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Grades 6-8

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Curriculum

Detecting UV Light

You can't see the Sun's ultraviolet rays with your eyes—you just see their results on your freckled, tanned, or sunburned skin. Build a bracelet that immediately detects these invisible rays.

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curriculum materials

Building a Spectroscope

White light is a mixture of all colors of visible light, but it doesn't always include every color of the rainbow. Build a spectroscope, and view the spectral fingerprints of different light sources.

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Article

Telescopes: Super Views from Space

It probably comes as no surprise that telescopes do a better job of collecting light and observing outer space than your eyes. But do you know why? (Hint: the answer is NOT magnification!)

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Activity

Evolution

Natural selection plays a large role in the evolution of a species. The following activity demonstrates this concept.

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Curriculum

What Makes a Dinosaur a Dinosaur

Can you walk like a dinosaur? Hint: The movement is not like lizards, crocodiles, and other reptiles; instead, it's more like birds. Investigate what else birds and dinosaurs have in common.

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Article

Selecting a Site

What should you think about before selecting a site to study? The answer depends on what you want to know. Get tips from working scientists about how to hone in on the perfect site for you.

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Article

How to Identify Plants in the Field

When it comes to identifying plant species, making mistakes is part of the process. That's why this botanist and curator recommends, "Never erase anything!"