This activity helps students understand all transformations of functions: translations, dilations and reflections. The function retains its basic shape when it is transformed; however, by making small changes to the equation, the graph of the function will be translated, dilated, reflected or a combination of these. By the end of the activity students will be […]
Transistors are the building blocks of modern electronic devices. Your cell phones, iPods, and computers all depend on them to operate. Thanks to today’s microfabrication technology, transistors can be made very tiny and be massively produced. You are probably using billions of them while working with this activity now–as of 2006, a dual-core Intel microprocessor […]
All cells, organs and tissues of a living organism are built of molecules. Some of them are small, made from only a few atoms. There is, however, a special class of molecules that make up and play critical roles in living cells. These molecules can consist of many thousands to millions of atoms. They are […]
This activity introduces a sequence of all-resistor DC circuits in which one of the resistors is either open (i.e., infinite resistance) or short-circuited (zero resistance). The challenge in each case is to locate the faulted resistor with as few measurements as possible, and to identify the nature of the fault. The circuits increase in complexity […]
Students discover that variation in plants allows some varieties to survive in near-drought conditions. Next, students learn that different types of rabbits prefer to eat different varieties of plants. Students make the connection between rainfall amount and the rabbit population’s ability to survive by thinking first about rainfall and plants, then about plants and rabbits. […]
Investigate the effect of gravity on objects of various mass during free fall. Predict what the position-time and velocity-time graphs will look like. Compare graphs for light and heavy objects. » Lesson Plan and Student Assessment documents are also available.
Enter the virtual world of Geniverse where students explore heredity and genetics by breeding and studying virtual dragons. In this activity, control the process of meiosis and fertilization in dragons. Win challenges by examining the genes on dragon chromosomes, recombining alleles and selecting the right gametes.
Build a wind turbine and test different blade designs to generate electricity.
Explore the role of shape in how antibodies and antigens interact.
What effect does geography have on air quality? Use this model to explore the effect of point-source pollution, geography, and wind on regional air quality.