Summary - Derek Doll Technology Integration - Space Station Project
Grade Six Science Space Unit- This is a Powerpoint that shows the Space Station building process and explains the steps for making a Powerpoint to share on the Ipads.

Tomatosphere™ offers an excellent opportunity to have your students think and act like scientists as they practice their inquiry skills and develop understandings of the nature of science and the concept of a fair test.

In the spring, participating classrooms receive two packages of tomato seeds. One package contains seeds sent into space or treated in space-simulated conditions. The other contains untreated "control" seeds. Students plant the seeds and conduct experiments to explore the effects of the space environment on the germination of tomatoes. Through Tomatosphere™, students learn how to conduct a scientific experiment and compare the number of seeds that germinate for the two groups of seeds.

While completing the Tomatosphere™ program, students investigate how to supply space exploration missions with life-support requirements—food, water, oxygen and a way to consume the carbon dioxide exhaled by astronauts—while also discussing the many issues and research involved in space exploration.

Teachers can expand on the basic Tomatosphere™ Seed Investigation by connecting it to studies of plants, space, nutrition, math or the environment, depending on grade and curriculum.

This resource effectively illustrates the ways in which animals are important to the health and future of the planet. Four lessons demonstrate how human activities, including those related to climate change can result in habitat fragmentation and threaten the viability of entire ecosystems. The resource includes a teacher's guide, background information, student activity pages, videos and extension ideas for individual, group and community action.

Activity One: What’s your View? (1 x 60 minutes)

Teachers set up a 'four corners' activity in which students read a variety of statements concerning animal welfare and decide if they agree or disagree. The class then discusses as a group the importance of animals in sustaining healthy ecosystems and the value of their relationships with humans.

Activity Two: Video (1 x 60 minutes)

Students watch a video called “Why Animals Matter” and complete a short quiz to check their understanding of key concepts raised in the video. A discussion follows on what can be done to make the world a better place for animals. Suggestions for extension activities are included.

Activity Three: Eco-investigation (3 x 60 minutes)

Students go outside to study local biodiversity. Working in groups, they select a 2m square sample site near the school yard and determine the variety of plant, fungi and animal life found. The inventory includes the abiotic characteristics of soil, rocks, water sources as well as any evidence of human disturbance. Students are also asked to take notice of the resources that species need to survive (food, water, cover and space) and how humans have impacted these resources.

Activity Four: Understanding Habitat (3 X 60 minutes)

After a discussion on the inter-dependency of the four core elements of a habitat, the class is invited to brainstorm ideas as to the causes and effects of habitat fragmentation and the importance of wildlife corridors. Students then review a newspaper article describing how habitat fragmentation due to road construction in parts of India has impacted elephant populations. Four groups of students take on the role of stakeholders in a wildlife corridor project for the benefit of these elephants. Groups must develop a persuasive statement to reflect their point of view. Peer evaluation and class discussion follow.

An extension activity suggests students research the habitat requirements of a wild animal, how these needs can be threatened by human disturbance and what solutions should be considered.

Students learn about the phases of the moon by acting them out. In 30 minutes, they will act out one complete, 30-day, moon cycle.

*Materials required:
-pencil or wooden skewer (one per student)
-white styrofoam ball, 5 centimetres or larger (one per student)
-light source, such as a lamp (shade removed) with a bright, clear, incandescent bulb (100 watts or higher)

The Museum of Natural Sciences at the U of S in Saskatoon showcases the history of Earth and the evolution of life on it through exhibits and displays that include dinosaur skeleton replicas, fossils, live animals and plants, rocks, and minerals.

Free field trips are offered over seven weeks in partnership with the USask science departments, museums and galleries, Science Outreach, and community groups. Join us for hands-on activities and tours at the Museum of Natural Sciences, in teaching laboratories, and at other campus cultural facilities.

Students learn about the mechanics of a lunar eclipse.
Students will use the Danjon Scale of Lunar Eclipse Brightness to assign an “L” value at three points during an eclipse. After the eclipse, students compare and justify their evaluations of the eclipse.

This lesson from NASA explains how the Earth's tilt causes the seasons. There are also links to related resources on the webpage.

e-Learning For Kids is a great site with some wonderful interactive learning games that are engaging and fun.

Click - Kids Start Here to get students directed to the activities.

You can use the icons/tabs across the top of the page to filter the activities by subject and grade!

This site is for K-6.