what’s the “big idea”? asu’s gk-12 program what’s the “big idea”? asu’s gk-12...
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What’s the “Big Idea”?What’s the “Big Idea”? ASU’s GK-12 ASU’s GK-12
ProgramProgram
What’s the “Big Idea”?What’s the “Big Idea”? ASU’s GK-12 ASU’s GK-12
ProgramProgram
Big Ideas in the Classroom
Our poster emphasizes Big Ideas in science that link scientific research with science education to show how Big Ideas can increase science literacy in grades K-12.
Names of participating Fellow-Teacher Partners, and schools where lessons have been executed, are provided.
The relevant Unifying Concept is specified.
The light blue and lavender areas of each panel summarize big ideas and how they are integral to a Graduate Fellow’s research. This large green box shows how these big ideas are integrated into lesson plans, learning objectives and
activities. Relevant National Science
Standards are listed while “Science as Inquiry” is common to all lessons.
Spotlight Spotlight on the on the Big IdeaBig Idea
StructuringStructuringGraduate Graduate ResearchResearch
Big Ideas in… Big Ideas in… ASU’s GK-12 ProgramASU’s GK-12 Program
Big Ideas in… Big Ideas in… ASU’s GK-12 ProgramASU’s GK-12 Program
Come explore the GK-12 Program at ASU!
Discussions of big ideas and how they inform and structure Graduate Fellows’ research. These big ideas also inform lesson plans.
Discussions of big ideas and how they can inform and structure Graduate Fellows’ research. These big ideas also inform lesson plans.
Spotlight Spotlight on the on the Big IdeaBig Idea
StructuringStructuringGraduate Graduate ResearchResearch
Big Ideas in... Big Ideas in... the the Development Development
of Common Genetic of Common Genetic DiseasesDiseases
Big Ideas in... Big Ideas in... the the Development Development
of Common Genetic of Common Genetic DiseasesDiseases
The risk of disease can be estimated byassessing family history:by identifying genetic and environmental factors that predispose a family to a disease.
All humans have the samegenes but inherit differentforms of each, resulting in a population with a rangeof physical characteristics.
Who is at Risk of DevelopingCommon Diseases?
Celena N. LeClair, Graduate FellowTrina Howard, Teacher-Partner 5th and 6th Grade, Lowell ElementaryHeredity
Evolution and Equilibrium
Students learn that common chronic diseases run in families and are caused by the combined action of multiple genes and environmental factors.
Diseases Diseases run in familiesrun in families
and have aand have agenetic andgenetic and
environmentalenvironmentalcomponentcomponent
Traits Traits are inheritedare inherited
through through one or moreone or more
genes genes
Students explore heritability by tracking the passage of genes (represented by jelly beans) through generations of a family. They also explore how certain environmental factors contribute to disease and how the public is informed of risks.
Students then design their own methods to promote healthy lifestyles and to reduce the risk of developing common diseases.
Big Ideas in... Big Ideas in... the Evolution the Evolution of Modern Human Cognitionof Modern Human CognitionBig Ideas in... Big Ideas in... the Evolution the Evolution
of Modern Human Cognitionof Modern Human Cognition
Tracking evolutionary relationships among hominids helps define how cognitive capacities changed over time.
Big IdeaBig Idea
Photo Comparing the physical and behavioral traits of
hominids helps define what cognitive adaptations are unique to Homo sapiens.
Classification Station:Organizing the Diversity of Life
Elisabeth V. Culley, Graduate FellowShannon Harshman, Teacher-Partner 8th Grade, Gavilan Peak SchoolDiversity & Adaptation Evolution and Equilibrium
Students then use the adaptive traits of eleven different species to design their own classification systems and to define new taxonomic groups.
Students explore fossil remains to observe variation among different organisms. Students are introduced to the adaptive nature of many physical and behavioral attributes and consider how those attributes may reflect evolutionary relationships.
