STEP Participant Page
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Workshop Participant Survey Form
People:
Overarching Discussion and Resources:
STEP Participant Initial Input
Science / Earth and Space Science Concept Inventories
Creating a Workshop: Notes from Facilitators’ and Teachers’ Perspectives
Topics:
Weather and Climatic Interactions
This topic addressed TEKS 8.10 (a,b,c) and connected strongly to physical concepts of energy transformation, light, absorption, and seasons.
Rock Cycle: Processes of Rock Formation and Erosion
This topic covered TEKS 6.10 (B and D) and 8.9 (C), including using and interpreting topographic maps and satellite images. Resources connect to the Plate Tectonics workshop.
Components of the Solar System
This first day included an overview of the Solar System and scale activities, definitions and misconceptions, and an introduction to gravity.
Natural cycles (phases, seasons, tides)
The earlier focus on scale and definitions and gravity should set the stage for this day, which will include many activities on seasons and on phases, and some observations and data activities on tides.
Electromagnetism, light-year, spectroscopy, imaging
Projecting a visible spectrum and examining how we see it
Looking at wavelengths and frequencies, discussing non-visible types of light
Examining some spectra
Using the ALTAs to take random spectra
Examining images taken—different types of data collected (photos in various frequencies)
Characteristics of objects in the Solar System
Looking at the planets, moons, Sun, comets, and asteroids: discussing with respect to images and spectra
Focus is not on detailed comparisons with Earth, but instead, on broad differences in mass, density, categorizing—those items likely to be tested on STAAR tests.
Examining the relationship between landforms, earthquakes, and plate tectonics, through an examination of the data.
Characteristics of the Universe
These resources and activities are geared toward meeting the 8th grade TEKS 8.8 A-E, and build upon the content included in Components of the Solar System (first workshop) and Electromagnetism, Light Year, Spectroscopy (3rd workshop).
These resources focus on understanding how science works and what a hypothesis and theory are; we discussed them during the October teleconference. Please add your comments!
