Fecal Coliform Bacteria
Students need to understand fecal coliform bacteria. This is bacteria that comes from mammal waste and can be an indicator of a sewage spill, or something else that contaminates the …
Biological Oxygen Demand
I live in arid Southern California where surface water is scarce and it is impossible for my students to measure Biological Oxygen Demand in person. So, I filmed the process …
Protected: Trees Please! 5E
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Math Differentiation in Science
Students in science classes often have differing math abilities and its difficult to cover math without boring some kids and losing other kids. One way to approach is to allow …
APES Math
There are many ways to practice AP® Environmental Science (APES) math. As a teacher, you will decide which approach is best your own students. You may have students who find …
Teaching El Nino
Students and many teachers struggle with El Nino. Being in California, we have an advantage in that we know what “normal” conditions are so its easier to understand the “opposite …
LD-50 Graph and Math Practice
Students can use this worksheet to practice graphing LD-50 data. This is an important skill for the APES exam. Students will also practice dimensional analysis questions using LD-50 numbers.
GPP/NPP Virtual Lab
I don’t always have time for students to do a lab. Every day is precious. And, sometimes I don’t have the funds to do a certain lab. Sometimes, I find …
Soil Salinization Lab
One of the most common (and important!) labs in AP® Environmental Science is the Soil Salinization Lab. There are many versions of the lab that are great. This is a …
Things Go Wrong in Ecocolumns-and its OK!
Things will go wrong in ecocolumns, they always do. And that’s part of the magic of ecocolumns. Being able to say “hmmm” or “huh, I don’t know” and being okay …
Electricity 5E using Kill-A-Watt Meters
Updated Spring 2019! This year, I revised my Kill-A-Watt lab with a lot more math, better leading questions to help students to figure out the concepts, a phenomena that is …
lab / Labs For CED Units / Unit 5 / Units
Tragedy of the Commons 5E
A great way to teach Tragedy of the Commons is with a “fishing” activity. There are many ways to run this simulation that are wonderful. Some teachers use goldfish crackers, …
Ocean Acidification Experimental Design Lab
Students learn not only about the effects of increasing acidity in the ocean on marine organisms, but also practice their experimental design skills in this Ocean Acidification Lab. In addition, …
10 Scientific Concepts Learned from Ecocolumns
Ecocolumns can teach the kids A LOT of scientific concepts if you are purposeful with the learning. If not, the kids just enjoy growing plants and having a fish and …
Where to Find Science Grants and Other Funding
When I was beginning science teacher 20 years ago, a very wise science education professor told me to find the money and don’t buy supplies for my class out of …
Ecocolumns with a Small Budget and with a Big Budget
Sometimes new teachers panic when they see all the shiny probes, grow lights and data measuring stuff that veteran teachers have. Don’t worry…most of us started out with limited supplies …
Building the Aquatic Chamber in Ecocolumns
After two weeks of draining your ecocolumns, its time to build the aquatic chamber. DO NOT RUSH this step. No fish for two more days! Student directions for building ecocolumns. …
Ecocolumn Fish–“O Happy Day!”
After weeks of your students being excited about getting a fish, today is the day! Word of caution–don’t add a fish for two weeks after building the initial column and …
Owl Pellet Dissection-Trophic Levels and Energy Loss
Owl pellet dissection is used to teach ecology topics such as food webs, biomass pyramids and energy loss. Buying Pellets and Materials. Both small and large pellets work with this …
Bugs, Worms, and Leaf Litter…..O my! (Adding detritivores to EcoColumns)
Adding worms is almost as much fun as getting a fish! (NO FISH for two weeks–seriously, don’t do it) After a week of letting the seeds germinate and grow, its …