe theories of the origin of the
universe. Using models, discuss the Big Bang theory, the age of
the universe, the expansion of the universe, and the size of the
universe.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: slides, photographs, charts, models
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare models and charts for
demonstrations
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Teacher's Guide (K-8): Wake Soil & Water
Cons. Dist.
Astronomy Adventures 4001D Carya Dr.
Raleigh, N.C. 27610
250-1050
Contact: Sheliah Jones
ACTIVITY #: 74 GRADES: 5
TITLE: Natural Resource Conservation
VOCABULARY: watershed, conservation, soil profile, water
cycle, atmosphere, pollution, biodegradable, recycle, renewable,
ecology
OBJECTIVES: learn about the values of our natural resources
and the effects of pollution on them
SUBJECTS: conservation, life science, earth science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min., field trip appropriate
GRADE/GOALS:
5/5.3 (natural resource preservation)
5/5.4 (wise use of natural resources)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: wildlife biologists, ecologists, conservationists,
environmentalists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate the array of natural
resources in North Carolina, the USA, and the world. Find natural
resources represented in the vicinity of the school building
(soil, air, forests, water). Describe element cycles (eg. water)
in the biosphere. View exhibits of wildlife and forest resources
in the Piedmont, coastal plains, and mountains of North Carolina.
Discuss how people can damage natural resources with pollution
and maintain natural resources by recycling and conservation.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: slides, photographs, shovel, bucket,
ruler, maps
PREPARATION REQUIRED: scout school grounds for examples of
nearby natural resources, arrange a field trip or museum visit
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Slide/Tape Presentation: N.C. Wildlife Fed.
Earth Day, Every Day 1024 Washington St.
35 mm Film: Raleigh, N.C. 27605
So Little Time 833-1923
Endangered Species:Wild & Rare 4001D
Carya Dr.
Rain Forests:Tropical Treasures Raleigh,
N.C. 27610
Trees Are Terrific ph: 250-1050
Wading Into Wetlands Contact: Shelia Jones
Manure, Meadows & Milkshakes
Teaching Conservation to Grades 1-5
Teacher's Guide (4-8):
Arbor Day - A Celebration of Stewardship
Streamwalking for Kids
Teacher Books:
Sharing Nature with Children
Sharing the Joy of Nature
Keepers of the Earth
Coloring Books:
N.C. Colorful WILD Places
Habitat is Where It's At
Wetlands
Music Cassettes:
Romp in the Swamp
Recycling Mania
Video Tapes:
The Lorax
Rain Forest Rap
The Man Who Planted Trees
Teacher's Guide: U.S. Dept. of Ag. - SCS
Soil Cons. Topics Ed. Kit: 4405 Bland
Rd.
III. Ecological Resources Raleigh, N.C.
27605
790-2887
Teacher's Guide: Chatham Ag. Ext.:542-8202
River's Edge (5th Grade) Durham Ag.
Ext.:560-0533
Wake Ag. Ext.: 250-1100
ACTIVITY #: 75 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Science and Health
VOCABULARY: nutrition, prevention, cure, nutrients, toxins
OBJECTIVES: know that science contributes to health
SUBJECTS: science and human endeavors
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
3/5.6 (nutrition)
4/5.7 (chemical substances & the body)
5/5.7 (physical fitness)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: nutritionists, hospital personnel, agricultural
extension agents, health professionals
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Describe the contributions science has
made which improve our health (eg. antibiotics, role of nutrition
in disease prevention, dangers of smoking, pre-natal care,
prevention versus cure). Illustrate how to take advantage of what
science can tell us about living healthier lives. Discuss health
advances likely in the future.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: charts, slides, visual aids
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect visual aids
ACTIVITY #: 76 GRADES: 5
TITLE: Plant Classification
VOCABULARY: mosses, ferns, angiosperms, gymnosperms
OBJECTIVES: know major kinds of plants
SUBJECTS: life science
TIME REQUIRED: 40-60 min., could include nature walks
GRADE/GOALS: 5/5.1 (plant communities)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: botanists, horticulturists, nursery and landscape
personnel
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Classify plants according to major
structural characteristics. Compare plants from different groups.
