Science Fair on How Vitamin C & Ibuprofen Affect Plant Growth
Plants need water to survive, but many other factors can affect their growth including temperature, soil quality and nutrients. Vitamin C — an important antioxidant for humans — also has useful functions in plants. Unlike humans, plants can create their own vitamin C and it plays a role in their growth and development, as well as dealing with environmental stress. Ibuprofen — a medication used as a pain reliever — can enter the waterways through sewage systems and eventually be absorbed by plants. This experiment examines the effect of these two compounds on the...
read moreThe Disadvantages of Standards-Based Report Cards
Standards-based education guides student learning using a clearly defined set of goals. These standards focus on the skills and knowledge that students should have before graduating from high school. Report cards associated with this type of learning do not use traditional letter-grades, but instead employ a simple number system—such as one to four—that shows whether a student has mastered each specific skill. While there are many advantages of standards-based report cards—such as a clearer understanding of whether students have mastered the content—they also have...
read moreMini Unit Plan: Rachel Carson
At the end of this high school science unit, students should understand Rachel Carson’s role as founder of the modern environmental movement. They will also examine difficulties she faced being a woman speaking out against the established scientific community. They should also understand the importance of her book, Silent Spring, in exposing the pervasiveness of the environmental pollution present at the time. Students should be able to put Carson’s work into context by understanding previous environmental movements, including John Muir and Roosevelt’s WPA, and the changes that occurred in...
read moreUnit Plan: The Local State Park
In this high school science lesson, students learn about the ecosystem of a local park. By studying the interrelationships among organisms living within the park, students gain an understanding of the complexity of the ecosystem. Because the park is also used by people, students will examine how human activities affect the organisms. With this in mind, they will look at how land-use policies are created and what it means to balance the needs of the organisms with the needs of people wanting to use the park. Unit(s) of Study Ecosystems, Land-Use and Public Policy Previous Unit(s): Ecosystems,...
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Stop Waiting – Read the New Short Story Now
