Storylines and Phenomena for Alaska Science Instruction

Note: As Alaska teachers begin to adopt the new Alaska Science Standards, there will be a shift to 3 dimensional teaching that includes local phenomenon and storylines. This facet of the NGSS adoption create a strong emphasis on connecting the science to place based culturally relevant phenomena. One of the best resources that I have found for making sense of this style is Paul Anderson’s blog, The Wonder of Science (https://thewonderofscience.com ). On this site you will find examples of phenomena and a process that Paul suggests for creating your on storylines, Designing a Storyline - Building an NGSS Storyline with Learning Performances (https://thewonderofscience.com/storyline).

A phenomenon is an observable event. These events can spark our curiosity about how things work. A good phenomena should be relevant to students and help tie their own experiences to the science we are studying. This list is a brainstorm, an attempt to collect models of phenomena that are relevant to Alaskan students. Please contribute

Earth Science Phenomenon

• Northern lights O2 - https://www.alaska.org/advice/alaska-natural-phenomena

• Light Pillars 03 - https://www.alaska.org/advice/alaska-natural-phenomena 

• Fata Morgana 04- https://www.alaska.org/advice/alaska-natural-phenomena 

• Alpen Glow - https://www.alaska.org/advice/alaska-natural-phenomena 

• Calving Glaciers - https://www.alaska.org/advice/alaska-natural-phenomena

• Methane bubbles in lakes- https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/alaska/bubbling-lakes-ak/ 

• Permafrost- 

• Pingos- https://www.alaskacenters.gov/explore/attractions/permafrost

• Ice Wedge Polygons- https://www.alaskacenters.gov/explore/attractions/permafrost 

• Caves-

• Sun Dogs

• Magnet Hill

• Turnigan Bore Tide

• Moon Dog

• Navigating by stars

• Tides

• Tsunamis

• What is a petroglyph? - https://youtu.be/8VpVSGXbrrw 

• Where can you find gold in alaska?- https://www.gi.alaska.edu/alaska-science-forum/remarkable-groove-slides-gold-alaska

• What do dinosaur fossils in Alaska tell us about the climate in the past? https://youtu.be/SjK1cm9T3M4  and https://youtu.be/fNXmuFjAuzc 

Life Science Phenomenon

• Why are birds considered international ambassadors? https://youtu.be/8VpVSGXbrrw  or 

https://youtu.be/Hv73J6-bRRM 

• Wood Frogs(found in Alaska)- https://alaskapublic.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lsps07.sci.life.evo.frozenfrogs/frozen-frogs/#.X9qfWelKjGI 

• Ice worms- https://www.alaskacenters.gov/explore/culture/ice-worms 

• Albino Moose - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06WhhHsE2rI

• Spiders on the snow - https://www.naturebob.com/spider-snow 

• Salmon Run - https://www.alaska.org/advice/alaska-natural-phenomena

• Bear Congregations - https://www.alaska.org/advice/alaska-natural-phenomena

• Fall Tundra Colors - https://www.alaska.org/advice/alaska-natural-phenomena 

• Bubble Feeding- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z00G0RxeSP0 

• Why does the bartailed Godwit fly so far to migrate?- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z00G0RxeSP0 

• Why is the arctic such a productive place for migratory birds? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yyMEoqG0jA 

• Why do scientists study goose poop?- https://youtu.be/-k0auTh2ZaI 

• Why are beaver numbers increasing in Northwestern Alaska? https://www.gi.alaska.edu/alaska-science-forum/beaver-invasion-baldwin-peninsula 

Physical Science Phenomenon

• Gravity Hill - https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/alaska/strange-phenomenon-in-ak/ 

• Ice Fog- https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/alaska/ice-fog-natural-phenomenon-ak/ 

Discrepant Events

Discrepant events are a great way to demonstrate a phenomenon with your students and create experiences and observations as a team. 

• https://sciencing.com/list-discrepant-event-science-activities-8018044.html 

• https://www.scienceworld.ca/stories/discrepant-events-and-inquiry-based-learning/ 

• https://www.chemedx.org/category/pedagogy/misconceptions-discrepant-events 

• Discrepant Events Videos - http://www.csun.edu/scied/

• Discrepant Event Ideas - http://go.hrw.com/resources/go_sc/gen/HSTPR060.PDF 

• Science Snacks (Exploratorium) - https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks 

• How is climate change impacting fire frequency in Alaska? - https://thewonderofscience.com/phenomenal 

General Phenomenon Websites

• Project Phenomena - https://sites.google.com/site/sciencephenomena/ 

• Phenomena for NGSS- https://www.ngssphenomena.com/ 

• The Wonder of Science Phenomenon - https://thewonderofscience.com/phenomenal 

• Paul Anderson’s Phenomenon Blog - https://thewonderofscience.com/phenomenon 

Example of Storylines that I have found useful as models for 9-12 Grade Classrooms

• Inquiry Hub Biology - https://www.colorado.edu/program/inquiryhub/curricula/inquiryhub-biology 

• Inquiry Hub Curriculum - https://www.colorado.edu/program/inquiryhub/curricula 

• Patterns Science - https://sites.google.com/beaverton.k12.or.us/patterns/home?authuser=0 

• New Visions Science - https://curriculum.newvisions.org/science 

• Ecology Disrupted, American Museum of Natural History - https://www.amnh.org/learn-teach/curriculum-collections/ecology-disrupted 

• NGSS Chemistry Storylines - https://www.amnh.org/learn-teach/curriculum-collections/ecology-disrupted 

• HHMI Bointeractive Storylines - https://www.biointeractive.org/professional-learning/educator-voices/ngss-storylines 

Middle School - https://www.openscied.org/unit-development-schedule/