4.28
River Cutters.
Reprinted with revisions. Jefferey Kaufmann, Robert C. Knott, and Lincoln Bergman. Great Explorations in Math and Science (GEMS) series. Berkeley, Calif.: Lawrence Hall of Science, 1995.
Program Overview
The Great Explorations in Math and Science (GEMS) series includes more than 50 teacher's guides and handbooks for preschool through grade 10. About 35 of these are appropriate for middle school. The series also includes several assembly presenter's guides and exhibit guides. New guides and handbooks continue to be developed, and current titles are revised frequently. The series is designed to teach key science and mathematics concepts through activity-based learning. The time needed to complete GEMS units varies from about 2 to 10 class sessions.
Teacher's Guide
Recommended grade level:
6-8+.
River Cutters gives students a sense of events in a river system over time. The unit includes not only earth science and ecology but social studies. Concepts of erosion, sequencing of geological events, pollution, and human manipulation of rivers are introduced. Students first create their own model rivers, observing and recording information about them. During the first 4 sessions of the unit, they acquire geological terminology and begin to understand rivers as dynamic, ever-changing systems. During 3 optional sessions, students have the opportunity to explore the relationship between the angle of the river models and the events that occur in the developing river, experimenting with dams and modeling problems in toxic waste disposal. Students develop skills such as designing models, experimenting, recording data, communicating, and decision making. It is important that diatomaceous earth--the type used for swimming pool filtration--be used and that teachers make a few trial runs with the river model prior to the class session.
The first 4 sessions in River Cutters require about 45 minutes each; the 3 optional sessions require 45 to 60 minutes each. The lesson plan for each session includes an overview, a materials list, and detailed instructions (including diagrams) for preparing and for conducting the activity. The guide also includes background information, summary outlines for each lesson, reproducible data sheets, and suggestions for related reading.
Key to Content Standards: 5-8 (see app. C)
UNIFYING CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES: Systems, order, and organization; evidence, models, and explanation; change, constancy, and measurement; form and function.
SCIENCE AS INQUIRY: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry; understandings about scientific inquiry.
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE: Structure of the earth system; earth's history.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Abilities of technological design.
SCIENCE IN PERSONAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES: Populations, resources, and environments; natural hazards.
HISTORY AND NATURE OF SCIENCE: Nature of science; history of science.
Price:
$16 (ISBN 0-912511-67-2).
Publisher/supplier:
LHS GEMS.
Materials:
Available locally, or from commercial suppliers.
Topic Index listings linked to this entry
Use these listings to find related entries.
Earth science, Physical Sciences: Glencoe Physical Science, Earth Sciences: Blue Planet, ~ Earth at Hand: A Collection of Articles from NSTA's Journals, ~ Earth Science Investigations, ~ On the Rocks: Earth Science Activities for Grades 1-8, ~ Science Experiments: Earth Science, ~ Water, Stones, and Fossil Bones, Multi & Applied Sciences: Integrated Science: Book One.
Ecology, Life Sciences: Exploring Life Science, ~ Glencoe Life Science, ~ Middle School Life Science, ~ Cranial Creations in Life Science: Interdisciplinary and Cooperative Activities, ~ Exploring with Wisconsin Fast Plants, ~ The Microcosmos Curriculum Guide to Exploring Microbial Space, Environmental Sciences: Eco-Inquiry: A Guide to Ecological Learning Experiences for the Upper Elementary/Middle Grades, ~ Ecology Lab, ~ Understanding Basic Ecological Concepts, ~ Discovering Deserts, ~ Experiments That Explore Recycling, ~ Wading into Wetlands, Earth Sciences: Exploring Earth Science, Multi & Applied Sciences: The Local Environment, ~ Matter and Energy in the Biosphere, ~ Science Interactions: Course 1, ~ Super Science Activities: Favorite Lessons from Master Teachers.
Erosion, Earth Sciences: Concepts and Challenges in Earth Science, ~ Exploring Earth Science, ~ Glencoe Earth Science, ~ Earth's Solid Crust, ~ Erosion, Shrinking Farmlands, ~ Earth Science Investigations, ~ Earth: The Water Planet, Multi & Applied Sciences: SciencePlus Technology and Society: Level Green, ~ Science 2000: Science 1 (Grade 7), ~ Exciting Science and Engineering: A Series of Problem Solving Tasks for Seven to Fourteen Year Olds, ~ Forecasting the Future: Exploring Evidence for Global Climate Change.
