This lesson includes a historical review, starting with the existence of the horizon at sea, proceeding to various studies of the Earth's size and shape, and leading to the attempt by Columbus to reach India by sailing westward. Students will understand the concept of the horizon at sea as evidence that the Earth is round, calculate the size of the Earth using Eratosthenes' methods, and the origin ... Full description.

This lesson introduces students to electromagnetic waves, the concept of photons, and the relation between photon wavelength and energy. This is tied to solar observations at various wavelengths using the many types of electromagnetic waves. Students will discover that electromagnetic waves are a linked oscillation of magnetic fields and electric currents, spreading through space. They will also discover ... Full description.

This information updates a popular statistical summary about hurricanes that have affected the United States this century. That study, which included a tabulation of the largest US losses of life caused by those storms, had no counterpart for earlier tropical cyclones or for casualties incurred elsewhere. In this presentation that work is extended, providing a catalog of Atlantic tropical cyclones ... Full description.

This lesson will help students understand how wild species cope with changing factors in their environment, such as new predators, fewer available resources, more difficult access to mates, and variable weather. The interaction of all of these factors, coupled with the gradual nature of the changes that result, make evolution a complex subject to study. With these hands-on labs, students delve into ... Full description.

This activity uses evolution to introduce students to historical perspectives and the nature of science. Students read short excerpts of original statements on evolution from Jean Lamarck, Charles Darwin, and Alfred Russel Wallace, and discover that scientists are influenced by societal, cultural, and personal beliefs and ways of viewing the world and that science is not separate from society but ... Full description.

This information is intended to introduce students to the ideas proposed by William Paley in 1802 in the book Natural Theology. His model invokes the supernatural to explain adaptation and is a particularly clear example of the intelligent design ideas that were prevalent at that time. Students will have an opportunity to come to an understanding of the phenomena he was trying to explain, in part ... Full description.

This lesson asks students to take their understanding of Darwin's model of natural selection and begin to think about how it can be used to explain natural phenomena. They will do this by first attempting individually to explain the case of lizard camouflage to provide a concrete example from which to work. Next, they will work within their groups to compile an explanation based on all of their work ... Full description.

In this activity, students measure the circumference of a wheel using four different methods. The first method is similar to the method used by the Greek philosopher, Eratosthenes, who made an excellent estimate of the circumference of the Earth around 330 B.C. by assuming that the Earth is a sphere and that the sun's rays are parallel when they reach the Earth. In a second method, students measure ... Full description.

In this activity, students will learn about the physical science behind marine hazards to shipping as seen in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary of Lake Huron, as they study ways to reduce dangers to ships from natural hazards in the Great Lakes. They will learn to describe at least three major types of vessels that have been used for commercial shipping in the Great Lakes, describe at least three ... Full description.

"Pieces of Science" is an online gallery of sixteen educational resources related to a collection of historical science objects. This section deals with the Grumman Lunar Module and its development. Background information, activities, and lesson ideas are intended to help students and teachers explore the Lunar Module, Apollo Missions, and the Moon. On-line quizzes, trivia games, and links to more ... Full description.