Grow your own algae for identification. Illustrate the importance
of plant classification in understanding the evolution of plants,
in conserving endangered species and habitats, and even in
criminal investigations. Demonstrate techniques to preserve
herbarium specimens.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: plant specimens, hand lenses, plant keys,
plant press, hand lenses
PREPARATION REQUIRED: scout areas near school for plant
diversity
ACTIVITY #: 77 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Food Preservation and Storage
VOCABULARY: mold, preservative, fermentation, spoil
OBJECTIVES: discover organisms that cause food to spoil, and
learn about ways the process of spoiling can be slowed or
prevented
SUBJECTS: life science, science and human endeavors
TIME REQUIRED: 40-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
3/5.6 (nutrition)
5/5.1 (plant communities)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: food scientists, nutritionists, agricultural
extension agents
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Conduct experiments to determine where
mold bacteria and fungi are found, what food sources and
environments they need to grow, and how to prevent their growth.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: bread, petri dishes, paper towels, foods,
water sprayer
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials, prepare experiments
ACTIVITY #: 78 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Potential and Kinetic Energy
VOCABULARY: potential energy, kinetic energy, stationary,
gravity
OBJECTIVES: know the difference between potential and kinetic
energy
SUBJECTS: physical science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS: 5/5.2 (sources & forms of energy)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: physicists, engineers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate potential and kinetic
energy. Utilize students in tests of potential and kinetic
energy. Demonstrate the transfer of potential energy to kinetic
energy. Measure potential energy and measure the kinetic energy
it leads to.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: ball, club, instruments to measure mass
and velocity
PREPARATION REQUIRED: plan experiments and measurements for
student participation
ACTIVITY #: 79 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Future Discoveries and Inventions
VOCABULARY: discover, invent, experiment, research, curiosity,
OBJECTIVES: consider the discoveries that may be made by the
students of today who will be the scientists and engineers of
tomorrow
SUBJECTS: science and human endeavors
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS: 3-5/Goal 1 (nature of science)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: scientists, engineers, health professionals
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Explore the major areas within which
important scientific or engineering advances may be made early in
the next century. Discuss how these advances will probably come
about, ie., what research and development work will be like for
those who will make these new discoveries and inventions.
Describe the kind of preparation the scientists and engineers of
tomorrow will need today to be fully prepared to make the
discoveries and inventions of the 21st Century.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: slides, photographs, drawings
PREPARATION REQUIRED: brainstorming the future of science and
technology
ACTIVITY #: 80 GRADES: 5
TITLE: Powers of Ten
VOCABULARY: base ten, scientific notation
OBJECTIVES: learn the basics and uses of scientific notation
SUBJECTS: math
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min.
GRADE/GOALS: 5/mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: mathematician, engineer, statistician
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Examine the magnitude of change
indicated by power of ten differences in distance, weight, and
speed. Discover how scientific notation can indicate very large
and very small numbers quickly and easily.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: visual aids to indicate size and weight
differences described by powers of ten
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials, prepare lively
activities
ACTIVITY #: 81 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Number Bases
VOCABULARY: binary code, computer
OBJECTIVES: discover counting in number bases other than base
ten, and explore possible uses of these other number bases
SUBJECTS: math
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min.
GRADE/GOALS: 5/ mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: mathematician, engineer, statistician
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Develop "hands-on" tools for
teaching counting with number bases other than ten. Illustrate
number bases used in various applications, e.g.., binary in
computers. Quantify various characteristics of the class (e.g..,
number of students, student height and weight) using base two and
base eight number systems.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: instruments to aid counting in different
number bases
PREPARATION REQUIRED: develop and build simple tool to
illustrate counting in different number bases
ACTIVITY #: 82 GRADES: 1,2,3,4,5
TITLE: Soil and the Environment
VOCABULARY: pesticides, fertilizers, landfill, organic
chemicals, erosion, soil conservation
OBJECTIVES: discover the roles of soil as a natural resource
to be wisely used, protected, and conserved, and explore how soil
can be mismanaged, abused, and lost
SUBJECTS: earth science, conservation
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
3/5.3 (rocks and soil)
5/5.5 (earth over time)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: soil scientist, soil conservation service/district,
agricultural extension agent, farmer, agronomist
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate how we use soils every day to
survive. Discuss soil erosion, possibly include some role playing
activities to demonstrate how soils are lost and how they can be
conserved. Demonstrate how surface applications of pesticides and
fertilizers can end up in our drinking water. Use a soil model to
illustrate water movement through the soil into the groundwater
table. Discuss landfills and the role of recycling in limiting
landfill requirements.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: 4-H Activity Book Soil and Water in
North Carolina, tray of soil, tray of sod, water and
container, pan
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect supplies, prepare materials
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS & THEIR SOURCES:
Slide/Tape Presentations: N.C. Wildlife Fed.
