May 16th, 2023
Middle School Resource
In this learning experience, students design, construct, test and draw conclusions about artificial wind-dispersed seeds in a controlled environment.
Objective:
After examining samples of naturally-occurring wind-dispersed seeds, students will design, construct, and test student-designed “artificial wind-dispersed” seeds under a controlled environment. After analysis of data collected from trial runs, students will then assess and determine modifications for a “redesign” of their artificial seeds. Modified seeds will then be tested under the same controlled environment and data will be recorded for analysis. Students then interpret, compare, and evaluate the original to the modified seed and determine desirable characteristics for wind-dispersed seeds.
Activity:
Students will design, construct, test and draw conclusions about artificial wind-dispersed seeds in a controlled environment.
Related NY State Academic Standards: MST5.ED1, MST6.OT6, MST7.SR2 and more!
May 10th, 2023
Middle School Resource
In this activity:
- Students will develop an understanding and awareness of traditional and nontraditional careers and job availability.
- Students will become aware of the education and training needed to prepare for a career or job.
Activity:
- Students brainstorm a list of traditional and nontraditional careers.
- Students identify what they need to know about the careers.
- Education and training
- Salary
- Job requirements
- Mobility requirements
- Each student selects one of the listed careers and researches that career.
- A representative from a printing firm or from the commercial arts class at the vocational school talks to the class about designing effective brochures. On the basis of the information received, the students create rubrics for their brochures.
- Students use desktop publishing software to create brochures about the researched careers.
- Brochures are reproduced and placed in the career resource file.
- Copies are sent to the high schools for their resource files.Students make a presentation to the class on their researched career.
Related NY State Academic Standards: CDOS.I.1, CDOS.I.1.1, CDOS.I.1.1.A.SW, and more!
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May 3rd, 2023
Middle School Resource
In this activity, students will do the following:
- Research one of two Mexican holidays, Day of the Dead and Cinco de Mayo
- Present important facts about the holiday to the class
- Host an in-class celebration that reflects the dress, music, food, and traditions of that holiday
Related NY State Academic Standards: SS.5.4.b, SS.5.5.a.1, SS.5.5.a.2, and more!
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April 26th, 2023
Middle School Resource
This simulation will allow students to play with objects on a teeter totter to learn about balance.
Using the simulation, students will:
- Predict how objects of various masses can be used to make a plank balance.
- Predict how changing the positions of the masses on the plank will affect the motion of the plank.
- Write rules to predict which way a plank will tilt when objects are placed on it.
- Use your rules to solve puzzles about balancing.
Related NY State Academic Standards: S.3.PS.2.1, S.MS.PS.2.2, MST4.E.PS5.1, and MST4.I.PS5.1!
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April 19th, 2023
Middle School Resource
The students will use this activity during a Poetry Unit. The students will learn what a Diamante Poem is, create a Diamante Poem while using a web site, and print their finished product.
Related NY State Academic Standards: W.5.3.d, W.5.4, W.5.11, and more!
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April 12th, 2023
Middle School Resource
The objective of the lesson in this video is for students to work as a mock community to see how choices impact the environment.
Related NY State Academic Standards: SL.5.1.c and SL.5.1.d!
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April 5th, 2023
Middle School Resource
In this activity, students will:
- identify the different parts of a flower and understand their functions and
- understand the importance of pollen for plant reproduction and diversity.
Related NY State Academic Standards: S.MS.LS.1.6, S.MS.LS.1.4, MST4.E.LE.6, and more!
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March 29th, 2023
Middle School Resource
On this site, students can learn about the “ingredients” that make weather. Students can learn how to make fog, clouds, tornadoes, lightning, and rain through hands-on science activities. They can play weather games as a review of weather concepts, read about weather-related stories, and learn about safety tips to deal with extreme weather conditions.
Related NY State Academic Standards: S.3.ESS.2.1, S.3.ESS.2.3, S.MS.ESS.2.5, and more!
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March 22nd, 2023
Middle School Resource
In this experiment:
- Pour about an inch of liquid–half vinegar, half water–into the bottle.
- Use the funnel to fill the ballon half full of baking soda. (If you don’t have a funnel, you can use a straw to load the balloon.
- Stick the straw into the baking soda, and put your finger over the top of the straw. Lift the straw out, put it into the balloon, and blow or tap gently.)
- Stretch the open end of the balloon over the neck of the bottle. Make sure it’s on tight! Let the heavy end of the balloon dangle, so no baking soda goes in the bottle.
- Hold onto the ballon at the bottle neck, and pick up the heavy part of the balloon so that all the baking soda falls into the vinegar at the bottom of the bottle.
- Wow! Hear the fizz? There are thousands of bubbles! And look at what’s happening to the ballon…
Related NY State Academic Standards: S.5.PS.1.2, S.MS.PS.1.2, MST4.E.PS3.2, and more!
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March 15th, 2023
Middle School Resource
This web page allows students to learn about protractors and how they are mathematically used.
Related NY State Academic Standards: 4.MD.5.a, 4.MD.5.b, 4.MD.6, and more!
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