<p>This Smithsonian Science How learning collection, from Q?rius at the National Museum of Natural History, is part of a distance learning program at <a href="https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/distance-learning">https://naturalhistory.si.edu/...</a> This collection focuses on the biodiversity of tiny, deep ocean life. Targeted at middle schoolers, the collection invites students into an authentic understanding of how biologists find, classify, and name microscopic animals that live in the open ocean. Zoologist Dr. Karen Osborn is featured as an expert explainer. The collection includes an interactive webcast video with discussion questions, cross-cutting activities, an independent project, and other resources for teachers and students.</p> <p><strong>Key Terms:</strong></p> <p><em>marine zoology, mid-water, pelagic, invertebrate, biodiversity, DNA barcoding, taxonomy</em></p> <p><strong>Key Concepts:</strong></p> <ul><li>Mid-water ecosystem biodiversity</li><li>Distribution of mid-water animals</li><li>Ecology and adaptations of ocean invertebrates</li><li>Ocean biodiversity and its global importance</li><li>Technology used by marine invertebrate zoologists</li></ul>

<p>This Smithsonian Science How learning collection, from Q?rius at the National Museum of Natural History, is part of a distance learning program at <a href="https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/distance-learning">https://naturalhistory.si.edu/...</a> This collection focuses on the science of mummies. Targeted at middle schoolers, the collection invites students into an authentic understanding of how mummies form, both naturally and culturally. Physical and forensic anthropologist Dr. David Hunt is featured as an expert explainer. The collection includes an interactive webcast video with discussion questions, cross-cutting activities, an independent project, and other resources for teachers and students.</p> <p>This collection was created to support the 2016 CCSSO Teachers of the Year Day at the Smithsonian.</p> <p><strong>Key Terms:</strong> physical anthropology, archaeology, skeletal remains, mummification, burial practices, decomposition, culture</p> <p><strong>Key Concepts:</strong></p> <p>Skeletal analysis for age, sex, ancestry, and health</p> <p>Cultural burial practices over time</p> <p>Chemical process of mummification</p> <p>Scientific benefits of studying mummies</p> <p>Technology used by physical anthropologists</p>

<p>This Smithsonian Science How learning collection, from Q?rius at the National Museum of Natural History, is part of a distance learning program at <a href="https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/distance-learning">https://naturalhistory.si.edu/...</a> This collection focuses on the end-Cretaceous extinction event that included dinosaurs. Targeted at middle schoolers, the collection invites students into an authentic understanding of the evidence for and causes of the mass extinction. Paleobotanist Dr. Kirk Johnson is featured as an expert explainer. The collection includes an interactive webcast video with discussion questions, cross-cutting activities, an independent project, and other resources for teachers and students.</p> <p><strong>Key Terms:</strong></p> <p><em>paleontology, dinosaur, fossil record, mass extinction, asteroid, Cretaceous period, K-T boundary</em></p> <p><strong>Key Concepts:</strong></p> <ul><li>Extinctions at the end of the Cretaceous</li><li>Causes of mass extinction events</li><li>Interpreting ecosystem changes through fossils</li><li>Reconstructing ancient environments</li><li>Technology used by paleontologists</li></ul>

<p>This Smithsonian Science How learning collection, from Q?rius at the National Museum of Natural History, is part of a distance learning program at <a href="https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/distance-learning" target="_blank">https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/distance-learning</a>. This collection focuses on recent bird extinctions, including the Passenger Pigeon. Targeted at middle schoolers, the collection invites students into an authentic understanding of the evidence for and causes of bird extinctions since humans have been on the scene. Ornithologist Dr. Helen James is featured as an expert explainer. The collection includes an interactive webcast video with discussion questions, cross-cutting activities, an independent project, and other resources for teachers and students.</p> <p><strong>Key Terms:</strong> ornithology, bird conservation, extinction, endangered species, island ecosystems, Holocene period</p> <p><strong>Key Concepts:</strong></p> <p>- Human influences on bird populations</p> <p>- Ecology of birds and vulnerability to extinction</p> <p>- Impacts of human activities on ecology</p> <p>- Conservation of endangered bird species</p> <p>- Technology used by ornithologists</p>