Species Species EvolveEvolve
Over TimeOver Time
Diversity Diversity in Form in Form
and Functionand Function
The lesson is a ‘performance of understanding’ for principles and methods that are integral to many sciences.
Big Ideas in... Big Ideas in... Organic Light Emitting MaterialsOrganic Light Emitting Materials
Big Ideas in... Big Ideas in... Organic Light Emitting MaterialsOrganic Light Emitting Materials
Big IdeaBig Idea
Photo By making small changes to molecules, properties can be tailored to suit a specific purpose.
By making small changes to molecules, properties can be tailored to suit a specific purpose.
Eric Turner, Graduate FellowHeather Lange-Bush, Teacher-Partner 7th & 8th Grade, Lowell ElementaryTransfer of Energy Systems, Order, and Organization
Transfer ofTransfer ofEnergyEnergy
AlternativeAlternativeEnergyEnergy
By making small changes to
molecules, properties can be tailored to suit a specific purpose.
Color, Contrast, and Clarity:Exploring the Next Generation of Color Displays and Lighting Students learn how some materials can convert incoming energy into light energy.
With class-made spectroscopes and UVexcited phosphors, they explore how colored light mixes, and devise possible ways that the light emission can be utilized.Through this inquiry based lesson, students explore the dynamics of light emission, and use their findings to propose novel ways of using emitting phosphors to improve existing lighting technology.
Big IdeaBig Idea
A cross disciplinary approach is key for
strategic resolution of environmental
problems.
Separation of Mixtures:Properties in Matter
E. Y. Siu, Graduate FellowB. L. Fireng, Teacher-Partner 8th Grade, Willis Jr. High SchoolProperties in Matter Constancy, Change, and Measurement
In this problem-based inquiry lesson, students learn to explore resolutions for a “contaminant” problem using scientific inquiry on properties in matter.
Students identify properties in matter and utilize these properties to separate “contaminants” from liquid mixtures.
Sensors for Sensors for detection of detection of
air air pollutantspollutants
Atmospheric Atmospheric ChemistryChemistry
Big Ideas in... Big Ideas in... Properties Properties in Environmental Matterin Environmental MatterBig Ideas in... Big Ideas in... Properties Properties in Environmental Matterin Environmental Matter
Use of selective adsorption processes for sensitive detection.
Students use physical properties in matter to separate “contaminants” from their environment.
Big Ideas in... Big Ideas in... Emerging Infectious Emerging Infectious
DiseasesDiseases
Big Ideas in... Big Ideas in... Emerging Infectious Emerging Infectious
DiseasesDiseases Big IdeaBig Idea
Influenza inquiry Lab
Joanna Malukiewicz, Graduate FellowMelissa Mara, Teacher-Partner 9th Grade, Sandra Day O’Connor HSScience in Personal and Social Perspectives
Evolution and Equilibrium
The main objectives of this activity are to define an epidemic both qualitatively and quantitatively. Another aim is to design and implement a vaccine against the flu.
VaccinationVaccinationand and
PathogensPathogens
Disease andDisease andImmunityImmunity
Ecology, host-parasite interactions, and host
immunity drive the evolution of pathogens
and the level of pathogen virulence.
H6
H6
Flu
N3
N3
Effective vaccines are based on anunderstanding of thebiology, ecology, and evolution of infectiouspathogens.
This activity allows students to explore and study real scientific data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) based on seasonal surveillance of influenza activity.Data is presented in graphical and tabular formats.
As a result, the lab facilitates student understanding of how epidemics occur, basic immunology, and how vaccines help reduce the risk of infection by pathogens.
Big Ideas in... Big Ideas in... Urban EcologyUrban EcologyBig Ideas in... Big Ideas in... Urban EcologyUrban Ecology
Big IdeaBig Idea
As we change plant types,or landscapes, we alter the
structure and functionof arthropod communities.
What’s Buggin’ My School?
