Activities
UTRAC is currently finalizing the following lesson plans and pilot testing them in after school programs is Belgrade, Montana. Check back in June to download the lessons. In the mean time you can watch a few videos that demonstrate some of our hands-on activities.
Solid, liquid or gas?
In this lesson the students will explore three states of matter (solid, liquid and gas) by comparing regular ice made from water and dry ice, which is frozen carbon dioxide.
Solid, liquid or gas?
In this lesson the students will explore three states of matter (solid, liquid and gas) by comparing regular ice made from water and dry ice, which is frozen carbon dioxide.
What is the water cycle?
Students learn about the water cycle by playing a game in which they become a drop of water moving through the environment. Students model the water cycle by moving through stations that represent different phases of the water cycle.
Weather vs climate
This lesson examines the difference between weather and climate. Students will be asked to consider the weather and climate in and around Bozeman and compare several locations using climate data. They will also search for microclimates in their school yard and look at climate maps for Montana, North America, and the world.
What is a microbe?
Students will learn the definition of a microbe, play a quiz game, investigate moldy bread, and create their own microbial Shrinky Dink to take home.
What is respiration? (Are we robots?)
In this lesson students will learn about the similarities between microbes and students. For example, though soils are loaded with microbes, it can be very hard to visualize the number of microbes in soils or to measure soil breath.
What is the carbon cycle?
Students learn about the carbon cycle by playing a game in which they become an atom of carbon moving through the environment. Students model the carbon cycle by moving through stations that represent different phases of the carbon cycle.
What is matter?
Students will learn about forms of matter and the conservation of mass through building their own “lava lamps.” Students will understand that when matter is transformed from one form to another, it maintains its mass, even if that mass changes from visible to invisible.
UTRAC capstone project: Digital storytelling
Students will create original stories about UTRAC content that could include text, drawings, photos, animation, audio, and video. They will use technology tools, such as digital cameras and computers, to bring their stories to life, and to “tell their story” or “inform” on a UTRAC concept.