This activity introduces students to the idea that crystals 'grow' (crystallize or precipitate) and that minerals or rocks also form this way, providing a very general idea of the nature of magma (molten material that eventually crystallizes into igneous rocks). Using solutions mixed by the teacher, they will observe and sketch the formation of crystals of potassium dichromate and copper II acetate ... Full description.

This project is designed to teach high school students about air pollution. Students research types, sources and effects of air pollutants, methods of controlling air pollution, and possible solutions to problems in the location they research. Using this lesson will teach students to gather and organize data, interpret and solve problems, make decisions, and communicate results through a written report ... Full description.

These lab activities are designed to exhibit how crystals grow. Students will distinguish living from nonliving matter, measure crystal growth using the metric system, explain three industrial uses of minerals, and learn to take notes from lecture by filling in an outline of main points covered. Full description.

This activity combines science and art to provide an understanding about why the sea is salty. Students will obseve how salt concentration increases in water and how the salt remains after the water evaporates. They will do a salt painting using water, salt, and food coloring to observe the evaporation process. Full description.

This activity illustrates some of the uses of limestone and limestone products by relating them to everyday activities of the students. Students fill in a timetable of their activities in the morning from waking up to leaving for school. Discussion with the teacher and/or reference book or web-based research follows, and students will discover that a number of activities have a link to limestone in ... Full description.

Carbon Cycle of Mars is a Windows to the Universe Exploratour and provides information and images about carbon dioxide and the lower atmosphere of Mars. Windows to the Universe is a user-friendly learning system pertaining to the Earth and Space sciences. The objective of this project is to develop an innovative and engaging web site that spans the Earth and Space sciences and includes a rich array ... Full description.

This demonstration reinforces the concept that minerals can form even at low temperatures, meaning that these processes can occur at or near Earth's surface. Using 'water glass' (sodium silicate nanahydrate) and any of a variety of metal salts, the teacher can grow crystals of silicate at room temperature in a container as the students watch and record their observations. A student worksheet and discussion ... Full description.

Students investigate variables that may influence the growth of crystals which they have learned to make. There are two options for implementing this activity. The first is open-ended, with the students deciding what variables affect crystal growth and then deciding on the manipulating variables they would like to study. The second is prescriptive and explains to students how to test three variables ... Full description.

The Genesis Mission is NASA's mission to collect solar wind particles. These education modules connect the real-world science of the mission to classroom instruction. Aligned with the content, instruction, and assessment guidelines set forth by the National Research Council, they can be easily inserted in place of traditional units within a typical secondary school science curriculum. Each module ... Full description.

This online calculator computes radioactive decay, timed decay, and timed solid disposal for a databank containing 116 isotopes. It also features University of British Columbia disposal limits and a unit converter and date/time calculators. These tools calculate the half-life for selected isotopes; radioactive decay final activity, given the initial activity and decay time; the decay time, given the ... Full description.