Phenomena Simulation Library - Middle School

Unit 6.2 Molecular View of a Gas Simulation Screenshot

6.2 L11 Cup Design – Molecular View of a Gas

This simulation allows students to make observations about the structure and movement of particles in a gas. It is used in Lesson 11 of Unit 6.2.

6.2 L11 Cup Design – Molecular View of a Liquid

This simulation allows students to make observations about the structure and movement of particles in a liquid. It is used in Lesson 11 of Unit 6.2.

Unit 6.2 Heating and Cooling Simulation Screenshot

6.2 L11 Cup Design – Particle Heating and Cooling Simulation

This simulation allows students to make observations about how particle motion changes as the overall temperature of a liquid changes. It is used in Lesson 11 of Unit 6.2.

Unit 6.2 Gas Particles Up Close Screenshot

6.2 L13 Cup Design – Collisions Up Close

This simulation explores the relationship between particle kinetic energies during particle collisions. It is used in Lesson 13 of Unit 6.2.

Unit 6.2 Conduction in Solids Full Screenshot

6.2 L13 Cup Design – Conduction in Solids Full

This simulation shows conduction of thermal energy within and between solids, based on the kinetic energy of particles, and collisions between neighboring particles. It is used in Lesson 13 of Unit 6.2. This simulation differs from the “reduced” version in that it has expanded controls over the variables.

6.2 L13 Cup Design – Conduction in Solids Reduced

This simulation shows conduction of thermal energy within and between solids, based on the kinetic energy of particles, and collisions between neighboring particles. It is used in Lesson 13 of Unit 6.2.

6.2 L13 Cup Design – Gas Particle Motion

This simulation explores the relationship between the temperature of a gas, the motion of the particles in the gas and the changes in the kinetic energies of particles during collisions. It is used in Lesson 12 and Lesson 13 of unit 6.2.

6.3 L10 Make a Thunderstorm

Students use this simulation to make a thunderstorm by adjusting the humidity and temperature. This UCAR simulation is used in Lesson 10 of Unit 6.3.

6.3 L19 Atmospheric River Global Simulation

This simulation allow scientists to study atmospheric rivers and the heavy precipitation they bring to California. It is used in Lesson 19 of Unit 6.3.

6.3 L19 Precipitation Rates Global Simulation

Animation of precipitation rates from 4/1/2014 through 9/30/2014 used in Unit 6.3 Lesson 19.

6.3 L19 Precipitation Rates USA Simulation

Pprecipitation rates across the United States from August 4th, 2014 through August 11th, 2014. This simulation is used in Lesson 11 of Unit 6.3.

6.3 L20 Rainfall Accumulation Simulation

This visualization shows the heavy rainfall throughout Northern Texas and across Oklahoma as well as the drought in Southern California. It's used in Unit 6.3 Lesson 20.

6.3 L20 Sea Surface Temperature Simulation

NASA Sea Surface Temperature visualization used in Unit 6.3 Lesson 20.

6.4 L12 Ancient Earth Simulation

This simulation from https://dinosaurpictures.org presents images of what Earth looked like at different ancient time periods. This is used in Lesson 12 of Unit 6.4.

6.4 L2 Earthquake Data

This simulation represents places earthquakes have occurred over time in the world. Students use this simulation in Lesson 2 to look for connections between earthquakes and mountain locations.

6.4 L4 Where are there Earthquakes in North America?

In this Seismic Explorer simulation, students analyze earthquake data for North America. The data includes earthquake occurrences from the Mid Atlantic Ridge to the Pacific Ocean coastline. Students look at a three-dimensional cross section of North America to visualize how deep underground earthquakes occur in different locations. This simulation is used in Lesson 4

6.4 L5 Plate Movement Simulation

In this Seismic Explorer simulation, students analyze plate movement first for North American and then for the whole globe. This simulation is used in Lesson 5.

6.5 L2 Tsunamis Dataset Visualization

In Unit 6.5 Lesson 2, students use this dataset to figure out why some earthquakes cause tsunamis and others don’t. They use the data to investigate these questions: How does the magnitude (strength) of an earthquake affect tsunami formation? How does the depth (how near or far from the surface) of an earthquake affect tsunami formation?