Soil - We Can't Live Without It 1024 Washington
St.
Raleigh, N.C. 27605
ph: 833-1923
Teacher's Guide (K-2): Wake Soil & Water
Cons. Dist.
Land for Life 4001D Carya Dr.
Teacher's Guide (K-8): Raleigh, N.C. 27610
Land Use Mgmt. Activities ph: 250-1050
for the Classroom Contact: Shelia Jones
Coloring Book:
Sammy Soil Saver
Music Cassettes:
Hug the Earth
Earthy Tunes
Dirt Made My Lunch
Slide/Tape Presentations:
Muddy Water: Public Enemy #1
The Water Erosion Process
Video Tapes:
Soil & Water Conservation:
I. Our Agricultural Resource Base
III. Cleaner Water Through Soil Conservation
New Dust Bowl Blues
The Rotten Truth About Garbage
The Man Who Planted Trees
Teacher's Guide: U.S. Dept. of Ag. - SCS
Soil Cons. Topics Ed. Kit: 4405 Bland
Rd.
IV. Soil & Water Cons. Raleigh, N.C.
27609
790-2887
Teacher's Guide: Chatham Ag. Ext.:542-8202
River's Edge Durham Ag. Ext.:560-0533
Wake Ag. Ext.: 250-1100
ACTIVITY #: 83 GRADES: 3,4,5
TITLE: Plant Disease
VOCABULARY: disease, host, pathogen, environment, control,
parasite
OBJECTIVES: discover the nature and causes of plant disease,
and learn the importance of plants in food production
SUBJECTS: life science
TIME REQUIRED: 45-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
3/5.1 (interdependence of plants & animals)
5/5.1 (plant communities)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: plant pathologists, botanists, agronomists,
agricultural extension agents
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Examine disease plant specimens for
symptoms of disease. Develop concept of plant disease by relation
to human health and disease. Design and carry out experiment to
observe the development of a plant disease.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: disease specimens (fresh and preserved),
color photos, microscope, dissecting microscope, hand lens,
seeds, potting materials, inoculum of pathogen, plastic bags
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare inoculum several days/weeks
before visit
ACTIVITY #: 84 GRADES: 3,4,5
TITLE: Pregnancy and Birth
VOCABULARY: baby, birth, placenta, umbilical cord, Lamaze,
fetus, uterus
OBJECTIVES: discover the environment in which babies grow;
their capabilities before and after birth; the birth process
SUBJECTS: life science, health
TIME REQUIRED: 45-60 min.
GRADE/GOALS:
2/5.1 (life cycles)
4/5.1 (animal groupings)
4/5.2 (animal behavior)
5/health
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: health professionals
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Discuss fetal development, birth,
newborn characteristics. Could also include, at discretion of
teacher and depending on grade level, discussions of conception
and sexuality.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: audio-visual materials, newborn baby,
pregnant mother
PREPARATION REQUIRED: coordinate with teacher, prepare
materials
ACTIVITY #: 85 GRADES: K,1,2,3
TITLE: Data Collection
VOCABULARY: information, predict, graphs (pictorial, concrete,
bar, horizontal, circular)
OBJECTIVES:develop an understanding of data collection,
display, and interpretation
SUBJECTS: math, statistics
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 minutes
GRADE/GOALS: K-5/mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: researchers, accountants, statisticians, marketing
staff
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Involve students in data collection
around the school building and display of collected information
in several different ways. Lead students to an understanding of
how data is used in everyday life, e.g.., in marketing, research,
accounting. Look for patterns in data.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: measuring instruments, graph paper,
rulers, sample graphs, charts, and tables
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials, prepare sample graphs
of tabulated data
ACTIVITY #: 86 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Sampling and Surveys
VOCABULARY: hypothesis, bias, sample, survey, poll, graph,
average, mean
OBJECTIVES: collect, display, and use data from real life
situations
SUBJECTS: math, statistics, graphing
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 minutes
GRADE/GOALS: 5/mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: researchers, statisticians, public relations,
marketing, pollsters, psychologists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate and use methods for
collection of data for a survey in the school building. Using raw
data, demonstrate compilation and display in real world
situations, demonstrate decisions or predictions based on data.
