SLM521
Collaboration (Elective 10)
Richard McFarland
November 28, 2005
Collaboration
Science Projects
This Collaboration list offers important projects designed for Elementary School Students and Teachers learning about topics in the field of science. The list is made up of ten website links to science projects that students may use in support of their studies. Each link is accompanied by a brief description of the science project which enables students to collaborate with other students or with project creators.
American Robin In this project designed for Grades 4 and up, students learn about robins, migration and spring. Starting February 1st students observe and collect data on robin sightings, songs, nesting and other behaviors. Students report their findings on the website and review map updates on robin migrations. Through text, audio, and activities, such as bird nest building, students see why and how robins migrate.
Date visited 11/29/05
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/spring2004/robin/index.html
Bucket Buddies In this project designed for Grades 1-5, students collect samples of macroinvertebrates (animals without a backbone) from local ponds. Students then use different resources to identify the macroinvertebrates and send their information to the project website. On the website students view and compare their findings with the findings of students in other parts of the country and the world. Students then use the collected data to answer the important question: Are the organisms found in ponds water the same all over the world?
Date visited 11/28/05
http://k12science.stevens-tech.edu/curriculum/bucketproj/
Dinosaurs Students, grades 1-5 learn about dinosaurs on this site. Students conduct research, review pictures, go on a dinosaur tour, dig for answers and take a quiz. Students then post on the website what they have learned in a style of their choice. (Ex: journal entry, newspaper article, short story, biography or poem) Students may read what other students have written about dinosaurs in the same section.
Date visited 11-29/05
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/dinosaurs/dinowrite/readmenu1.asp
Down the Drain Down the Drain is a water study project for Grades 4-8. Students record water usage by members of their households for one week. Students then compile their results and as a class, calculate the average amount of water used by one person per day. This information is sent to the project website where students can view and compare their results with the results found by students in other parts of the country and the world. In this project students will learn about the water cycle, ways in which water is wasted, and ways to conserve water. This project is free.
Date visited 11/28/05
http://k12science.stevens-tech.edu/curriculum/drainproj/
Energy Detectives Energy Detectives is an energy study project for Grades 35. Students form detective agencies that investigate energy use in their school and sleuth out ways to conserve energy and save money. The project comes with lesson plans, student handouts and assessments, and support from EnergyNet via email. Cost $495.
Date visited 11/27/05
http://www.energynet.net/tour/detectives1.cfm
How Tall Am I Students, Grades K-3 learn the method of scientific inquiry with this fun project. Working in small groups, students create, test and refine their methods for measuring height. Groups collect their data, compare it with a project chart, and discuss their methods and ways to improve them.
Date visited 11/29/05
http://scithon.terc.edu/HowTall/
Living Creatures In this project designed for Grades 5 and up; students find, observe and research living creatures of various types, including pets, birds, and nocturnal animals. Students record their findings in text, charts, graphs or pictures and share them with students from other schools via email. This project is designed to increase students knowledge of living creatures near them and around the world. Internet research and access to a digital camera and scanner are required.
Date visited 11/28/05
http://www.thebasinps.vic.edu.au/
Measuring the Circumference of the Earth - In this project designed for Grades 5 and up; students measure the length of the shadow cast by a meter long stick at two minute intervals around noon. Students share their data and the school location with other schools participating in the project. Using their data and the data and locations of the other schools, students estimate the circumference of the earth. The project will repeat in March 2006.
Date visited 11/28/05
http://k12science.stevens-tech.edu/noonday/index.html
Square of Life - In this project designed for Grades 1-5, students record the plants, animals and non-living things they find in square meter sections of their school yard. Students send their data to the project website and then compare and contrast their findings with data submitted by other students from across the country and the world. Students then prepare a brief report which is posted on the project website.
Date visited 11/28/05
http://k12science.stevens-tech.edu/curriculum/squareproj/
The Sun Times This project is a global sun temperature experiment in which students, Grades 5 and up, record the temperature and the length of sunlight each day for 5 consecutive days. Students then calculate the average temperature and length of day for that week and submit their findings to the project website. Students compare their findings with data submitted by other students from across the country and the world. Using this information, students determine how proximity to the equator affects average daily temperature and hours of sunlight. The project will repeat during spring 2006.
Date visited 11/28/05
http://k12science.stevens-tech.edu/curriculum/tempproj3/en/index.shtml