Topic A: Electricity and Magnetism

Students learn about electricity by building and testing circuits. Using batteries, bulbs, and wires, students construct simple circuits and test the effect of various modifications. Through such tests, they discover that a circuit requires a closed pathway for electrical flow and some materials conduct electricity while others do not.

Students learn that an electric current can affect a nearby magnet and this principle is used for making electromagnets and electrical motors. Potential dangers are examined as students learn about the safe use of electricity.

Get attracted to the Electricity and Magnetism Glossary

Topic B: Mechanisms Using Electricity

Students apply their knowledge of electricity by building electrical devices for a variety of purposes. Tasks that students are assigned may include such things as making a switch from scrap materials, making a device to control the speed of a motor, making a burglar alarm and lighting 3 bulbs from one source.

Through work on these tasks, students learn the role of various components and control devices that are part of an electrical system. During all of this, students develop skills of problem-solving and working as part of a team!

See what these Junior High Students in Firth, Nebraska did with Lego Logo

Throw the switch and open the Mechanisms & Electricity Glossary


 Topic C: Classroom Chemistry 

Students learn about the properties and interactions of some "safe-to-handle" household liquids and solids. Through various activities, they test different materials to see what happens when they are mixed together:
Do they dissolve?
Do they cause a reaction?
Do they remain unaffected?

Students discover that when a solid material dissolves it can be recovered as a crystal by evaporating the liquid. They also learn that when 2 materials react to form a new material, the original materials cannot be recovered. As an example of a chemical reaction, students learn to produce carbon dioxide gas and show that this gas differs from ordinary air.

Dissolve yourself into the Classroom Chemistry Glossary!

 Topic D: WEATHER WATCH 

Students learn about weather phenomena and the methods used for weather study. They learn to measure temperatures, wind speed & direction, the amounts of rain or snow and the amount of cloud cover.

In studying causes and patterns of air movements, students learn about the effects of uneven heating & cooling. They discover the same patterns of air movement in indoor environments are similar to those found outside.

Students learn about human actions that can affect weather and climate. Outdoor survival gear, its design and testing, is examined and discussed as to its effectiveness as protection against severe weather conditions.

Don't understand a term? Check the ''weather watch'' glossary!

What happened in Daysland on Sunday, July 19/98?

Visit these Weather Links
Try out the Weather Crossword!

Topic E: Wetland Ecosystems

Students learn about wetland ecosystems by studying life in a local pond, slough, marsh, fen or bog. Through classroom and field studies, students learn about organisms that live in, on & around wetlands; and about adaptations that pond organisms make to survive in their environment.

Through observations and research, students learn about the interactions among wetland organisms and the role each has as part of a food web. The role & responsibility of humans as to how they can negatively or positively impact wetland habitats and populations is also discussed.

The glossary for this unit is big . . . . really big!