It’s sedimentary, my dear Watson! Students become geology detectives as they learn about the rock cycle: what rocks are and how they are formed. A hands-on lab uses the same techniques geologists utilize in the field and informs students how rocks and minerals are used in everyday life! Follows badge requirements for Boy and Girl Scouts!
Ripple marks on the side of a hill, a boulder in a prairie; trail markers of a remarkable event! An introduction to the concept of the great cataclysmic Ice Age Floods, this presentation combines visuals with video and hand-on samples of Ice Age flood rocks. Students look for the evidence, interpret the landscape, and see what the Tri-Cities would look like if the floods were to occur today.
Includes PowerPoint!
Who was Kennewick Man? From his accidental discovery in 1996 to the ongoing controversy, Kennewick Man may be the most famous Tri-Citian who ever lived. Science and civics merge as students explore the issues brought to light by the controversial Kennewick Man discovery. Students participate in exercises to highlight the issues surrounding the dating of ancient objects and lively discussions of the civics of the case are encouraged. Elements of this program may be incorporated into other sessions (i.e. Anthropology/Archaeology or Native Americans) upon request.
The Columbia Basin Native American Indians lived very differently from better-known tribes. In this hands-on approach students use and discover what life was like for these unique people living in a shrub-steppe habitat.
Lewis and Clark were well-known explorers, but did you know they were also scientists? President Jefferson sent Lewis to Philadelphia to train under the leading scientists of the time before sending him to find answers to many scientific questions. Lewis was also looking for mammoths and sloths!
Choose the approach that best suits your class needs:
Dig into history as we use various objects made from native plants and rocks by exploring the ways scientists “read” artifacts to reconstruct the lives of early peoples. Younger students will conduct their own “dig” while using scientific inquiry to describe their findings. They will “excavate” coated chocolate pieces from a cookie using toothpicks.
Older students will see a PowerPoint program and handle items that include real artifacts and characteristic cultural items including baskets, pottery, jewelry, etc. The program features examples of the progression of crafts through time and discusses pot hunting (illegal excavating) and the damage it does to discovering knowledge of a peoples and their culture.
Craig Lewis of Lewis Wildlife Art provides information and animal furs for handling as he describes animals, their habitat, and the importance of conservation. Waterfowl will also be discussed.
Students explore the interrelationships among scientific history, the unfolding of World War II, the establishment of the Hanford project, and the development of plutonium. Experience hands-on history as students use real working artifacts (Geiger counters) to measure alpha and beta particles as they conduct experiments to shield radiation emitting from various sources.
Interactive Theater!
Join Aristotle, Galileo, and Sir Isaac Newton as they engage students in hands-on experiments exploring the notion of gravity. The scientific method emerges as the students assist the scientists in devising methods to test their theories. This program incorporates critical thinking, scientific discovery, and practical applications of the scientific method in an entertaining venue. Recommended for MSP.
What causes the weather? Why are some areas in the world deserts and others rain forests? CREHST staff introduces you to the hydrologic cycle and climates in the world with a PowerPoint presentation and follow up with several experiments for the students to enjoy.