Work in Progress: Resources to be added and grouped
| Topic | Resources |
|---|---|
| Thermal Physics (General) | |
| Specific Heat Capacity and Latent Heats | |
| Energy transfer | |
| Climate change |
In-Depth Resources that cover many of the topics
The unsung theory: Why thermodynamics is as important as quantum mechanics and relativity
This is an extensive review of the book, ‘Einstein’s Fridge: the Science of Fire, Ice and the Universe’ by Paul Sen that appeared in PhysicsWorld. Articles are free to read, but you need to register. The review itself has a number of insights such as ‘We to easily forget how central thermodynamics was to the evolution of quantum theory in the first place’, along with historical references.
Exploring Physical Phenomena: What happens when light from the Sun shines on the Earth – An open source textbook
This open source textbook was developed by Oregon University as part of a physics course for elementary and middle school teachers. It also provides resources relevant to general science courses, hallway exhibits and outreach activities. Emphasis is upon questioning, predicting, exploring, and discussing what one thinks and why. Units include the nature of light phenomena, the nature of thermal phenomena, the influence of light and thermal phenomena on local weather, the influence of light and thermal phenomena on global climate change, and the nature of astronomical phenomena such as the phases of the moon.
Thermal Physics: Context
Teaching Thermodynamics 2.55 MB ppt
This is a powerpoint on i) the new concepts in this Area of Study that might require some consideration of the language used in explaining them to students, ii) possible practical activities and iii) assessment tasks. It is prepared by Dan O’Keeffe, Vicphysics Teachers’ Network for the 2016 Physics Teachers’ Conference.
Conceptual problems in teaching Thermodynamics 403 kB pptx
This is a powerpoint was prepared by Yuriy Verkhatsky, Gleneagles Secondary College for the 2016 Physics Teachers’ Conference.
Thermal Physics: Activities
Introductory Activity on Thermodynamics 50.2 kB doc
A set of short practical exercises to introduce students to thermal phenomena and to stimulate a curiosity about possible explanations by asking them to generate questions to which they would like answers.
Homework Activities 68.6 kB doc
11 pages of activities to be done at home, including practical activities.
Resources for Thermodynamics 97.8 kB doc
This list of resources was generated at the networking meeting held in August 2015. It covered possible practical activities, strategies for addressing the issues section and unpacking the dot points.
Thermometers 21 kB docx
A short prac by Colin Hopkins
Thermodynamics Homework 68.6 kB doc
A set of written and practical tasks to do at home.
A Level Activities on Thermal Physics
STEM Learning is a UK-based comprehensive curriculum resource. It has several resources for each of 17 Physics topics including this one on Matter, which covers thermal physics. They are for the UK A level course so some resources will go beyond this Area of Study or assume a higher mathematical skill, but there are relevant activities.
Thermal Physics: Assessment
Test on Thermodynamics 53.8 kB doc
A short test on heat capacity, latent heat and heat transfer processes.
Latent Heats and Heat capacity: Activities
Heat Capacity of Aluminium 22 kB doc A prac sheet on determining the heat capacity of Aluminium
Change of state and latent heats 21 kB docx A short prac by Colin Hopkins
Method of mixtures 22 kB docx A short prac by Colin Hopkins
Mixing liquids 24 kB docx A short prac by Colin Hopkins
Specific heat capacity of lead shot 24 kB docx A short prac by Colin Hopkins
Specific heat capacity of metal cubes 47 kB docx A short prac by Colin Hopkins
Energy Transfer: Activities
Convection 40 kB docx A short prac by Colin Hopkins
Heat flow along rods 22 kB docx A short prac by Colin Hopkins
Heating and cooling investigation 25 kB docx A short prac by Colin Hopkins
Thermal equilibrium 27 kB docx A short prac by Colin Hopkins
Water temperature curve 22 kB docx A short prac by Colin Hopkins
Climate Change: Context
The Opening Address by Prof David Jamieson 2.34 MB pdf
This is the powerpoint compressed as a pdf of Prof Jamieson’s talk on ‘Thermodynamics and Climate Change’ at the 2015 Physics Teachers’ Conference.
