Dam Nation: The Problem with Hydropower is a free 90 minute film that discusses the history and impact of dams in the United States. The video highlights the fact that there are 75,000 dams over three feet high in the United States, which is equivalent to building one every day since Thomas Jefferson was the President of the United States. The film also discusses the environmental impact of dams, including their negative impact on salmon runs and water quality. An argument is made by the filmmakers that hydropower cannot be marketed as green energy because of the environmental damage caused by dams. The video also discusses the history of dam failures, including the St. Francis Dam failure in California in 1928, which killed over 400 people. It feels like this film could provide an opportunity to connect with NGSS human impact standards and to also provide an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in an authentic engineering design issue by considering multiple solutions and stakeholders.
Category Archives: Video
Invitations to Inquiry (Free Secondary Science Supplements) Video Blog
Invitations to Inquiry by BSCS is a set of nicely-designed mini-units that provide thoughtful ways for secondary students to engage in the practice of analyzing and interpreting data. Below is a screencast where I provide a quick overview of the materials.
Other Links and Resources:
- Invitations to Inquiry Overview
- Invitations to Inquiry online asynchronous workshop (this is really great!)
BSCS: Limited Time FREE Access to Videoverse
As an educator of preservice teachers and a consultant working with inservice teachers I’m always on the lookout for FREE quality videos of science instruction. There are some entities that have great videos but they are now behind a subscription wall (I’m looking at you Teaching Channel). So when I saw that BSCS was offering FREE subscriptions for their BSCS Videoverse platform I quickly jumped on it.
Now, I will admit that I have only signed up today so I haven’t had time to give the videos a thorough review but I’m encouraged by the mix of videos at multiple grade bands. Videos are organized by different practices and instructional moves such as Revealing Student Ideas and Using Models and Representations. There are also places where multiple short clips from the same lesson have been collated together for viewing.
To sign up click HERE and then you’ll be directed to enter your name, email and make a password. If you enter the code FREEACCESS you will not need to enter any credit card information.
Posted in K-12 General Science, NGSS, Video
Video: People on the Street React to Seeing the Moon Up Close
There is obviously a lot going on in the world right now and I find that monitoring the news can be all-consuming. While I feel compelled to be engaged and enraged and involved. I also know that I need to occasionally step away and sink into some content that fills me up. This is not a new video but I stumbled on it recently and it brought me a bit of a smile and a reminder of the power of science, of observing, of looking closely…of perspective. Enjoy.
Posted in Earth/Space science, Video
My Top 10 Science Videos of 2020
It is challenging to determine the Top Videos in any category because there is just so much great content in every genre online. Having said that- here are my personal Top 10 Science Videos of 2020. There are examples here of several different content creators and entities along with a variety of kinds of science videos. There are explanatory videos, music videos, short videos, long videos, important videos, and just cool science videos. Let me know in the comments of any other science videos from 2020 that you would nominate. Enjoy!
Veritasium: These are the asteroids to worry about
Science with Tom: CRISPR (“7 Rings” Parody) – Science Rap Academy
SciShow-Bugs Aren’t Brainless! | Great Minds: Charles Henry Turner
minutephysics: Why Masks Work Better Than You’d Think
ASAP Science: What the COVID vaccine Does to Your Body
Mark Rober: World’s Largest Devil’s Toothpaste Explosion
NOVA PBS: Can We Cool the Planet?
Real Science: The Insane Biology of The Octopus
UW: Worn Tires Contribute to Chemical that Kills Coho Salmon
NOVA PBS: Signs of Life Found on Venus
Online PD: How to Support Home-Based Science Learning
The STEM Teaching Tools team/site recently hosted a Zoom professional development session titled- ClimeTime Professional Learning Session: How to Support Home-Based Science Learning During School Closures…it’s a catchy title to be sure.
Click the link HERE to see the presenters, goals, and resources. The video is embedded below. Enjoy!
Video: How to See Germs Spread
This video by Mark Rober (Check out some of Mark’s other science videos) is nicely done and could be pushed out to students as part of some online science learning. There are lots of Science & Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts at work here too if you wanted to get all NGSS nerdy with it.
Mark is also livestreaming a Science Class on his YouTube channel at 1pm PST Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. His first was today. He’s also posting the videos so you don’t have to catch the livestream.
Posted in K-12 General Science, Video
Video: Kilo Mode by Science with Tom feat. Acapella Science & Mike Likes Science
Today is the first day of school in my local school district so I thought we could kick off the year with an incredible science-themed song by Science with Tom and friends. I know many science teachers who like to get students thinking about measurements and units early in the year. Maybe this video could be helpful. By the way, if you’re not following Science with Tom you are definitely missing out on some fun science videos and songs. Enjoy!
Posted in Video
Video: Travel Deep Inside a Leaf
Back in the day (or a couple of years ago) I used to post lots of cool science videos on this site. I got away from that in order to focus on more “important” science education resources. Well- I think it’s time to start sprinkling in some fun science videos again. So here we go. This is not a brand new video but it is cool. Here is Travel Deep Inside a Leaf courtesy of California Academy of Sciences. Feels like it could be useful for high school biology and thinking about Scale, Proportion, & Quantity.
Posted in biology, high school, Video
A Capella Science: Evo-Devo Video
I haven’t posted a fun science video in awhile- so here you go! Enjoy and check out the other videos from A Capella Science.
Science for All 