FEBRUARY 14, 2011
TEACHER’S EDITION
Vol. 67, No. 9 ISSN 1041-1410
ISSUE DATES
Supplement to Science World
9/6
9/27 10/18 11/8-22
12/6
1/3
1/24
2/14
3/7
3/21
4/4-18
5/9
In this issue of Science World, see how medical technology is helping
people regain their senses of sight and hearing as well as restoring mobility.
Before reading “Bionic Body Parts” (page 8) with your class, go online to
www.scholastic.com/scienceworld and download the digital package that
accompanies this story.
In addition to a digital version of the article, you’ll find a PowerPoint, Check
for Understanding reproducible, and a bonus Hands-On activity on our Web site.
We also provide Web-only reproducibles for the other feature stories listed below,
so go online today! As always, e-mail any questions, comments, and suggestions
to us at: [email protected].
Content
and Summary
Features
—The Editors
national
science education
standards
ONLINE MATERIALS
www.scholastic.com
/scienceworld
BIONIC BODY
PARTS
p. 8
PHYSICAL: MACHINES
Scientists are making realistic
replacements for lost and
damaged body parts.
Grades 5-8:
Abilities of technological design
Grades 9-12:
Abilities of technological design
WHO YOU CALLIN’
UGLY?
p. 12
BIOLOGY: ADAPTATIONS
Meet some animals with traits
that are far from cute but that
have important uses.
Grades 5-8:
Diversity and adaptations of
organisms
Grades 9-12:
Biological evolution
Test your students’ new
vocabulary with the Check
for Understanding online
reproducible.
MINING LITHIUM
FOR YOUR IPOD
p. 16
EARTH: NATURAL RESOURCES
Where does lithium come
from, and why is it important
for technology?
Grades 5-8:
Populations, resources, and
environments
Grades 9-12:
Natural resources
Check your students’ reading
comprehension with the
Check for Understanding
online reproducible.
Coming
Next Issue
Teacher to Teacher
Special
Space Issue!
• What would it take to
live on Mars?
• Learn more about the
universe from the
meteorites that fall from
the sky.
• Space is the next hot
vacation spot!
Download a PowerPoint
about bionic body parts at
www.scholastic.com
/scienceworld
Maureen
Van Ackooy
Maureen Van Ackooy, this Teacher’s
Edition contributor, suggests:
Is listening a lost art? Give your class
some practice listening and taking notes
with this issue of Science World. Instead of
giving the students an article to read, read it
aloud to them.
The first time you read the article aloud,
just have students listen to your voice so
that they can get an idea of what the story
is about. Then have them take notes during
the second read-through. If this is the first
time doing this type of activity, you may even
want to read it a third time. Then let them
use their notes to complete the article’s
Check for Understanding page found online
at www.scholastic.com/scienceworld to
see how well they listened.
LAS
R
S
C
Visit Science World at: WWW.SCHOLASTIC.COM/SCIENCEWORLD for more resources.
HO
E
TI
SC
Maureen Van Ackooy, science teacher at Union Vale Middle School in LaGrangeville, New York, contributed to this issue’s Teacher’s Edition.
CYCLE
CONTAINS
A MINIMUM
OF 10% POSTCONSUMER
FIBER
PAGE
LESSON PLANS
8
PAGE
PHYSICS: machines
12
Bionic Body
Parts
PRE-READING PROMPTS:
• What does bionic mean?
• Do you think that a bionic
Download a PowerPoint
about bionic body parts at
www.scholastic.com
/scienceworld
limb could be better than a
person’s original limb?
• If you could design a
replacement arm, what special features would it have?
BIOLOGY: ADAPTATIONS
Who You
Callin’ Ugly?
PRE-READING PROMPTS:
• What characteristics or behaviors do you think make an
animal cute? What makes an animal ugly?
• Can you think of some unique animal adaptations?
• Why is it important for an animal to adapt to its environment?
