 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Voices of San Diego: Scripps Snags Fed Money for Science Ed
September 17, 2009
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography on Wednesday announced a new program that will put Scripps grad students in San Diego Unified middle and high school classrooms in an effort to bridge the science education gap.
Read more ... |
|
UC Newsroom: Partnership bridges science education gap
September 16, 2009
As part of a U.S.
initiative to improve science education in public schools, graduate
students and teachers from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and San Diego Unified School District are partnering.
Read more ... |
|
KPBS™: Teaching Cutting-Edge Science In San Diego Classrooms
September 16, 2009
UC San Diego and the San Diego Unified School District are working together to broaden the teaching of science.
Read more ... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fellows and Teachers at the 2011 Summer Institute |
|
GK12 Summer Institute 2011
In June 2011 we held our 3rd Summer Institute bringing together nine teams of Scripps graduate students and San Diego teachers in La Jolla. Also find the finalized online lesson portfolios from our teams of 2009 and 2010 below!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
   |
|
|
|
|
|
Atoms: Building Blocks of Life
Lesson Plan by Maryann Tekverk and Jerry Ruiz
This is a two-week long lesson, designed to introduce 5th and 6th grade students to atoms, molecules, phases of matter, and the usefulness of understanding chemical properties. The goal is for students to end the lesson with a concrete understanding that atoms make up everything. This concept will be reinforced throughout the lesson through the construction of atomic and molecular models, as well as demos and hand-specimen examples. Students will complete models and record findings in individual journals throughout the lesson as a means of assessment.
Read more
|
|
| View All Lesson Plans |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Carbon Cycle, Greenhouse Effect and Ocean Acidification
Lesson Plan by Daniel Richter and Jon Corbin
This is a 4-5 day unit on the carbon cycle and the effects of human perturbations to it. The unit consists of four lessons each of which has an associated homework assignment. Topics covered include the carbon cycle, the greenhouse effect, and ocean acidification.
Read more
|
|
Biogeochemistry
Lesson Plan by Kelly Roe and Maureen Quessenberry
This unit was designed with 10 days set aside for classroom lectures and lab activities and one day for a final assessment of an exam. All the activities were designed for a 55 min class period. The unit is broken up into Early Earth activities, Photosynthesis, and Carbon and Nitrogen cycling. The activities in this unit can be taught as a whole unit or pieces of the unit can be used to supplement other topics.
Read more
|
|
A Week of Science at Sea Aboard the Research Vessel Melville
Lesson Plan by Benjamin Neal and Jerry Ruiz
This is a series of five lessons with accompanying videos, collectively entitled “A Week of Science at Sea Aboard the Research Vessel Melville.” The primary goal of this series of lessons is that middle-school students will find the general field of marine science more understandable and accessible, and will understand the diversity of scientific disciplines that make up this field. Students will learn about the real-life process of marine biology by following an actual week of life aboard a working research vessel.
Read more
|
|
Biomass Energy and Algae Biofuels
Lesson Plan by Cameron Coates and Tara Howell
This lesson plan was designed for a high school AP Environmental Science class in San Diego CA. The unit is focused on biomass energy with a particular emphasis on algae biofuels and is intended to teach students what biomass energy is, what the trade-off are for using biomass energy and what the current state of the art is for using biomass for energy. Our society is facing a number of serious challenges involving energy and today’s students should expect to see important decisions being made about energy in their lifetime. With a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges involved with biofuel and biomass energy students will be better equipped to make informed decisions about how they use energy in their personal and professional lives.
Read more
|
|
Solid Earth and Plate Tectonics
Lesson Plan by Leah Ziegler and Dave Van Dusen
This 2 week lesson plan uses a variety of activities to provide an engaging unit on the Solid Earth – from an overview of the layers, to details of crustal processes, especially plate tectonics. Activities included are (1) A Lab on density and differentiation (2) An activity on understanding the Geomagnetic field reversals recorded as ‘magnetic stripes’ on the sea-floor (3) An activity using Google Earth to explore plate boundaries and their geologic features and (4) a card game for plate tectonics review called SUPERcontinents! Supporting lecture slides included.
Read more
|
|
Introduction to Volcanology
Lesson Plan by Paula Chojnacki and Dave Van Dusen and Ryan Benedict
This is a 2-3 week comprehensive unit on volcanology that introduces the key concepts of volcanoes through presentations with guided note taking worksheets, several demonstrations, a hands-on laboratory activity, and an optional final project. A review game and final exam are included. Topics covered include locations, hazards, and anatomy of volcanoes; lava flows and magma composition; eruption styles and historic eruptions; and predicting eruptions.
Read more
|
|
Biodiversity & Conservation Biology
Lesson Plan by Damien Cie and Jennifer Ogo
This 5-day unit covers topics in biodiversity, biogeography, and conservation biology. Initially designed for Advanced Placement Environmental Science high school students, the overall concept can also be easily adapted to non-AP courses. The goal of the activity is for students to learn about biomes, biodiversity and biological conservation. Students will gain knowledge by using computer skill-exercises, collaborative learning, hands-on laboratory activities, current research, and group debates.
