Answer each question with a good answer enough to have a discussion afterwards. Be able to engage the reader.
Choose an energy source from this list: petroleum, coal, wood, wind, or hydro-electric. Explain how we use this energy source, and how that energy is a transformation of prior solar energy.
Water is one of the few substances that doesn’t continually contract and become denser as it cools. If the inversion that takes place at 4° Celsius didn’t occur, our lives and our environment would be different. Identify and describe two such aspects that would change if water molecules didn’t make this change.
Identify an example of how we can detect sound waves moving differently in at least two different mediums. What is the nature of sound waves and why would that be a factor in how those waves move in the example you cited?
Describe two ways that you could illustrate the unique properties found in white light. How could this information be used to explain why we see everyday things the way we do?
What is the difference between an atom, a molecule, and a compound? Identify two common examples of each and explain why each of the examples you have chosen is correctly identified as an atom, molecule or compound. Describe an analogy or a creative way of explaining the distinctions between these three classifications.
On the original series, MacGyver was a television character that could build things from everyday objects, frequently using chemistry and his knowledge of the many trends in the periodic table. What are two of the trends that are found in the periodic table? What is responsible for each of these trends occurring within the periodic table? Use this information to explain what part of the periodic table would contain the best elements to use from the trend that you selected.
Carbon dioxide is in the news frequently in connection to climate change. What are two ways that increased carbon dioxide has a negative impact on the environment? Focus your discussion on the impacts related to carbon dioxide’s role relative to acids, bases, solutions, and pH. How could these negative impacts on the environment have an impact on you?
Did you collect rocks as a child? Do you still? Do you have a child in your life who does? What draws you to a rock that you would pick up or take a closer look at? The shape? Striated colors? Sparkly specks? The smoothness? Perhaps you choose rocks based on their likelihood of being good skippers? Many of us enjoy the beauty and function of the rocks around us, but we don’t often know what kind of rocks they actually are or why they are found where they are. Rock collecting is a great activity to incorporate with physical exercise, like a nature walk, or even a walk around a neighborhood. To ensure that you can answer some of the questions that may come from children on nature walk like this: Identify one igneous rock, one sedimentary rock, and one metamorphic rock and describe how each could be formed. Why did you select the rocks that you did? Have you seen these rocks in nature, and if so, where?
Have you experienced an earthquake or an active volcano? What was this experience like? When and where was this? If you have experienced either of these events, you have witnessed the extreme forces and amounts of energy that are involved. Explain how either earthquakes or volcanoes are connected to the formation of mountains. What is the connection between earthquakes and volcanoes as they relate to plate tectonics?
New ideas take time to be accepted. This was true when Wegener proposed that not only mountains could move, but so could entire continents. While there were many facts that supported this idea, identify and explain three of those key facts that support Wegener’s hypothesis about Pangaea. What would some of the impacts have been on the environment as those continents drifted from one climate to the next?
The solid and liquid forms of water, as well as the daily variation between those forms are involved in the constant reshaping of the Earth’s surface. Identify and explain two ways that this occurs and what effect these changes have on the environment, in addition to the reshaping.
How are the sun, the oceans, and the freshwater bodies of water connected to weather and climate? How do you see yourself teaching these concepts and connections?
What discrepancies existed between your personal knowledge and current scientific thinking as it relates to the Earth and physical science topics of this course? How will you address any discrepancies between personal beliefs and what is required of you to successfully teach elementary students?
The scale of the solar system and the universe is difficult to grasp. How could you teach such concepts so that they are accurate yet appropriate for elementary students? What difficulties do you foresee, and how could you address them?