Graeme Pearman’s Presentation Science Society and Us 2.19 MB ppt
Dr Graeme Pearman’s presentation at the March 19 2011 Science Teacher’s Climate Change workshop
Graeme Pearman’s Presentation Pricing Carbon 435 kB ppt
Dr Graeme Pearman’s presentation on Pricing Carbon at the STCA Workshop 19 March 2011
Climate Change – Science, Society and Us, Dr Graeme Pearman 2.22 MB ppt
This is Dr Graeme Pearman’s presentation from the SciTCA workshop 2 April 2012
Keynote address by Dr Graeme Pearman 7.96 MB ppt
Opening Powerpoint of Keynote address by Dr Graeme Pearman at the 2007 Physics Teachers’ Conference. Note: The weather animations in two of the slides are not available.
Teaching the Physics of Climate Change: 1 The Physics 6.88 MB ppt
presented by Keith Burrows, member of the AIP Education Committee, STAVCON 2008.
The Science of Climate Change: the story 3.14 MB doc
A 24 page document on the Science of Climate Change prepared by Vicphysics Teachers’ Network Inc. It features numerous colour images. It covers i) The Earth’s atmosphere, ii) Electromagnetic radiation, iii) Greenhouse Effect, iv) Climate Models, v) What do climate models predict?, vi) Interpreting data, vii) Climate change impacts.
The Science of Climate Change 8.66 MB ppt
A presentation described at the STAV Feb 2010 teachers conferences by Keith Burrows AIP (Vic Branch) education Committee.
PowerPoint 8.8 MB ppt
This is the presentation from the March 2010 AIP Climate Change workshop. It complements the document ‘The Science of Climate Change: The story. Prepared by Dan O’Keeffe, Vicphysics Teachers’ Network.
Climate Science Lite 9.37 MB ppt
A somewhat less technical presentation on climate science. KB
Dr Graeme Pearman’s Presentation from the Sept 2010 STCA workshop 9.47 MB ppt
Dr Pearman gives a talk on ‘Climate Change: Are we up to the Challenge?’ He addresses three questions, What is the climate change issue?, What is it about us that causes this issue? and What is it about us that makes it hard to respond?
Climate Science presentation 8.8 MB ppt
This is the presentation given by Dan O’Keeffe, Vicphysics Teachers’ Network. It is the same one listed on the next page as ‘AIP Power Point’
Climate Science – Brief 7.13 MB pptx
A brief intro to some climate science
Climate Science – Physics and Chem conferences 2015 18.6 MB pptx
An intro to climate science
Keynote address by Dr Graeme Pearman audio 61 MB mp3
The audio file starts a few seconds after Dr Pearman begins. He talks for about 55 minutes.
Communicating and Learning about Climate Change
An Abbreviated Guide for Teaching Climate Change, from Project 2061 at AAAS. (32 pages). Project 2061 is a US ‘Science Frameworks’ style project. The guide shows how Climate Change fits in with Project 2061. The concept maps, particularly the latter ones are quite useful.
CSIRO publication: Climate Change: Science and Solutions for Australia
CSIRO launched Climate Change: Science and Solutions for Australia to help inform business, government, and the community about the many issues that need to be addressed in response to climate change. The publication draws on the latest peer-reviewed literature.
The Weather of Who We Are: An ABC Ockham’s Razor podcast
An edition of the ABC program, ‘Ockham’s Razor’ featured an Australia writer and poet, Mark Treddinick, reading a piece he wrote about weather and climate. It is an impressive piece of writing, effectively delivered. It is a joy to listen to, but it would make an excellent start if one was teaching the topic of climate change, but the piece also resonates with reflections about the Australian psyche and our myths about climate disasters. The text and audio file can be downloaded.
Teaching Resources for Climate Science
The US National Centre for Science Education has developed and tested five lessons plans on ‘Turning Misinformation into Educational Opportunities’. Each package has the lesson plan, supplementary material, a google folder of extra material and a webinar on the package. There are packages on i) Scientific Consensus, ii) Climate Models, iii) Past vs Present Climate Change, iv) Local Climate Impacts and v) Climate Solutions. Also check their ‘Classroom Resources’ under ‘Teach’.
Climate Change resources from Perimeter Institute
The Perimeter Institute has produced resources titled ‘Evidence for Climate Change’. It is an inquiry-based educational resource. Hands-on activities focused on heat, carbon dioxide, and thermal expansion explore the essential science behind climate change. Students are introduced to the observational data for climate change and the climate models that describe the principal factors involved. Opportunities are provided throughout the resource for students to consider how they contribute to both the problem and the solution. Please note: The zipped folder that contains this resource is 1 GB and can take about 5 minutes to download on an average connection.
