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Health Equity E-Lesson
Give Vaccines a Shot!
In this four-part lesson, students will learn all about health equity, starting by walking through the “seeing over the fence” analogy to understand how equity is different from equality. They will then develop further context for this issue by examining vaccine inequity as a case study. In part 3, one of Science North’s Indigenous Interns interviews a nurse at the Wikwemikong Health Centre on the challenges of achieving health equity in Indigenous communities. In the final section, the Many Nations, One Voice for Wellness team at Telus Spark will take students through a workshop on Dr. Christopher Emdin’s “Science Genius” method with health equity as the theme. Students will learn how to put their thoughts, feelings and experiences about this complex issue into rap and song.
- Downloadable Resources
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* Internet connection required
Scientific Integrity E-Lesson
Give Vaccines a Shot!
In this three-part lesson, students will learn how scientific research is conducted and why scientific integrity is important in determining what sources of information we can trust. They will understand what can happen when a lack of scientific integrity leads to misconduct and explore scientific integrity with a real-world example of how we develop and test new vaccines. Students will also learn the different parts of a research study and the signs of trustworthy research. They will be introduced to some trusted sources of health information as they learn about the agencies that oversee health research. They will learn about the importance of understanding history and increasing diversity in science as they explore the contributions of scientists from different communities and backgrounds. They will also explore the intersection of science and social issues as they learn how to have discussions about scientific literacy. Each learning objective is followed up by an online game or hands-on activity to reinforce the concepts.
- Downloadable Resources
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* Internet connection required
Rate of Change in Python
Coding
Students will use a graph provided or select a real-world situation that can be modelled by a quadratic function. Students will then use Python coding language to create a program that evaluates the function at any two given points and calculates the average rate of change.
- Downloadable Resources
Agents of the Immune System - Pathogens
Give Vaccines a Shot!
In this lesson, students will understand the role the immune system plays. They will learn about the different types of pathogens, how they infect our bodies and the stages of infection. In the Agents of the Immune System GooseChase experience, students will work independently or as part of a team to complete the missions, learn about the immune system and collect points. Students' submissions in the GooseChase app will remain hidden from other students who participate in the Agents of the Immune System experience.
- Downloadable Resources
Sorting Organic Chemicals with Pseudocode
Coding
Write pseudocode to identify an organic chemical based on its formula.
Downloadable Resources
Electron configuration in Scratch
Coding
Write a program in Scratch to demonstrate electron configuration and the Aufbau principle.
Downloadable Resources
Reaction Time vs Reflex Time
Biology
In this post activity to the school program, Neuroscience, students will learn the difference between reaction and reflex neural pathways. They will simulate what happens in their body during a reaction and during a reflex to better understand why there is a difference between the two.
Downloadable Resources
Genetic Mutations
Coding
Students will learn how mutagens can cause mutations by changing the genetic material in cells.
Downloadable Resources
Feedback
Animal Cell Organelle Roles and Terminology
Coding
Students will learn appropriate terminology and the roles of various animal cell organelles, such as lysosomes, vacuoles, mitochondria, ribosomes, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi bodies.
Downloadable Resources
Feedback
Programmable Hydraulic System
Coding
For this lesson students will build a hydraulic system using syringes filled with water to demonstrate Pascal’s principle. This system will be controlled using an Arduino, bread board, and DC motor. Students will need to also be familiar with simple circuits, electrical terms, and components when completing this activity. The code needed for this project is quite simple. I recommend taking one class to familiarize students with the basics of the code and how the Arduino works by having them configure a simple circuit and play with some code to make some LEDs change and blink. Once familiar with the code basics, the code to control the DC motor and make it go forward and backwards, along with a circuit diagram, may be provided to the students depending on what the goals for the students may be.
Downloadable Resources
Feedback
Code in Everyday Life
Coding
For this lesson it is designed as a possible extension to the programmable hydraulic system lesson or as a stand alone lesson. There is an offline coding component while also tying to multiple possible strands of the curriculum.
Downloadable Resources
Feedback
Energy Transformations
Electricity/Energy
In this lesson students will build a device that has at least 4 energy transformations. This lesson is intended for the college level.
Downloadable Resources
- Activity Lesson Plan
- Visuals Information
- Constructing Energy Transformation Device
- Device Rubric
- Visuals
Friction
Physics
In this lesson students will build a device that has at least 4 energy transformations. This lesson is intended for the college level.
Downloadable Resources
- Activity Lesson Plan
- Friction Facts (Teacher)
- Exit Card (Teacher)
- Exit Card (Student)
- Friction Facts (Student)
- Coefficient of Friction Data Sheet (Student)
- Coefficient of FrictionActivity (Student)
- Rubric
- Coefficient of FrictionActivity (Teacher)
Hydraulics and Pneumatics
Physics
In this lesson students will use syringes filled with liquid and gas to investigate Pascal’s Principle. They will also design and construct a hydraulic system. This lesson is intended for the college level.
