Innovative
Technology in
Science Inquiry
Scale Up
ITSI-SU

ITSI-SU Units

Download the PDF version of this page to print

High School

Course M/P Status Topic Unit # Model/Probe Investigate…
Physics M/P C/T Kinematics Collisions 4 MW/Temp/Forces Force and collisions
M C/T Electricity Ohm's Law 3 PhET

The atomic representation of current &
voltage
M C/T Dynamics Ramps & Friction 2 PhET Acceleration on a ramp
M/P C/T Waves Sound waves 5 PhET/Microphones The wave nature of sound
M C/T Light-matter
Interactions		 Light and matter 2 MW model/PhET Energy levels and light spectra
M/P C/T Magnetism Magnetic Fields 2 PhET/Voltage Magnetic fields near magnetics and wires
Chemistry M C/T Phase Change Global Warming 3 NetLogo Reactions in the atmosphere
M C/T Chemical Reactions Stoichiometry 2 MW Atomic connections to stoichiometry
M/P C/T Bonding Driving forces of reactions 3 MW/Temp Le Chatelier's Principle
M/P C/T Solutions Dissolving 3 MW/Temp A model of dissolving
M/P C/T Heats of Reaction Heats of Reaction 3 MW/Temp Temperature changes during reaction
Biology M C/T Protein Form & Function Protein structure 2 MW DNA sequences and the shape of proteins
M C/T Population Genetics Evolution 3NetLogo Natural selection and evolution
P C/T Homeostatis Body Temperature 2 Temp Body temperature under different conditions
M C/T Population Growth Population Growth 3 NetLogo Various population and predation models
M C/T Ecosystems Ecosystems 3NetLogo Indicators of ecosystem health

Middle School

COURSE M/P Status TOPIC ACTIVITY #MODEL/PROBE INVESTIGATE…
Earth
Science		 M C/T Minerals Intro to Crystals 2 MW The effect of heating and cooling on crystals
M/P C/T The Atmosphere Global Warming 3 NetLogo/Temp The Greenhouse Effect
M C/T Earthquakes Seismic waves 3 Seismic Eruption Earthquakes/volcanic plots for past eruptions
P C/T Phase Change Water cycle 4 Temp The effect of temperature on states of water
M C/T Solar System Planetary orbits 4 PhET/NetLogo Kepler's Law
P C/T Weather Monitoring weather 2 Temp Tracking weather changes
Physical
Science		 M/P C/T Thermodynamics Heat & Temp 2 MW/Temp Heating and cooling of liquids
M/P C/T Phase Change Phase Change 3 MW/Temp Phase change at the atomic level
P C/T Waves Sound 4 Microphone The properties of sound
P C/T Kinematics Motion 3 Motion Velocity and acceleration
M C/T Molecular Motion Diffusion 3 MW Diffusion and osmosis
P C/T Energy Energy Conversions 4 Temp/Voltage Ways various forms of energy are exchanged
Life
Science		 M C/T Macromolecules Tree of Life 3 MW The function of different kinds of molecules
M C/T Genetics Inheritance 1 BioLogica™ Inheritance of dragons
P C/T Plant respiration Transpiration 2 Rel. Humidity/Light The relationship between light and photosynthesis
P C/T Human physiology Human Response 3 Temp/Voltage Galvanic skin response
M C/T Ecosystems Population Growth 3 NetLogo Various population and predation models
P C/T Ecosystems Greenhouse 4 Light/Temp Design and monitoring of a working greenhouse

Upper Elementary School (grades 5-6)

COURSE M/P Status TOPIC ACTIVITY #MODEL/PROBE INVESTIGATE…
Earth
Science		 P T/P Seasons Sunlight and Temperature 6 Light/Temp The relationship of distance and tilt of the earth on the seasons
M/P T/P Earth System Heating with Sunlight 5 NetLogo/Temp/Light The heating of the Earth's surface with sunlight
M/P C/T Phase Change Water Cycle 5 MW/NetLogo/Rel.Humidity Evaporation, condensation, & freezing of water
Physical
Science		 P C/T Energy Temp of Mixing Water and Air 6 Temp Temperature changes when fluids are mixed
P T/P Simple Machines Levers & Pulleys 5 Force Lifting with levers and pulleys
M/P C/T Motion & Forces Friction 4 Force/MW/Temp Frictional effect on matter
M/P T/P Motion & Forces Movement 5 Motion/Camera/PhET The motion of objects, including humans
M/P C/T Electricity Testing Circuits 5 Voltage/NetLogo/PhET Parallel and series circuits
Life
Science		 M/P C/T Ecosystem Monitoring a Living Plant 5 NetLogo/Rel.Humidity/Camera Basic needs of plants
P T/P Design/Technology Design a Greenhouse 6 NetLogo/Rel.Humidity/Camera Building & monitoring a working greenhouse
M T/P Ecosystem Food Web 3 NetLogo Relationships between producers & consumers

Elementary School (grades 3-4)

COURSE M/P Status TOPIC ACTIVITY #MODEL/PROBE INVESTIGATE…
Earth
Science		 P T/P Weather Journaling Weather 6 Temp/Rel.Humidity/Camera Daily weather conditions
M T/P Environment Water Cycle 4 Flash The formation of clouds
M/P T/P Properties of Materials Erosion 3 NetLogo/pH/Camera Changes in land forms
Physical
Science		 P C/T Sound Making Music 5 Microphone The properties of sound
M C/T Electricity Static Electricity 2 PhET The behavior of like and unlike charges
P C/T Electricity Circuit Building 4 Voltage/Genecon Building & testing of a simple circuit
P T/P Design & Technology Playground Design 6 Force/Motion Building & test of models of playground equipment
P/M C/T Balance & Motion Friction 5 Force/Flash/Camera Pulling & pushing objects on various surfaces
Life
Science		 P T/P Human Body Sensing 5 Temp/Light How we sense hot/cold & light
M C/T Structure of Life Stems, Roots, & Leaves 5 Flash/Food-o-meter Basic parts & needs of plants
M/P T/P Characteristics of Organisms Camouflage 3 NetLogo/Camera/Light How organisms survive

Legend:

M=Uses models.
P=Uses probes.

C=Completed.
T=Tested in classrooms.
P=Partly developed.

#=Number of activities per unit.