Storylines and Phenomena for Alaska Science Instruction

A phenomenon is an observable event. These events can spark our curiosity about how things work. Good phenomena should be relevant to students and help tie their experiences to the science we study. This list is a brainstorm, an attempt to collect models of phenomena relevant to Alaskan students. Please contribute by submitting details with this form https://tinyurl.com/astaphenomena or 

Note: As Alaska teachers begin to adopt the new Alaska Science Standards, there will be a shift to 3-dimensional teaching that includes local phenomena and storylines. This facet of the NGSS adoption strongly emphasizes connecting science to place-based, culturally relevant phenomena. One of the best resources 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 own storylines, Designing a Storyline - Building an NGSS Storyline with Learning Performances (https://thewonderofscience.com/storyline).

Earth Science Phenomena

• 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- https://www.arcticclimatemodeling.org/subject_permafrost.html 

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

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

• Caves- El Capitan- Why are there over 600 caves on Prince of Wales Island? https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=southeastviewing.powelcapitancave 

• Sun Dogs- https://www.scienceabc.com/nature/sun-dogs-what-are-they-and-how-are-they-formed.html 

• Magnet Hill- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HmyxoilnbQ 

• Turnigan Bore Tide- https://www.alaska.org/advice/alaska-bore-tide 

• Moon Dog- https://www.montananaturalist.org/blog-post/moon-dogs/ 

• Navigating by stars- https://csdt.org/culture/yupikstarnavigator/index.html , https://csdt.org/culture/yupikstarnavigator/index.html  https://www.uaf.edu/mcc/mcc_resources/modules.php 

• Tides- https://scijinks.gov/tides/ 

• Tsunamis- https://sites.google.com/alaska.edu/aktsunami/home 

• 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/fNXmuFjAu

Life Science Phenomena

• 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 bar-tailed 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 

• How Wolf Spiders in the Arctic can affect carbon levels in the atmosphere- https://youtu.be/FLeOKAvtzD0 

Physical Science Phenomena

• 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 

• Monterey Bay Aquarium- https://www.mbari.org/education/education-research-testing-hypotheses-earth/lesson-plans/ 

Alaska Science News Sites

• Alaska Science Forum

• USGS Alaska Science Center

• Anchorage Daily News Science

• Alaska Science Stories – Ocean Conservancy

• Alaska: People Oceans and Climate Change

• Alaska Sea Grant

• Alaska NOAA Fisheries

• Alaska Ocean Observing System

• The Way We Genuinely Live – Yuungnaqpiallet

• Yupik Environmental Knowledge Network

• Alaska Volcano Observatory

• Alaska Public Media

Please contribute by submitting detail with this form https://tinyurl.com/astaphenomena or