Construct a variety of graphs. Could involve follow-up visit to
summarize results of a survey conducted in the school.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: graph paper, sample surveys, tabulated
data, charts and graphs
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare survey questions for use in
classroom and school building
ACTIVITY #: 87 GRADES: K,1,2,3,4,5
TITLE: Geometric Shapes in 3-D
VOCABULARY: cube, cone, cylinder, prism, pyramid, vertices,
sphere, attributes, faces, edges, congruency, similarity,
octagon, hexagon, polyhedral
OBJECTIVES: develop an understanding of 3-dimensional figures
(K-3), identify, describe, compare, and classify geometric
figures (3-5)
SUBJECTS: math, geometry
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 minutes
GRADE/GOALS: K-5/mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: architects, artists, interior designers, engineers,
chemists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Explore geometric solids in the
environment. Examples include boxes, balls, buildings,
containers, and books. Construct 3-D figures with toothpicks,
clay, straws, blocks, paper, etc. Go on a shape walk around the
class or playground. Lead a scavenger hunt for different shapes
and figures (cubes, spheres, cones). Explore various attributes
of different solids (faces, vertices, and edges). Grow crystals
and identify shapes in the crystals using a microscope or
illustrations. Describe, model, draw, and classify crystals and
other geometric figures.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: geometric solids, toothpicks, clay,
straws, paper, crystal-growing materials, microscope,
illustrations
PREPARATION REQUIRED: prepare class for a scavenger hunt,
practice shapes to build with available materials
ACTIVITY #: 88 GRADES: 3,4,5
TITLE: Time and its Measurement
VOCABULARY: lunar cycle, circadian rhythm,
OBJECTIVES: explore the concept and measurement of time
SUBJECTS: math
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 minutes
GRADE/GOALS:
3/5.2(earth cycles)
3/mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: clockmaker, astronomer, physicist, anthropologist
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Display and discuss the use of
instruments in measuring the passage of time throughout history
and in modern science (atomic clocks, sundials, GPS-global
positioning systems). Discuss the origin of units of time on
earth (lunar cycles, tides, rotation of the earth). Explore how
time is different on other planets, how astronauts use time.
Explore circadian rhythms and the relationship of biological time
to lunar cycles.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: clocks, materials to make simple time
measurement instruments
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials
ACTIVITY #: 89 GRADES: K,1,2,3
TITLE: Estimating
VOCABULARY: about, near, closer to, between, less, more,
reasonable, rounding, almost
OBJECTIVES: develop an understanding of the use and importance
of estimation
SUBJECTS: math, problem solving
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 minutes
GRADE/GOALS: K-5/mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: statisticians, mathematicians, marketing, researchers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Share with students specific examples of
estimation used in different occupations. Apply estimation in
working with quantities, measurement, computation and problem
solving (including number of objects in different size
containers, number of boxes it would take to fill a room, etc.).
Have students use estimation to numerically characterize their
class- and school-mates.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: calculators, boxes filled with beans, etc.
PREPARATION REQUIRED: think up things to estimate around a
school, list ways estimation is used on-the-job
ACTIVITY #: 90 GRADES: 5
TITLE: Solving Numerical Patterns
VOCABULARY: sequence, pattern, rule, geometric, Fibonacci
sequence
OBJECTIVES: demonstrate strategies which can be used to
identify and describe patterns
SUBJECTS: math, numeration, patterns
TIME REQUIRED: 45-60 minutes
GRADE/GOALS: K-5/mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: mathematicians, statisticians
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Search for patterns in number sequences.
Demonstrate strategies in detecting number patterns, make
generalizations, predict results. Lead students in devising their
own number sequences and the rules governing the sequences.
