Before using these tasks, consider reviewing the Guidance for Use document, which provides suggestions for the most effective ways the TDSciN Task Library can be used to support high-quality science teaching and learning.

MIDDLE SCHOOL TASK

helium balloons

Driving Problem: The world is running out of helium. Students try to figure out different solutions to this problem.

Download All Task Documents (.ZIP – 3MB)
Task Overview (.PDF – 430KB)
Student Version (.DOC – 475KB)
Teacher Guide (.PPT – 2MB)

Tennessee Academic Standards for Science and Next Generation Science Standards Learning Targets

Tennessee Academic Standards for Science

  • 7.PS.1.5:  Use the periodic table as a model to analyze and interpret evidence relating to physical and chemical properties to identify a sample of matter.

Next Generation Science Standards

  • Science and Engineering Practices
    Engaging in Argument From Evidence

    • Middle School Element: Construct, use, and/or present an oral and written argument supported by empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support or refute an explanation or a model for a phenomenon or a solution to a problem.
  • Disciplinary Core Ideas
    PS1.A:  Structure and Properties of Matter

    • Middle School Element: Each pure substance has characteristic physical and chemical properties (for any bulk quantity under given conditions) that can be used to identify it.
  • Crosscutting Concepts
    Patterns

    • Middle School Element: Macroscopic patterns are related to the nature of microscopic and atomic-level structure.
    • Middle School Element: Graphs, charts, and images can be used to identify patterns in data.
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The Tennessee District Science Network was funded by Arconic Foundation.

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