STEM
February 26, 2014 - March 4, 2014

Find the latest educational resources from Iowa Public Television.

Super Duper Antibodies- Interactive Game

Grades: PreK-1

Using this interactive game, Super Duper Antibodies, students experiment with how vaccinations work to fight viruses.

Bones of Contention

Grade Range: 8-13+

In this interactive activity from NOVA, explore one of the challenges that evolutionary scientists face as you attempt to classify 10 "mystery fossils." Examine the data associated with each fossil to determine the genus and species to which it belongs, or to create your own reasoned classification. Interpret the facts associated with each fossil to explain how each classification helps define a stage related to human evolution. Lastly, using data to support your claims, assemble your own theories about the stages of human evolution. The activity demonstrates where the fossil record tells a complete story, and where gaps remain.

What's This Stuff?
Grade Range: 6-12

In this interactive activity adapted from NOVA, learn about properties of materials such as tensile and compressive strength, toughness, hardness, ductility, malleability, flexibility, electrical and thermal conductivity, and resistance to molds, water, heat, and corrosion. Play a game to identify ten mystery materials using videos and clue cards.

Note for Teachers: Begin by reviewing the "What's This Stuff?" Teacher's Guide for information about facilitating the activity, then print out and prepare the "What's This Stuff?" Student Activity Guide.

How Large Are the Planets?

Grade Range: 6-12

Explore the relative sizes of the planets in our solar system in the video adapted from NOVA: "The Pluto Files." Host Neil deGrasse Tyson and planetary scientist Mark Sykes create a scale model that shows the relative sizes of the planets, although it does not depict the distances between them. A giant balloon (eight feet in diameter) represents the Sun and balls of varying size represent the planets. Each of the planets is compared to Pluto, which was once known as the ninth and smallest planet but was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006.

Elephant in the Room

Grade Range: 1-3

Come along with Chris and Martin as they discover the growth and survival skills of elephants when a lost baby elephant becomes more than they bargained for! Use this

resource group to learn how the elephant's trunk is an important tool and serves multipurpose functions such as showering, blasting water, grabbing, lifting, communicating, "hearing", pushing and pulling. In this episode, Martin and Chris find a lone baby elephant and bring him back to the Tortuga HQ for safety until they can find his mom--but they quickly discover the growth and survival skills of elephants when the baby almost destroys the HQ!

Dot Mixer
Grade Range: K-12

Support the arts with this activity that is engaging and interactive. Produce some pretty mixed-up music with this online resource that is sure to spark the interest of your students.

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