This resource is part of the Science Education Gateway (SEGway) project, funded by NASA, which is a national consortium of scientists, museums, and educators working together to bring the latest science to students, teachers, and the general public. This lesson plan features a student self-study guide for making comparisons of the rotation rates of 3 planets (Jupiter, Uranus, and Saturn) and the Sun. ... Full description.

In this activity students will use water of different temperatures and salinities to examine how they interact. From this process, students will understand some of the factors that drive the ocean currents and how currents interact. They may also reach conclusions on ocean floor shape and how this contributes to current flow around the earth. By completing this activity, students will gain a better ... Full description.

Black holes are some of the strangest objects in the universe. While the physics of these objects is not understood, and they cannot be seen directly, indirect observations have revealed for certain that black holes do exist. This animation shows an artist's conception of what it might be like to see a super-massive black hole in the center of a spiral galaxy. A background essay and list of discussion ... Full description.

This elementary school/middle laboratory activity requires students to watch a demonstration of air pressure changes and then answer several questions. It is part of the Atmospheric Visualization Collection (AVC), which focuses on data from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program. Full description.

Hands-On Meteorology is a collection of interactive concept models and active learning materials for meteorology instruction. The concept models illustrate conceptually difficult processes in atmospheric science. Users change parameters in the concept models and examine the outcomes of such changes. Concept models allow for student note keeping and data export. Active learning exercises are provided ... Full description.

This site introduces students to the dangers of avalanches. The site explains: the different types of avalanches, such as loose snow and slab avalanches; the mechanism of avalanche release; the forecasting of snow avalanches; avalanche control techniques and hazard ratings; and avalanche training for dogs. Full description.

This text discusses differences in ocean tides. Along America's Atlantic Coast, two high and low tides occur daily. Such tides are called semidiurnal. On the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico, the tide is diurnal, meaning that it moves in and out again once a day while in the Pacific Northwest, there are mixed tides, two highs and two lows a day, characterized by significant disparity between successive ... Full description.

This site contains information about the San Francisco earthquake of 1989, which lasted only 15 seconds, but caused highways to collapse and buildings to crumble. About ninety people were killed, and more than six billion dollars of property was damaged. Photographs, shaking cartoons and easily accessible text explain the how and why of Earth's earthquakes. Topics include plate movement, types of ... Full description.

This experiment can be completed in a single class period and examines how pressure affects water flow. In small groups, students work with water and a soda bottle, and then relate their findings to pressure in the deep ocean. The printable six-page handout includes a series of inquiry-based questions to get students thinking about pressure, both in the air and under water, illustrated experiment ... Full description.

This activity allows students to apply knowledge of barometric pressure and gravitational pull to the study of physical science and mathematics. Students will: use the Internet to investigate and compare/contrast body weights at different regions; define barometric pressure and gravitational pull; describe how barometric pressure and gravitational pull affect body weight; and apply knowledge of the ... Full description.