Search for number sequences in the natural world.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: number sequences
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect sample number sequences and
rules
ACTIVITY #: 91 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Protractor and Construction
VOCABULARY: vertices, angle, parallel, bisect, perpendicular,
area, perimeter, scale
OBJECTIVES: relate geometry to the construction of models used
in building design
SUBJECTS: math, geometry, scaling
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 minutes
GRADE/GOALS: 4,5/mathematics
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: architects, mathematicians, cartographers, engineers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate the use and creation of blue
prints and scale models. Use the tools and the rules of geometry
to construct scale models for buildings and other structures.
Demonstrate the potential of computer-aided design, linking this
advanced technology to the basic rules of geometry. Lead students
in an exploration of scaling.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: protractor, compass, graph paper, scale
models, calculators, computers and computer-aided design software
PREPARATION REQUIRED: plan construction of scale models,
collect materials
ACTIVITY #: 92 GRADES: 3,4
TITLE: Human Growth Patterns
VOCABULARY: prediction, genes, nutrition, diet, rate, pattern,
aging
OBJECTIVES: awareness of factors affecting differences in
growth rates and patterns
SUBJECTS: health, growth and development, life science, math
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 minutes
GRADE/GOALS: 2/5.1 (life cycles)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: health professionals, medical researchers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Examine growth charts and graphs.
Predict growth rates and patterns. Illustrate differences in
growth rates and stages of growth, including aging. Demonstrate
nutritional, environmental, life style, drug abuse, and genetic
factors influencing growth and development.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: bones, preserved specimens, teeth, growth
charts, graphs, models, skeletons, family histories
PREPARATION REQUIRED: students could measure and collect
individual and family growth history information for analysis in
class
ACTIVITY #: 93 GRADES: 3,4
TITLE: Safe and Harmful Medicines and Drugs
VOCABULARY: drugs, medicines, pharmacist, organ, disease,
antibiotics, bacteria, fungi, germ, dose
OBJECTIVES: discover trustworthy sources of information about
safe uses and harmful abuses of drugs and medicines
SUBJECTS: health, chemical and substance abuse
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 minutes
GRADE/GOALS: 4/5.7 (chemical substances & the body)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: pharmacists, health professionals
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Examine examples of medicines and
illustrate their uses in disease prevention and cure. Illustrate
damages to organs caused by harmful drugs. Explore people in the
community who can provide reliable information about medicines
and drugs. Demonstrate how drugs work in the body, i.e., antacids
and pH, antibiotics and bacterial growth. Discover natural
sources for useful drugs and medicines.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: medicines and drugs, tobacco, alcohol,
preserved organs, models, antacids, antibiotics, petri dishes,
agar, bacterial cultures
PREPARATION REQUIRED: students could prepare questions about
medicines and drugs to be sent to volunteer health professional
in advance of visit
ACTIVITY #: 94 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Nutritional Foods from North Carolina
VOCABULARY: agriculture, products, nutrition, nutrients,
fiber, cholesterol, oil, poultry, diary
OBJECTIVES: learn about the nutritional values of foods
produced in North Carolina
SUBJECTS: health, nutrition, life science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 minutes
GRADE/GOALS:
3/5.6 (nutrition)
4/social studies
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: nutritionists, food scientists, farmers, health
professionals, agricultural extension agents
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate with examples foods produced
in North Carolina, including peanuts, soybean, sweet potato,
poultry, corn, cattle, swine, cucumbers, seafood industry,
fruits. Demonstrate preparation of North Carolina food products
(e.g.., soybean burgers, peanut butter, cornbread, soybean oil).