Read more
|
|
| View All Lesson Plans |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ocean Layering: Density, Temperature, Salinity and Circulation
Lesson Plan by Sylvia Cole and Maureen Quessenberry
This is a 3-4 day unit on the vertical structure of the ocean that gives students the opportunity to work with actual data, learn about the global circulation, and learn about some of the smaller scale features that stir and mix the ocean. The unit consists of four lessons and concludes with a short review and 20-minute quiz. Topics covered include an introduction to density, the ocean’s global scale vertical structure and circulation, and how ocean properties are stirred around and mixed together. The unit uses ship-based observations on a global scale and observations north of Hawaii from an ocean robot, the autonomous underwater glider Spray, as application activities.
Read more
|
|
Teaching the Earth’s Layers and Plate Tectonics Using a 3D Model
Lesson Plan by Jared Kluesner and Mark Snow
This week long lesson uses a three dimensional model to help teach the Earth’s layers, longitude/latitude, and plate tectonics. The activity allows students to build a scaled 3D model of the Earth, which they use and interact with to complete activity sheets. The model is constructed using basic materials (paper, cardboard, string, and glue) and can be broken down to fit into a folder. Finally, the lesson is broken into four daily activities, each day focusing on different material. Worksheets and PowerPoints are provided for each daily activity.
Read more
|
|
Learning About Earthquakes
Lesson Plan by Deborah Kane and Dave van Dusen
This is a comprehensive Earthquake curriculum covering three self-contained themes intended to be used individually with additional materials or as a complete unit. This unit is a collaborative effort between Deborah Kane, a doctoral geophysics student at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Dave Van Dusen, a high school Earth Science teacher at the San Diego School of Creative in Performing Arts. These materials were designed to bring content from Deborah’s research into a 9th grade Earth Science course and could easily be adapted for other grade levels. This unit contains
9 lessons and activities totaling ~10 hours of classes.
Read more
|
|
Earth Science Outdoors: Earth’s Spheres
Lesson Plan by Miriam Goldstein and Tara Howell
Understanding connections between spheres of the Earth as a Global System. In this lesson plan students will also recognize how a system functions. Students also will be able to recognize that our planet contains 4 spheres, namely the hydrosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere (geosphere) and biosphere.
Read more
|
|
Earth Science Outdoors: Seasonal Changes and Biogeochemical Cycles
Lesson Plan by Miriam Goldstein and Tara Howell
This activity is meant to accompany lessons on biogeochemical cycles, not replace them. Students should already have been introduced to the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles. The chaparral and riparian ecosystems of Rose Canyon in the midst of urban San Diego serve as an example in this activity. Rose Canyon’s geology and biology, as well as the threats facing its inhabitants, serve as a microcosm for concepts such as biogeochemical cycling. By participating directly in data collection and analysis, students will gain an appreciation of the scientific process. Students will also be able to connect key concepts in earth science to their direct experience and local environment.
Read more
|
|
Earth Science Outdoors: Erosion
Lesson Plan by Miriam Goldstein and Tara Howell
Rose Canyon in the midst of urban San Diego serves as an example in this activity. By participating directly in data collection and analysis, students will gain an appreciation of the erosion and weathering processes in the Californian environment. Students will also be able to connect key concepts in earth science to their direct experience and local environment.
Read more
|
|
Introduction to Life in the Pelagic Ocean: Primary Production, Phytoplankton and Zooplankton
Lesson Plan by Moria Decima and Stephen Halpern
This is the first of a four day lesson plan, in the Unit Plankton Ecology. This lesson explores marine primary production, phytoplankton and zooplankton. Students will learn about photosynthesis, production in the ocean and food web dynamics that link phytoplankton to higher trophic levels, such as fish, birds and whales. Diversity within phytoplankton and zooplankton is introduced, and many of the important taxonomic groups are covered.
Read more
|
|
Phytoplankton: Main Characteristics and Ecology
Lesson Plan by Moria Decima and Stephen Halpern
This is the second of a four day lesson plan in the Unit Plankton Ecology. The laboratory activity introduces three main groups of phytoplankton: diatoms, dinoflagellates and flagellates. Students observe phytoplankton up-close and live, so that unique characteristics, such as morphology and behavior, can be seen and interpreted within an ecological context. The Laboratory Teacher instructions detail the lab activity, as well as the resources necessary to obtain the pertinent materials.
Read more
|
|
Phytoplankton in the Stratified Ocean: Who’s Where and Why?
Lesson Plan by Moria Decima and Stephen Halpern
This is the third of a four day lesson plan in the Unit Plankton Ecology. This lesson explores the consequences of a heterogeneous ocean on phytoplankton. Spatial heterogeneity in the ocean arises as a consequence of distance from shore as well as depth: water column stratification greatly affects the ecology and species distribution of phytoplankton. The distribution, population growth rates and general ecology of phytoplankton is explored as a consequence of the heterogeneity of water masses. Students will learn how the environment determines a species distribution and persistence, with a final discussion and understanding that how the ocean changes will include drastic changes to the biological community it holds within.