Downloadable Resources
- Activity Lesson Plan
- Visuals
- Fluid Systems Venn Diagram (Student)
- Fluid Systems Venn Diagram (Teacher)
- Visuals Slide Information
- Hydraulic Arm Challenge (Student)
- Investigating Hydraulic Systems (Student)
- Fluid Systems Assignment
- Hydraulic Arm Rubric
- Fluid Systems Assignment Rubric
Video Resources
- Fluids - For The Classroom
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- Hydraulics and Pneumatics - For Teachers
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Rail Gun
Electricity/Energy
In this lesson students will investigate the relationship between electricity and magnetism by making an electromagnet and a rail gun. This lesson is intended for the college level.
Downloadable Resources
- Activity Lesson Plan
- Construct A Rail Gun (Student)
- Visuals Information
- Construct A Rail Gun (Teacher)
- Rail Gun Assignment (Teacher)
- Assignment Rubric
- Visuals
Driverless Cars and Analysis of Motion
Physics
In this lesson students will accelerate a block or toy car using a rubber band rope. They will collect data using an app and graph position-time and velocity-time graphs in order to analyse the motion of the object. This lesson is intended for the college level.
Downloadable Resources
- Activity Lesson Plan
- Graphing Motion (Teacher)
- Rules For Making Graphs
- Graphing Motion (Student)
- Accelerated Car Pre Activity Questions (Teacher)
- Accelerated Car Rubric
- Accelerated Car Activity
- Assignment Driverless Cars (Teacher)
- Assignment Driverless Cars (Student)
- Driverless Car Rubric
Relative vs. Absolute Dating
Geology
In this lesson students will understand that geologists rely on two main types of dating: relative and absolute using some hands on models. This lesson is intended for the university level.
Downloadable Resources
- Activity Lesson Plan
- Visuals
- Jigsaw Rubric
- Jigsaw Answers
- Relative Dating Lab Activity
- Edible Rocks Activity
- Discussion Questions Answers
- Definitions
Absolute Dating and Isotopic Age Determination
Geology
In this lesson students will learn that scientists, archaeologists, and geologists use radiometric dating to measure the physical properties of rocks and objects and determine their chronological age. This lesson is intended for the university level.
Downloadable Resources
- Activity Lesson Plan
- Visuals
- Graphic Organizer (Student)
- Radiometric Assignment (Student)
- Half Life of Foam Activity
- Graphic Organizer (Teacher)
- Radiometric Assignment (Teacher)
- Additional Resources
Asteroid Mining
Geology
In this lesson students will present a business plan to incorporate as a space mining start-up company. They will use a database to research and identify asteroids and comets that can be mined. This lesson is intended for the university level.
Downloadable Resources
- Activity Lesson Plan
- Rubric
- Instructions For Using JPL Small Object Browser
- Investment Rating Sheet
- Presentations
Telescopes are Time Machines
Space
In this lesson students will describe some milestones in the development of telescope technology and how it has been improved over time. They will know that telescopes use all wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to observe celestial bodies. This lesson is intended for the university level.
Downloadable Resources
- Activity Lesson Plan
- How Does My Eye Compare
- History Of The Telescope Visuals
- How Big Is The Universe
- Introduction To The Micro Observatory (Teacher)
- Scavenger Hunt (Teachers)
- Scavenger Hunt (Students)
Seismology and Citizen Science
Geology
In this lesson, students will understand that earthquakes are detected using seismographs which are instruments that record the shaking of the earth and describe the characteristics of the four main types of seismic waves. This lesson is intended for the university level.
Downloadable Resources
- Activity Lesson Plan
- Seismic Waves Graphic Organizer (Student)
- Seismic Waves Graphic Organizer (Teacher)
- Walk Run Earthquake Location (Teacher)
- Walk Run Earthquake Location (Student)
- Epicentre and Magnitude (Student)
- Exit Card(Student)
- Exit Card(Teacher)
- Epicentre and Magnitude (Teacher)
Video Resources
- Citizen Science - For Teachers
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Biotechnology
Biology
Part A: In small groups, using either the recipe provided, or having researched their own, students will make homemade cheese or yogurt. They will also create a display board outlining their procedure and observations. Part B: Students will research and prepare a written report of another biotechnological application in the health, agricultural, environmental or food industry. Part C: Students will present their findings to their classmates.
Downloadable Resources
Are you Eating Nails for Breakfast?
Biology
Students will carry out a laboratory experiment to isolate particles of iron in their breakfast cereal. They will then identify other variables that they would like to test for and using their Smarter Steps to Inquiry framework, go ahead and test their variable. Lastly, a class discussion would take place discussing the difference between chemical and nutritional iron and the need for iron in our bodies. Students should also be prepared to discuss the other variables that they tested for and their results.