6.6 L4 Virtual Microscope Interactive – Cat & Human Blood

An alternate option to using microscopes in the classroom. Students can look at microscopic images of human and cat blood. This is used in Unit 6.6 Lesson 4.

6.6 L5 Virtual Microscope Interactive – Nerve

An alternate option to using microscopes in the classroom. Students can look at microscopic images of nerves. This is used in Unit 6.6 Lesson 5.

6.6 L6 Virtual Microscope Interactive – Parts of Body

An alternate option to using microscopes in the classroom. Students can look at microscopic images of different parts of the body including bone, skin, and muscle. This is used in Unit 6.6 Lesson 6.

6.6 Lesson11 Virtual Microscope Interactive – All Images

An alternate option to using microscopes in the classroom. Students can look at all the microscopic images of animals and plants that has been used in the unit. This is used in Unit 6.6 Lesson 11.

6.6 Lesson11 Virtual Microscope Interactive – Onion Skin

An alternate option to using microscopes in the classroom. Students can look at microscopic images of onion skin. This is used in Unit 6.6 Lesson 11.

6.6 Lesson11 Virtual Microscope Interactive – Plants

An alternate option to using microscopes in the classroom. Students can look at microscopic images of different types of plants. This is used in Unit 6.6 Lesson 11.

7.3 L12 Inside our Bodies – Virtual Microscope

Like a real microscope, the Virtual Microscope allows students to examine slide samples more closely. They are able to collect samples and save them for further observation. This is used in Lesson 12 of Unit 7.3.

7.3 L2 Inside our Bodies – Digestive System

In this interactive, students look at actual endoscopic images from a healthy person and from M’Kenna, the patient presented in the unit. They take a tour of the digestive system stopping at different points to look at images. This is used in Lesson 2 of Unit 7.3.

Unit 7.3 Villi Absorption Simulation Screenshot

7.3 L8 Inside our Bodies – Villi Absorption

This simulation explores the relationship between the amount of surface area in the small intestine and the rate at which it absorbs food particles into the circulatory system. This simulation is used in Lesson 8 of Unit 7.3.

Unit 7.3 Chloroplasts and Food Simulation Screenshot

7.4 L5 Matter Cycling – Chloroplasts and Food

This simulation shows the relationship between the inputs and outputs in the chloroplasts of plants to help explain how they convert water and carbon dioxide to glucose and water with the help of energy absorbed from light. It is used in Lesson 5 of Unit 7.4.

7.5 L8 Orangutan Energy Model 1 – Classroom Use

In this simulation, individual orangutans compete with each other for food resources while students cheer them on. It is intended for in-person instruction. Students build a histogram of class results for environmental conditions with normal, abundant, and scarce food availability for orangutans. This simulation is used in Lesson 8.

7.5 L8 Orangutan Energy Model 2 – Remote or Absent Students

In this simulation, individual orangutans compete with each other for food resources. It is intended for remote learning or kids who are absent. Students interpet a histogram of results for environmental conditions with normal, abundant, and scarce food availability for orangutans. This simulation is used as an alternative for Lesson 8.

7.5 L9 Orangutan Population Model – Classroom and Remote Use

In this simulation, individual orangutans compete with each other for food resources. Orangutans reproduce when they have enough energy and die if their energy reaches zero. Students interpet line graphs of population size over a 5 year period for environmental conditions with normal, abundant, and scarce food availability for orangutans. This simulation is used in Lesson 9.

7.5 Lesson17 Collaborative Oil Palm Model

In this simulation, students take on roles to redesign the land in ways that support both farmers and orangutans. They test designs to determine which designs result in stable orangutan populations while also meeting the economic needs of people who live in the area. This simulation is used in Lesson 17.

8.1 L7 Collisions Simulation

In this simulation, students are able to manipulate the cart mass and speed and then observe how it impacts the collision.

8.1 L9 Microscopic Friction Simulation

In this simulation, students are able to explore a microscopic model of friction.

