STEM
January 22, 2014 - January 28, 2014

Find the latest educational resources from Iowa Public Television.

Conflict Resolution: Thinking It Through

Grades: 7-13+

In this clip, a group of high school students participate in a conflict resolution workshop led by an experienced facilitator and social worker. After each student describes a recent conflict with a friend or family, students explore ways they commonly handle conflicts: avoiding, confronting, or problem solving and communication. The facilitator then helps them understand basic communication skills, including what it takes to be a good listener. This program is useful to open discussion on conflict resolution and communication. It can also be used to train teachers and others in conducting similar workshops.

Ethics: Cheating and Plagiarism

Grades: 7-13+

In this clip, teens speak frankly about the reasons they feel the need to cheat. They also raise questions about the definition of cheating and when, if ever, it can be considered acceptable. We then meet ninth graders from a New Jersey high school who are required to participate in a series of ethics courses covering a variety of topics.

Round and Round
Grade Range: PreK

In this interactive activity from PEEP and the Big Wide World, students help Peep figure out how things grow and change as the cycles of different animals and plants are explored.

Balloon Blast Activity

Grade Range: 7-9

In this interactive game, learners explore the fundamentals of projectile motion as they fire a virtual catapult at a target. Change the velocity, then see if you can adjust the initial angle so the projectile will hit the target. Resources introduce the idea that projectiles have both horizontal and vertical components of motion; students will not perform calculations.

Climate Connections: Survival Stories
Grade Range: 4-12

Environmentalist Juan Hoffmaister spent a year visiting villages likely to bear the brunt of climate change.

The Great Salt Lake: Reconstruction of Railroad Causeway
Grade Range: 4-13+

In 1956, the Southern Pacific Railroad built an earthen causeway to replace the Lucin Cutoff. Construction of the causeway required one of the largest earth-moving projects in history. Learn how a design flaw led to water circulation issues that left the northern arm of the lake 20-25 percent saltier than the southern arm. This video is extracted from the 22-part video series The Geography Of Utah, conceived and written by Albert L. Fisher, PhD (University of Utah). The series encompasses the political, cultural, historical and sociological geography of the state of Utah. It describes the activities, the land and the people. Much of the video material was videotaped on location throughout the state of Utah, giving the student and interested viewer valuable field trip experiences.

Why Is It Important to Educate Girls

Grade Range: 7-12

When girls are allowed to go to school, they have a significant impact on their family and community. In this lesson plan, students will learn and think critically about the variety of reasons why it is in everyone's best interest to ensure that all girls, across the globe, have access to an education.

Resources | PBS LearningMedia | PBS KIDS | Iowa Public Television