National Science Standard 1...Science As Inquiry

NS.5 - 8.1
Abilities Necessary to do Scientific Inquiry
Understandings about Scientific Inquiry

NS.9 - 12.1
Abilities Necessary to do Scientific Inquiry
Understandings about Scientific Inquiry

Speaker...Bill Nye "The Science Guy"
Nye Labs   

Click Here To View Mr. Nye's Presentation On-line
Live stream or file download options available

Essential Questions

1. What is the key element in scientific inquiry and discovery?
2. How do you know if and when you have reached a significant point in your discovery?


Lesson Plans

Pre-Presentation: Give your students a few opportunities to observe and think through some "small details" of the Earth. In his presentation, Bill will address just how the smallest observations can lead to the most powerful of changes!

  • Nature Processes:
    Objective: To think through then visualize the detailed steps involved in some of nature's processes that we may take for granted.
    Materials: Ten slips of paper with a different process written on each piece, a small basket to hold the pieces of paper.
    Activity: Divide the class into two groups. Have someone from each group pick a slip of paper out of the basket without looking. Give both groups about 15 minutes to practice acting out the process they picked. (Away from each other would be best) Tell them they may only use props if it is something they have handy. Nothing needs to be made for the process. They should be able to act it out TOGETHER, everyone having a part in the process. It's less like a game of charades and more like a dramatic performance...often very comical! Give each group a chance to perform their process for the other group. Let members of the audience group try to guess what process in nature is being shown. After both groups have performed, have them choose papers again.

Suggested processes to write on your slips of paper:
A dandelion going to seed in the wind
Metamorphosis of a caterpillar
A wildfire growing
A rain storm from beginning to end
The food chain (mouse to bird of prey)
Sunrise to sunset
Life cycle of the frog
Life cycle of the chicken
A spider building a web
A volcano erupting

  • Inch by Inch:
    Objective: To give time to closely observe details in nature that the kids may be missing!
    Materials: Paper with one inch squares cut out of the middle of the paper, pencils, blank paper or journal.
    Activity: Hand the kids the papers with the holes in the middle and ask them to choose a spot outdoors to lay the paper on. Ask them to spend a few minutes observing only the area inside the opening. They will be studying two separate square inches and recording even the smallest of details. When everyone has finished, ask for volunteers to come up and describe their squares out loud to see if anyone can guess where they were. Using a classroom board, they could draw their inch and you could play a version of "pictionary" with the class.

Presentation Day: During his presentation, Bill will be showing 3-D photos of Mars. Consider placing an order with a local science catalog or use the directions below to make your own for the class.

Post-Presentation: Take what you have all heard and relate it to the study of global warming. Myth or fact?

  • Middle School Global Warming Project...an 8 week unit, freely available for download, covering many of the topics important to the Global Warming debate. Sponsored by NSF and LeTUS

  • Ozone: Good, Bad and the Ugly

  • Make Your Own Mars Dial!... Nye Labs gives you instructions for assembling one similar to the one Bill talks about in his presentation.

  • Creative Writing Assignment: Say to the students "Some scientists believe that dark matter exists in space. Dark matter cannot be seen because it does not create or reflect light. It also cannot be detected by radio waves. Based on your knowledge of matter and light, do believe that there is dark matter beyond our solar system? Why or why not? How would this discovery change how we think of our galaxy?"


Additional Educator Resources

Books:

Videos:

Journal Question

As you grow older, you realize how many mysteries there are in nature and deep inside of people's minds. Listen to or read the words of John Denver's song, It Amazes Me, and think about what mysteries you would like to know more about. How would you investigate these curiosities? Would the scientific methods you've learned help you? Explain.



Student Self-Evaluation

1. This speaker emphasized…
2. One fact that surprised me was…
3. I will always remember…
4. The important message I would like to pass on is…

Teacher Evaluation

1. The student used the journal question as a reflection after the program.
2. The student was able to answer the self-evaluation questions.
3. The student worked as part of a team to create and perform one of the Nature Processes.
4. The student completed the Inch by Inch experiment and observation form.
It Amazes Me

He came looking for the answers
To some questions on his mind
Seeking truth and understanding
In the hope that he would find
A way to better serve his brothers
And his sisters in the sun
Sharing all that he has given
Giving all to everyone

Come and listen to the story
Of a journey once begun
Of a people and their plenty
And their season in the sun
And how they gave themselves to symbols
And things that they could hold
Living lives in desperation
In the fear of letting go

It amazes me
And I know the wind will surely someday
Blow it all away
It amazes me
And I’m so very grateful that you made the world this way

For our paths have come together now
Where do we go from here
Will our differences divide us
Must we always live in fear
For there are things that we must move through
Some things to cast aside
But our father watches over us
Our mother will provide

It amazes me
And I know the wind will someday surely
Blow it all away
It amazes me
And I’m so very grateful that you made the world this way

It amazes me
It amazes me
It amazes me

...Lyrics by John Denver

Bill
Nye

Standard 1
Amory
Lovins

Standard 2
Jeanne
McCarty

Standard 3
Al
Worden

Standard 4
Thomas
Zung

Standard 5
Tracy
Fisher

Standard 6

John
Passacantando

Standard 6
Richard
Murphy

Standard 7

Curriculum Home Page     Symposium Home Page     Windstar Home Page

The suggested links on the curriculum pages have been recommended by professional educators.
Not all of the sites were created by the Windstar Foundation or our 2004 Symposium Speakers.
Please preview the sites to be sure they are appropriate for your students' age and level.

Curriculum written and designed by Debbie Murphy and Hollie Carter