Read more
|
|
Phytoplankton: Growth Rates and Ecological Characteristics
Lesson Plan by Moria Decima and Stephen Halpern
This is the fourth of a four day lesson plan in the Unit Plankton Ecology. This lesson expands on material covered on the previous lecture, exploring consequences of a heterogeneous ocean on phytoplankton. The distribution, population growth rates and general ecology of phytoplankton is explored as a consequence of the heterogeneity of water masses. Students will learn how the environment determines a species distribution and persistence, with a final discussion and understanding that if and how the ocean changes will include drastic changes to the biological community it holds within. During this classroom activity they will plot and interpret growth rate data, and compare these phytoplankton characteristics among groups, understanding the importance of these within an ecological framework.
Read more
|
|
Marine Food Webs
Lesson Plan by Geoffrey Gearheart and Jon Corbin
Students will make a marine food web that will show energy flow through trophic levels. They will also research the ecology of a number of marine animals from the information sheets provided. This activity will be performed after the PowerPoint presentation that is provided with narrative.
Read more
|
|
Winds, Currents, Upwelling and Blue Whales
Lesson Plan by Geoffrey Gearheart and Jon Corbin
This lesson introduces the concepts of changes in water density associated with (sea) salt, thermohaline circulation, coastal upwelling and its biological significance to large marine animals such as blue whales. The lesson attempts to illustrate how physical-chemical forces impact and shape life in the oceans. The lab activity follows a PowerPoint presentation, and provides students with a fun example of how winds and the Coriolis force interact to form upwellings, and how these in turn may influence the distribution of blue whales. The students are asked to reflect on seawater density, they will also acquire basic knowledge on the ecology (i.e. feeding behavior) of a specific marine animal: the blue whale.
Read more
|
|
Continental Margins
Lesson Plan by Elizabeth Johnstone and Malana Tabak
This lesson focuses on the two types of continental margins, active and passive, and provides guided exploration in Google Earth (freeware). This lesson does require access to computers with Internet access. Students will go on a virtual field trip to various locations around the globe and investigate the geological features associated with continental margins.
Read more
|
|
El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Lab
Lesson Plan by Elizabeth Johnstone and Malana Tabak
This lesson focuses on El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the Equatorial Pacific. Students will learn about the climate phenomenon and regional impacts that occur on different sides of the Pacific. One introductory lab within this lesson invites students to graph real data, so they can make their own observations. A follow-up or supplemental lab has students investigate ENSO through a number of online resources and requires access to computers and an Internet connection.
Read more
|
|
GeoMapApp Lab
Lesson Plan by Elizabeth Johnstone and Malana Tabak
This lesson focuses on map projection and using a publically available spatial database, called GeoMapApp. Students will learn how to access the database and manipulate data. A follow-up or supplemental lab could invite students to investigate numerous other datasets, depending on what area of interest the educator is interested in teaching. The lab consists of online resources and requires access to computers and the Internet.
Read more
|
|
Ocean Acidification
Lesson Plan by Elizabeth Johnstone and Malana Tabak
This lesson focuses on Ocean Acidification and the impact on Earth’s oceans. Students will learn about the chemistry changes associated with increased Carbon Dioxide dissolving in the sea. This lesson invites students to use shells (or any item(s) made of calcium carbonate) in three different treatments with a range of pH. They will observe, describe, measure and weigh the specimens before and after the experiment.
Read more
|
|
Ocean Pollution
Lesson Plan by David Clarke and Sahi Maitrayee
This unit is designed to introduce students to watersheds, computer mapping tools (Google Earth), and ocean currents through a discussion of ocean and water borne pollution. The unit is designed around a 9th grade Earth Science class, and run over three 80 minute class periods. The first lesson explores types of water pollution and how that pollution migrates from the student's home to the ocean. The students then explore their watersheds to understand how they are connected with the ocean, and finally explore how ocean currents concentrate trash in certain parts of the ocean.
Read more
|
|
DNA Extraction
Lesson Plan by Alison Cawood
This lecture and activity provide information on the role, function, and structure of DNA. It can be used by itself or as activities to provide background information for the accompanying genetic traits and gummy bear genetics lectures and activities.
Read more
|
|
Genetic Traits and Heredity
Lesson Plan by Alison Cawood
This lecture and activity provide information on genetic traits and heredity. It can be used by itself or to provide background information for the accompanying DNA extraction and gummy bear genetics lectures and activities.
Read more
|
|
Gummy Bear Population Genetics
Lesson Plan by Alison Cawood
This lecture and activity provide information on the role of genetics in evolution and ecology. It can be used by itself or as a follow-up activity after background information has been provided by the DNA extraction and genetic traits lectures and activities.
Read more
|
|
| View All Lesson Plans |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