Compare nutritional values of different North Carolina food
products.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: foods, charts, state maps, food
preparation equipment, turkey and chicken eggs, seeds, plant
parts
PREPARATION REQUIRED: have students collect food products
produced in the state
ACTIVITY #: 95 GRADES: 3,4,5
TITLE: Smoke and the Human Body
VOCABULARY: smog, second-hand smoke, air pollution, ozone,
sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons, toxic, carbon
monoxide
OBJECTIVES: examine the effects of air pollutants, including
tobacco smoke, on human health
SUBJECTS: health, chemical and substance abuse, life science,
conservation, math
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 minutes
GRADE/GOALS: 4/5.7 (chemical substances & the body)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: health professionals, medical researchers,
environmental scientists
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate with preserved specimens or
videotapes the effects of air pollutants, including tobacco
smoke, on the human lung and heart. Collect particles from
smoke-filled air samples. Establish with basic examples the
concepts of clean air, polluted air, healthy lung and heart and
circulatory systems. Discover changes in heart and lung function
(e.g., rate of heart beats, breathing, lung capacity) at rest and
after exercise. Examine location of lungs by percussing the chest
cavity. Construct a working model of the lungs.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: preserved specimens (healthy and
unhealthy), videotapes and slides, smoke-generating apparatus,
air filters, models of heart and lungs, materials to construct
model of lungs
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials for models, specimens,
prepare student experiments
ACTIVITY #: 96 GRADES: 4,5
TITLE: Human Diseases
VOCABULARY: aerosol, bacteria, virus, contagious, cure,
treatment, infectious, prevention, hygiene
OBJECTIVES: discover causes, transmission, prevention,
treatment, and cure of diseases caused by bacteria and viruses
SUBJECTS: health, chronic diseases, life science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 minutes
GRADE/GOALS:
4/5.7 (chemical substances & the body)
4,5/healthful living
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: health professionals, medical researchers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate infectious diseases and how
they spread. Demonstrate bacterial growth rates. Demonstrate
aerosol dispersion of perfume as a model of airborne disease
transmission. Discover the roles of hygiene in disease
prevention. Place bacteria, viruses, and single-celled organisms
within a classification scheme for all living things. Examine
diseases caused by viruses, including the common cold, the flu,
and AIDS. Explore differences in diseases caused by bacteria and
viruses, including transmission, prevention, and treatment.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: petri dishes, bacterial cultures, perfume,
aerosol spray, charts, models
PREPARATION REQUIRED: students prepare questions to be sent to
volunteer health professional before visit
ACTIVITY #: 97 GRADES: 3,4,5
TITLE: Health Professions
VOCABULARY: laboratory, career, technician, research, clinical
(other job-related terms supplied by volunteer)
OBJECTIVES: discover careers in the health professions
SUBJECTS: life science, health
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 minutes
GRADE/GOALS: K-5/healthful living
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: health professionals, medical researchers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate instruments and equipment
used by various health professionals on-the-job. Discuss
different careers in allied health. Role play patient and various
health professional interactions in a hospital or other health
facility or laboratory. Discuss education and training required
for different careers in the health professions, and future
directions in the health professions, including the roles of
technology and computers in medical research and practice.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: medical instruments, clothing, equipment
PREPARATION REQUIRED: students prepare questions to be sent to
volunteer health professional before visit. Students survey
friends and relatives in health careers.
ACTIVITY #: 98 GRADES: 3,4,5
TITLE: Body Systems (Pick One: Circulatory, Digestive,
Sensory/Nervous, Skeletal/Muscular)
VOCABULARY: circulatory (heart, pump, vessel, artery,
vein, fluid, capillaries, valve, pulse points), digestive
(chemical, mechanical, enzymes, absorption, saliva, mouth,
stomach, large intestine, small intestine, esophagus, liver,
anus), sensory/nervous (eye, ear, inner ear, tongue, nose,
skin, nerve/neuron, brain, spinal chord, reflex), skeletal/muscular
(bone, joint, marrow, vertebrae, bilateral, symmetry,
contraction, tendon, muscle, cartilage, flexibility)
OBJECTIVES: discover form and function of a body system
SUBJECTS: health, body systems, life science
TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 minutes
GRADE/GOALS:
3/5.6 (nutrition - digestive)
4/5.7 (chemical substances & the body -
nervous)
5/5.7 (physical fitness -
circulatory,skeletal/muscular)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: health professionals, medical researchers
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Circulatory - Construct a
homemade stethoscope and listen to changes in heart beat rate
with changes in activity. Dissect a preserved heart. Use a
tourniquet to examine blood flow. Observe blood vessels under the
tongue. Digestive - Model peristalsis using a tube of
toothpaste. Test the effects of saliva on starch in a cracker.
Test for fat, starch, or protein in foods. Sensory/Nervous -
See the sound of a voice using a "soundscope" can (see
citation below). Examine ear canals. Find the blind spot in the
eye. Examine the usefulness of two eyes or ears over just one.
Dissect a preserved eye or brain. Test reflexes and muscle
learning. Challenge your brain by trying to catch a dollar bill
as it flutters to the ground. Skeletal/Muscular - Model
different kinds of joints. Examine the connections between
muscles and bones in preserved animal specimens. Test how much
people shrink during the day. Try living through an afternoon
without the use of thumbs. Build models of muscles in the arm.
