In this hands-on activity, students explore the relationship between angular width, actual size, and distance by using their finger, thumb and fist as a unit of angular measurement. They should learn to relate angular width to actual size using distance; quantify the relationship between angular width and distance; and understand why the Sun appears smaller from Pluto than from Earth. Full description.

The purpose of this project is to present the holistic study of the biosphere using remote sensing technology. The intention is to have students perceive the biosphere as containing interlinked environments and organisms, an ability which would later aid students when they are introduced to concepts like trophic levels and energy flow within an ecosystem and in the biosphere. It is also expected that ... Full description.

Project Oceanography is a live television program designed for middle school science students. Each week during the school year, students can learn about a variety of ocean science topics. Some of the topics covered include: Antarctic oceanography, marine debris, tsunamis, plankton, hydrodynamic flow through seagrass beds, channel islands, kelp forests, cold seeps, pollution, and water quality. Programs ... Full description.

This demonstration is designed to show the effect of acid on statues and buildings. Students will learn how acid rain is an air pollution problem as the teacher discusses the slow deterioration of statues and buildings due to the weak acid rain that falls on them. Students will learn that the sulfur and nitrogen compounds that contribute to acid rain primarily come from man-made sources, such as industries ... Full description.

In this module, students carry out a number of activities that demonstrate the concepts of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and soil moisture and runoff. The students then construct a terrarium as a way to observe the water cycle as a whole. Immediately following this, students use the Internet to acquire Real Time Data from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington which they can then use to describe ... Full description.

This lesson plan is part of the Center for Educational Resources (CERES), a series of web-based astronomy lessons created by a team of master teachers, university faculty, and NASA researchers. Students download NASA Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images of the Martian polar ice caps from different times to measure and compare the changing Martian and Earth poles. This lesson contains expected outcomes ... Full description.

In this lesson plan students learn about ocean waves. They will begin by learning the components of a wave and will then discuss the meaning of wave height and wavelength. A demonstration will spark discussion about how to make waves, and an activity with the National Geographic Wave Simulator will allow students to experiment with creating waves of varying sizes. Full description.

This activity allows students to explore the roles of oil and water in the Middle East, especially in Iraq. Students will use maps to look at the distribution of oil in the Middle East and discuss what it means for the different countries in the region. They will also examine how water has influenced the region historically and politically. Finally, they will study specific aspects of Iraq's struggles ... Full description.

This hands-on demonstration of the communications path between scientists and the NASA Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) Satellite shows how scientific data are downloaded from the satellite. The same demonstration can also be used to illustrate how the instruments on the satellite are commanded by scientists on Earth. It gives students a feel for the dynamics of satellite communications and orbital ... Full description.

This activity explores the potential for climate variability and change to trigger more frequent occurrences of El Nino, and the impacts that could result. Designed to teach through scientific inquiry, the activity seeks to stimulate thought about the long-term impacts of a warmer planet. Through their participation in this activity, students will access information at remote sites using telecommunications, ... Full description.