Word Builders
Earth, Moon & Sun
Use the flashcards to learn what each affix means.
Practice Activities
Print a worksheet or try the activities below
What's It Mean?
Sort It Out
Earth, Moon & Sun
Human Cells
Energy
Dinosaurs
Ecosystems
A Mystery Element
You have the great honor of exploring the surface of a foreign planet for NASA. While there, you collect many samples, including an unfamiliar rock. Sadly, aliens did not leave a sign explaining what the rock is made of, so you’re going to have to figure it out (sigh…).
How would you identify if the rock is made of one of the elements on the Periodic Table?
If it turns out to be a completely new element, how would you identify where it should go on the Periodic Table?
What information would help you determine whether the rock is an old or new element? How would you figure out this information?
Would you like to share your thoughts with other Smart Pegs? Copy your journal entry and post it in the comments section! Or, take a photo or a short video of your journal entry and upload it here!
Like someone else’s ideas? Reply to their comments, too!
Shrinking Your Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases emitted by a person’s activities. The name comes from the idea that your own activities leave a “footprint” on the earth.
Scientific research suggests that build up of these greenhouse gases in our atmosphere contributes to Earth’s climate.
Part 1: Evaluating your carbon footprint
Go to the Environmental Protection Agency's carbon footprint calculator. (You might need adult help for the next steps.)
Enter the information in the box and click “Get Started." Fill in the information in the Home Energy, Transportation, and Waste sections to calculate your family's carbon footprint.
As you go, the program will provide suggestions to "Reduce Your Emissions." Check off suggestions that you feel your family could do.
• Describe at least 2 of the suggestions that you feel you can do to reduce your carbon footprint.
• Explain WHAT you would do to include the 2 suggestions in your life.
Part 2: Calculating your carbon footprint
Once you’ve answered all the questions, the program will calculate your family's carbon footprint and compare it to others’ results.
• What is your total score?
• How does your family's impact compare to an average family?
*Another thought to ponder…why shouldn’t everyone be required to do everything that the program suggests?
Would you like to share your thoughts with other Smart Pegs? Copy your journal entry and post it in the comments section! Or, take a photo or a short video of your journal entry and upload it here!
Like someone else’s ideas? Reply to their comments, too!
Debate in the Animal Kingdom
The leaders of the Animal Kingdom are having their annual meeting. On their agenda is a vote to determine whether three groups should be allowed to join the Animal Kingdom as living things.
Before the vote, a debate must be held to provide evidence for and against the addition of these groups to the Kingdom.
The groups wishing to be recognized as living things, and therefore approved as members of the Animal Kingdom are: the vampires, zombies, and aliens.
Your job is to argue for or against any or all of the above groups. You must present evidence based on the 6 major characteristics of living things to support your argument.
One, two, all, or none of these groups could be accepted, so make sure that you are very specific about to which group(s) your argument is referring.
Let the debate begin!
Would you like to share your thoughts with other Smart Pegs? Copy your journal entry and post it in the comments section! Or, take a photo or a short video of your journal entry and upload it here!
Like someone else’s ideas? Reply to their comments, too!
I Need Science for Sports??!
Physics is the branch of science that studies how and why things move and change. Athletes in every sport use physics every time they play, whether they know it or not.
Choose a sport that you know well. Use research and your own knowledge to explain how an athlete in that sport can use physics to compete better.
You can write and/or draw your explanation.
You might want to include some of these topics in your explanation:
• potential & kinetic energy
• speed, velocity and acceleration
• balanced & unbalanced forces
• types of forces
• Newton’s 3 laws
• simple machines
Would you like to share your thoughts with other Smart Pegs? Copy your journal entry and post it in the comments section! Or, take a photo or a short video of your journal entry and upload it here!
Like someone else’s ideas? Reply to their comments, too!
Species Invasion
An invasive species is a non-native species that is introduced to an ecosystem by humans, either accidentally or on purpose. Around 1900, people wanted to introduce a Japanese vine called kudzu into the United States.
A few facts about kudzu:
• a ground cover that can be used to control erosion
• increases the nutrient content of topsoil (pulls minerals up from deep soil)
• can be eaten by livestock
• has no natural predators
• grows rapidly in areas with a mild-warm climate
• can spread by roots or seeds
• can regrow if even only a small part of the root remains in the ground
The U.S. Congress is debating whether the benefits of kudzu would outweigh the costs. You are an east Texas farmer who Congress has asked to testify for or against introducing kudzu to the U.S.
As a farmer, do you feel that kudzu should or should not be introduced? To support your argument, how would you predict kudzu might affect:
• native plant and animal populations?
• abiotic resources?
• the human economy?
Be specific and detailed with your argument. Congress doesn’t have time for vague nonsense!
Would you like to share your thoughts with other Smart Pegs? Copy your journal entry and post it in the comments section! Or, take a photo or a short video of your journal entry and upload it here!
Like someone else’s ideas? Reply to their comments, too!
If you’re interested…An example of an invasive species that was introduced accidentally to the United States is the zebra mussel. It arrived in the Great Lakes in 1988 attached to European ships. Within 10 years the mussels had spread to all five Great Lakes and into several major U.S. rivers. Because of their ability to reproduce rapidly and travel easily, zebra mussels have had a great impact on aquatic ecosystems and even our economy.