NASA Climate Change website
The NASA Climate Change website has links to nine different US websites of educational material of different styles and for different age groups. The websites are by groups such as JPL, NOAA, US Dept of Energy, the National Science Digital Library and several by NASA itself.
Resources for Teaching Climate Change
The ARC Centre of Excellence on Climate Extremes held a curriculum writing workshop earlier this month. We will hear more about that later in the year. In the mean time, their website has a large range of educational resources including:
a) Carbonator: Students can investigate the effect of 12 different climate scenarios on temperature, sea level and other climate properties. Scenarios include: Rapid emissions reduction, Business as usual, White roofs, Geoengineering, solar variations and volcanic eruption
b) Climate Classrooms provides free, easily accessible lesson plans on climate science tailored to meet the needs of teachers teaching Years 7 to 12 STEAM subjects. The lesson plans describe how topics from the Australian curriculum can be taught by using examples and case studies related to climate science. They reference locally relevant impacts and examples and incorporate a range of learning activities and strategies.
c) Plastics Adrift shows where plastic ends up in the ocean over time. Pick a spot and let the simulation run.
d) Monash Simple Climate Model. It comes in a basic and standard model. Year 11 students could start with the basic model, then move to the standard model. There are over 20 different scenarios available. There are several tutorials available as well as puzzles.
Exploring Physical Phenomena: What happens when light from the Sun shines on the Earth – An open source textbook
This open source textbook was developed by Oregon University as part of a physics course for elementary and middle school teachers. It also provides resources relevant to general science courses, hallway exhibits and outreach activities. Emphasis is upon questioning, predicting, exploring, and discussing what one thinks and why. Units include the nature of light phenomena, the nature of thermal phenomena, the influence of light and thermal phenomena on local weather, the influence of light and thermal phenomena on global climate change, and the nature of astronomical phenomena such as the phases of the moon.
Climate Change: Activities
The Stabilization Wedge game
The game is a hands-on learning tool that helps students learn the impacts of different strategies for reducing greenhouse gases. 16 pages of background notes, instructions, lesson plans and worksheets.
Real Research Data with Student Worksheets from ANSTO
ANSTO have developed some guided worksheets to help students analyse real data sets from ANSTO research. Students can graph data, make calculations, draw conclusions and answer discussion questions using provided background reading.
The worksheets and data sets examine different research topics, including: Greenhouse gas concentrations from Antarctic ice cores over 800,000 years as well as radionuclides in medicine and radiation in the air we breathe.
Climate Change Websites
Clim City: An introduction
Clim’ City is like ‘Sim City’ is which players are in charge of a virtual city. They decide how it develops. The winner must reduce greenhouse emissions by 75%, etc, within 50 years. This website explains how the game works, who is behind the site, what it is like to play, tips, who it is aimed at and how realistic it is.
Clim City: The Simulation Game
‘Clim’ City is like ‘Sim City’ is which players are in charge of a virtual city. They decide how it develops. The winner must reduce greenhouse emissions by 75%, etc, within 50 years.
An Educational Global Climate Model
This climate model has been written by NASA scientists to run on a PC or a Mac. It is designed for educational use at secondary and lower tertiary level. It is sophisticated and accurate, but manageable with some guidance.
Use a Climate Model as a Screensaver
This site has lots of information plus the chance to run a climate model on your PC or Mac as a screensaver. They say “Climateprediction.net is a distributed computing project to produce predictions of the Earth’s climate up to 2080 and to test the accuracy of climate models. To do this, we need people around the world to give us time on their computers – time when they have their computers switched on, but are not using them to their full capacity.”. It has a useful description on climate models.
Climate Change Resources from the Perimeter Institute
The Perimeter Institute has produced several packages of curriculum materials, one of which is Evidence for Climate Change (1000MB of material on carbon dioxide, climate modelling, forcing factors,)It is pitched at Years 10 to 11. It is available free and includes i) a 70 page teaching program covering how to use the material, several pages of teaching strategies and learning issues, ii) 5 different activities, each with information on teaching tips, equipment, extension, misconceptions, iii) a video, iv) a student design challenge and v) assessment criteria and rubrics.