Models, Physical Sciences: Glencoe Physical Science, ~ Matter: Building Block of the Universe, ~ Chemical Interactions, ~ Experimenting with Model Rockets, ~ Inventor's Lab, ~ Newton's Toy Box, ~ Experiments with Balloons, ~ Experiments with Motion, ~ LEGO Technic I Activity Center, ~ Machines, ~ Science Experiments: Chemistry and Physics, ~ Simple and Motorized Machines Activity Pack, ~ Soap Films and Bubbles, ~ Structures, Life Sciences: Glencoe Life Science, ~ Heredity: The Code of Life, ~ DNA--From Genes to Proteins, ~ Food, Energy, and Growth, ~ From Genes to Jeans: An Activity-Based Unit on Genetic Engineering and Agriculture, ~ The Human Body: How Can I Maintain and Care for Myself?, ~ An Introduction to Biotechnology: Book 2, ~ Life Changes through Time, ~ You and Your Body, ~ Zebra Mussel Mania, ~ The Molecular Model of DNA and Its Replication Kit, ~ Order and Diversity in the Living World: Teaching Taxonomy and Systematics in Schools, Environmental Sciences: Plastics in Our Lives, ~ Water: Can We Keep It Fit for Life?, ~ Environmental Issues: Intermediate, ~ Environmental Resource Guide: Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention, ~ Global Awareness for Students (GAS): Studies in Climate, ~ H2O Below: An Activity Guide for Groundwater Study, ~ STV: Water, Earth Sciences: Project STAR: The Universe in Your Hands, ~ Asteroid!, ~ Earth, Moon, and Stars, ~ Earth Processes, ~ Earthquake!, ~ Earthquakes, ~ The Moons of Jupiter, ~ Project Earth Science: Geology, Stories in Stone, ~ The Universe: Exploring Stars, Constellations, and Galaxies, ~ Earthquakes: A Teacher's Package for K-6, ~ Earth Science Investigations, ~ Earthy Things, ~ Hands-On Geology: K-12 Activities and Resources, ~ Janice VanCleave's Earthquakes: Mind-Boggling Experiments You Can Turn into Science Fair Projects, ~ On the Rocks: Earth Science Activities for Grades 1-8, ~ Project SPICA: A Teacher Resource to Enhance Astronomy Education, ~ A Sedimentary Geologists' Guide to Helping K-12 Earth Science Teachers: Hints, Ideas, Activities and Resources, Multi & Applied Sciences: Models and Designs, ~ Prime Science: Level C, ~ Energy Transformations: Fourth Module in Bio-Related Technologies Unit, ~ Hot Water and Warm Homes from Sunlight, ~ How Telecommunication Works: How People Use Energy to Communicate, ~ If Shipwrecks Could Talk, ~ JASON IV Curriculum: Baja California Sur, ~ Life: Here? There? Elsewhere? The Search for Life on Venus and Mars, ~ Packaging, ~ A Sunken Ship, ~ The Teaching Tank Discovery Book, ~ The Teaching Tank Discovery Book, ~ Technology Science Mathematics Connection Activities, ~ Transformations: Science, Technology and Society.
Pollution, Life Sciences: Ecosystems, ~ Ecosystems, ~ Biodiversity: Understanding the Variety of Life, ~ The Interrelationships of Soil, Water and Fertilizers and How They Affect Plant Growth, Environmental Sciences: Changes in Ecosystems, ~ Chemical Survey and Solutions and Pollution, ~ Pollution, ~ Endangered Species: Wild and Rare, ~ Environmental Resource Guide: Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention, ~ The Environment: The Science and Politics of Protecting Our Planet, Earth Sciences: The Great Ocean Rescue, Multi & Applied Sciences: Middle Grades Science: A Problem-Solving Approach, Seventh Grade, ~ Prime Science: Level C, ~ Science 2000: Science 2 (Grade 8), ~ Minds-on Science: For the Sake of the Nation.
Rivers, Life Sciences: Zebra Mussel Mania, Earth Sciences: Flood!,
Toxic waste, Environmental Sciences: Toxic Waste: A Teaching Simulation, ~ Understanding Basic Ecological Concepts,