8.2 L10 Sound – Sound in a Medium

This simulation demonstrates a slow-motion version of what it would look like if you could see particles in a medium vibrating. The wave-like diagram underneath the air particle representation is a graph of the motion of the sound source. Only the particle diagram is a representation of the sound wave. This is used in Lesson 10 of Unit 8.2.

8.2 L12 Sound – Tone Generator

With this free online tone generator, students enter their desired frequency and press play. The tone generator plays four different waveforms. This is used in Lesson 12 of Unit 8.2.

8.2 L3 Sound – Feeling the Sound

This simulation helps students feel what happens to the sound when you adjust the loudness and pitch. It asks students “What do you feel happen when you touch the speaker?” and “What do you hear happen to the sound?” This is used in Lesson 3 of Unit 8.2.

8.2 L4 Sound – Turn it Up!

In this simulation, students adjust the slider to increase or decrease the loudness of a sound. They can also manipulate the time scale. This is used in Lesson 4 of Unit 8.2.

8.2 L5 Sound – Hitting the High Notes

In this simulation, students adjust the slider to increase or decrease the pitch of a sound. They can also manipulate the time scale. This is used in Lesson 5 of Unit 8.2.

Screen shot of a simulation that allows students to change magnetic force.

8.3 L4, L5, L9, L11 Magnetic Interactive

This simulation has students investigate changing the strength of forces in a magnetic field. It is used in Lesson 11 of Unit 8.3 Forces at a Distance.

8.3 L8 Circuit Construction Kit

This simulation is embedded into an extension activity where students apply ideas to build a circuit that powers a lightbulb in Unit 8.3 Lesson 8.

8.3 L8 Hitting the High Notes Simulation

Students adjust the frequency during an active investigation with a cone speaker and record their observations while using this simulation from Unit 8.3 Lesson 8.

8.3 L8 Turn It Up Simulation

This sound simulation is used during an investigation where data is collected on what happens when loudness is increased and decreased on the surface of a speaker. This is used during Lesson 8 of Unit 8.3.

8.3 Lesson 9 John Travoltage Simulation

Students test out some of their ideas about voltage and electric shocks in this extension simulation from Lesson 9 in unit 8.3.

8.4 L14 Exploring Orbits – Adjustable Perspective

Students use this simulation to explore the relationship between the speed, mass, and distance of two objects in space and the resulting gravitational forces between those objects as well as the related paths of motion. This is the second of two models used in lesson 14 of unit 8.4.

8.4 L14 Exploring Orbits – Fixed Perspective

Students use this simulation to explore the relationship between the speed, mass, and distance of two objects in space and the resulting gravitational forces between those objects as well as the related paths of motion. This is the first of two models used in lesson 14 of unit 8.4.

8.4 L6 Moon Shape Patterns

This simulation allows students to identify moon shape patterns. This simulation is used in Lesson 6 of Unit 8.4 Earth in Space.

8.5 L16 Middle School Student Arm Span Data Set

Students collect their own arm span measurements and add them via Google form to this data set of middle school students across the world. Since the set is so large, this digital tool helps them more quickly visualize the variation in the distribution of arm span lengths. This data set is used in Lesson 16 of Unit 8.5.

8.5 L5 L6 Cell Size and Scale

In this simulation, students explore an interactive model of the size and scale of cells compared with other objects, molecules, and atoms. This simulation is used in Lesson 5 and 6 of Unit 8.5.

8.5 L9 Bird Breeder Simulation

This is a model of a selective breeding program of birds. In the scenario presented in the model the user assumes the role of a bird breeder, whose goal is breed a line of "fancy" looking birds through managing a selective breeding program. This model is used in lesson 9 of Unit 8.5.

8.6 L9 Salmonella Hunt

This is a natural/artificial selection model that shows the result of two competing selection pressures acting on a population of a salmonella bacteria related to trait variations in the population (# of flagella) that influence the speed of a prey. This is used in Lesson 9 of Unit 8.6.

8.6 Lesson10 Comparing Bacteria in Different Environments

This is a natural, artificial selection model that shows how counterbalancing forces of natural selection from the abiotic and biotic environment and from the distribution of resources needed for survival affect the outcomes of natural selection. This simulation is used in Lesson 10 of Unit 8.6.

Phenomena Simulation Library – Middle School