Laura Taylor-Taft, Graduate FellowFrank Hendricsen, Teacher-Partner 8th Grade, Bogle Jr. High SchoolPopulations & Ecosystems Form and Function
Students compare arthropod communities in two different landscapes in their schoolyard. An area with native species of cacti, shrubs, and trees and a gravel base is compared to an area with turfgrass and high water use trees.
Human impact Human impact on population on population
dynamicsdynamics
Urban EcologyUrban Ecology
Arthropod communities can change as landscapes change. This change can bemeasured.
Students formulate and investigate their own questions, such as: Do the number of arthropods differ between landscapes? Do the types of arthropods (predator, herbivore, etc.) differ between landscapes? Students use pitfall traps and shake branches to collect crawling arthropods and use insect nets to sweep for flying arthropods.
Big IdeaBig Idea
In scientific research, understanding when is essential to understanding what, why, and how. The principles behind the dating techniques are essential to understanding how things change over time.
School Yard Archaeology:Dating Techniques
Melissa Kruse, Graduate FellowKate Butorac, Teacher-Partner 10th Grade, Centennial High SchoolOrigin and Evolution of Earth Systems Evidence, models, and explanation
Evidence,Evidence,Models,Models,
& Explanation& Explanation
ChangChangee
OverOverTimeTime
Explanations are based on the
evidence collected in systematic ways. Models such as drawings or maps help explain the evidence.
Students will understand radiometric and relative dating principles through inquiry.Students will excavate a portion of their “schoolyard,” record and map observations, and interpret results from a radiometric lab report. They will summarize interpretations in written history of their schoolyard.Students will understand the methods used to determine the age of objects and past events through first hand experience. Students will also gain experience analyzing and interpreting data.
Big Ideas in... Big Ideas in... DeterminingDeterminingthe Age of Objects and the Age of Objects and
EventsEvents
Big Ideas in... Big Ideas in... DeterminingDeterminingthe Age of Objects and the Age of Objects and
EventsEventsBig Ideas in... Big Ideas in... NanowiresNanowiresBig Ideas in... Big Ideas in... NanowiresNanowires
Big IdeaBig Idea
Photo
Crystal Is As Crystal Does:An Introduction to Crystalline Solids
Electrical Electrical Properties Properties
of of nanowires nanowires
Understanding how atoms combine to make
single crystal nanowires is essential to
understanding the electrical properties of
the structures.
Platinum atoms deposited onto a Silicon surface form nanowires useful in nano-sized transistors. The structures represent only one combination of these atoms.
Students learn about the nature of crystalline solids through methods of inquiry. Students explore different atomic bonding structures by combining fruit snacks with toothpicks into repeatable patterns making crystals. Students then calculate the changes in total energy to see if their crystal lowered the energy of the combined atoms.
This activity enables students to understand how structure and energy are related in crystalline solids. Samuel Tobler, Graduate FellowCathy Denogean, Teacher-PartnerKaren Todd, Teacher-Partner 7th & 8th Grade, Superior Jr. HighTransfer of Energy Systems, Order, and Organization
NanotechnologyNanotechnology Big IdeaBig Idea
How Do Computers Remember?
Trudy Sherman, Graduate FellowHeather Williams, Teacher-Partner 8th Grade, Cheyenne Elementary Properties of Matter Systems, Orders, and Organization
Computer Computer Technology is Technology is
Changing Changing RapidlyRapidly
Big Ideas in... Big Ideas in... Quality Quality Attributes of Embedded Attributes of Embedded
SystemsSystems
Big Ideas in... Big Ideas in... Quality Quality Attributes of Embedded Attributes of Embedded
SystemsSystems
Advances in computer performance are based on identifying and characterizing properties of the elements used to build them
Quality attributes
can be used to describe the desired characteristics of embedded systems (computers)
Computer Computer Needs Vary Needs Vary
Based on the Based on the ApplicationApplication
Students learn the principles of how computers store information electronically.
Students explore the characteristics of different elements with regard to conductivity and magnetism.
Through hypothesis and experimentation students discover how the properties of the elements used to build computer memory might affect performance.