Test the muscle teams in the body. Examine muscle cells under a
microscope.
Explore the relationships between the different body systems.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: as needed for various activities (SEE
the book Blood and Guts: A Working Guide to Your Own Insides,
by Linda Allison, A Brown Paper School Book published in 1976 by
Little, Brown and Company, Boston, MA.)
PREPARATION REQUIRED: See Blood and Guts for detailed
suggestions.
ACTIVITY #: 99 GRADES: K
TITLE: Biters and Grinders
VOCABULARY: incisors and canines (biters), bicuspids and
molars (grinders)
OBJECTIVES: learn about functions of different teeth and their
importance
SUBJECTS: health, dental
TIME REQUIRED: 30 minutes
GRADE/GOALS:
K/5.1 (self-awareness)
3/5.6 (nutrition)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: dental health professionals
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate activities that require
teeth: Making Sounds - After pairing children, have them observe
each other and note what their teeth do when they make different
sounds. Eating Foods - Compare a staple remover to an incisor,
compare a mallet to a molar. Lead students in observing how they
use their biters and grinders to eat different foods. Using
skulls or models, teach students to observe and identify
carnivores, herbivores and omnivores based on their teeth.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: staple remover, mallet, models of teeth
and mouth, different kinds of foods
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials, prepare visit for a
time appropriate for students to chew foods
ACTIVITY #: 100 GRADES: K,1,2
TITLE: Look at Your Eyes
VOCABULARY: pupil, cornea, eyelid, eyelash, iris, tear,
eyebrow, retina, lense
OBJECTIVES: learn structure and function of the eye
SUBJECTS: health, growth and development
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 minutes
GRADE/GOALS: K/5.1 (self-awareness)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: health professionals, medical researchers,
ophthalmologist, optometrist
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate the function of the eyes.
Lead students in trying to function in their classroom or around
the school building for a brief time without their sight. Test
vision. Find blind spot. Examine the parts of the eye using a
mirror. Demonstrate the use of visual instruments (camera,
telescope) and how they are similar to eyes.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: eye model, mirror, eye chart, blindfolds,
vision chart
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials, prepare eye tests for
classroom use, prepare blindfold exercise
ACTIVITY #: 101 GRADES: K,1,2
TITLE: No Bones About It
VOCABULARY: bones, skeleton, cast, X-ray, marrow, calcium
OBJECTIVES: identify function of skeletal system
SUBJECTS: health, growth and development
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 minutes
GRADE/GOALS: K/5.1 (self-awareness)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: health professionals, medical researchers, orthopedic
specialists, medical technicians, radiologist
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Demonstrate functions of bones. Using
X-rays and models, examine the bones in the human body or
animals. Learn how bones change with age, and illustrate care of
broken bones. Construct models of the different kinds of joints
between bones. Illustrate the instruments used to set broken
bones. Dissect bones obtained from a butcher.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: bones, skeletal models, X-ray photographs
(use overhead projector), dissecting instruments, casting
materials
PREPARATION REQUIRED: obtain fresh or frozen bones, collect
dissecting instruments safe for classroom use
ACTIVITY #: 104 GRADES: 2,3,4,5
TITLE: Useful Animals
VOCABULARY: medicine, agriculture, medical research,
toxicology
OBJECTIVES: learn how animals are useful to people
SUBJECTS: life science, conservation
TIME REQUIRED: 30-45 minutes
GRADE/GOALS:
3/5.1 (interdependence of plants & animals)
4/5.2 (animal behavior)
GROUP SIZE: 25
SOURCES: agricultural extension agents, medical researchers,
health professionals
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES: Illustrate uses of animals with examples
from medicine, cosmetics, clothing, agriculture, etc. Include
materials for students to handle. Include both obvious and not
obvious examples of useful animals. Mention the search for new
varieties of useful animals and the developing role of
biotechnology in creating new varieties. Emphasize the importance
of existing biological diversity and the threat of biological
extinction. Bring examples of the variety of animals raised on
local farms.
EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES: sample animal products and animals,
preserved specimens
PREPARATION REQUIRED: collect materials
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