Seashells is an engaging digital case study that explores the beauty and complexity of mollusks and their shells. Students will investigate how these marine creatures create their intricate exoskeletons, use a dichotomous key to classify common shells, and examine the impact of ocean acidification on shell formation. With real-world connections to chemistry, biology, and environmental science, Seashells brings the wonders of the ocean to life in your classroom! Designed to align with middle school Next Generation Science Standards, this digital product includes both a Teacher Edition and Student Edition, making it a comprehensive resource for classrooms.
Recommended Activity:
Storyline: Seashells (Teacher & Student Edition)
ZIP file containing 3 PDF files
(1 Teacher Edition, 1 Student Edition, 1 Science Outside Terms and Conditions)
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):
MS-ESS3-3 (Earth and Human Activity)
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Performance Expectation: Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing human impact on the environment.
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Connection to Ocean Acidification: This standard involves students understanding how human activities (e.g., burning fossil fuels) increase carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere, which can affect ocean chemistry, leading to acidification.
MS-PS1-3 (Matter and Its Interactions)
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Performance Expectation: Gather and analyze data to determine the factors that affect the solubility of substances in water.
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Connection to Ocean Acidification: This standard can include discussions about how CO₂ dissolves in ocean water, forming carbonic acid, which leads to a decrease in pH levels and affects marine life.
MS-ESS3-5 (Earth and Human Activity)
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Performance Expectation: Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures.
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Connection to Ocean Acidification: Students can explore the relationship between rising CO₂ levels and both global warming and ocean acidification.
Key Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs):
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PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter
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Understanding the pH scale (acids and bases) and how it relates to the concentration of hydrogen ions in solutions.
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ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems
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Human activity affects the carbon cycle, leading to changes in atmospheric CO₂, which in turn causes ocean acidification.
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