DID YOU KNOW?
• A hagfish is an ugly animal with unique adaptations. When
DID YOU KNOW?
• Archaeologists have discovered the world’s first
prosthesis. It’s an artificial big toe made of wood and
leather that was on the foot of an Egyptian mummy. The
artifact dates from somewhere between 1069 and 664 b.c.
• Artificial blood can be used in place of regular blood to
carry oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body. The
artificial blood is made mostly from perfluorochemicals
that don’t mix with regular blood. The chemicals are
mixed with nutrients, salts, and antibiotics so that the
substance can perform blood’s other jobs.
• Even animals can get prosthetics. A bulldog named Roly
recently had a hip and femur replacement.
Critical Thinking:
• In the article, Patrick Kane has opted not to have his bionic
arm covered with synthetic skin because he thinks it
“looks cool” without it. If you needed a bionic limb, would
you want to show it off? Why or why not? Discuss how you
would explain your situation to people who ask questions.
captured, the hagfish excretes slimy mucus that gets thick
and sticky as it combines with water. But that isn’t all! After
escaping, the hagfish will tie itself into a knot. It is thought
that the knot helps the hagfish escape as well as to clean off
the mucus.
• Neoteny is when an adult of a species still retains traits—
like big eyes—usually seen only in babies and juveniles.
• Charles Darwin did extensive research on evolutionary
biology, specifically his theory of natural selection. Natural
selection is the observed process that, over time, traits that
allow a species to survive in their environment better will
become more common in a population.
Critical Thinking:
• Much of our communication today is through computers
or Internet-enabled phones. We use our fingers and thumbs
more than ever in this type of communication. Do you
think it is still important for us to learn how to write with
a pen and paper? Do you think our hands will eventually
adapt so we are more efficient at typing and texting?
project-based learning:
project-based learning:
Man and The Bionic Woman were TV shows that starred
bionic characters who used their superhuman abilities to
fight crime. Research other old television shows to see if
there were futuristic devices that have since become real.
or people who are rejected at the beginning of the story. One
example is The Ugly Duckling. By the end of the story, the
“ugly” character proves his or her worth and is accepted by
those around him. Choose one of the animals mentioned in
the article and create a fable about it.
SOCIAL STUDIES/MEDIA: In the 1970s, The Six Million Dollar
Resources
You can access these Web links at www.scholastic.com/scienceworld.
IDEO EXTRA: Watch a video of Patrick Kane using his limb
V
at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONdYHFgS-e4.
■ Just like the Olympics, the Paralympics is a worldwide
competition. It is for athletes with disabilities. Visit the
International Paralympics Web site for science lesson plans
and more at: www.paralympic.org/Science_Education/
Education/Paralympic_School_Day/Activity_Cards.html.
■ Check out National Geographic’s interactive package about
bionic body parts at: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com
/2010/01/bionics/fischman-text.
■
POSTAL INFORMATION: SCIENCE WORLD (ISSN 1041-1410; in Canada, 2-c no. 55948) is published biweekly during the school year, 14
issues, by Scholastic Inc., 2931 East McCarty St., P.O. Box 3710 Jefferson City, MO 65102-3710. Periodical postage paid at Jefferson City, MO
65102 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTERS: Send notice of address changes to SCIENCE WORLD, 2931 East McCarty St., P.O.
Box 3710 Jefferson City, MO 65102-3710.
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FEBRUARY 14, 2011
LANGUAGE ARTS: Many fables and stories have ugly animals
Resources
You can access these Web links at www.scholastic.com/scienceworld.
IDEO EXTRA: Watch how the star-nosed mole “sees” with
V
its nose at: http://animal.discovery.com/videos
/fooled-by-nature-star-nosed-mole.html.
■ Learn more about animal adaptations with Scholastic’s
Dirtmeister’s investigative report on animal adaptations at:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/dirtrep/animal.
■ Check out Animal Planet’s slide show of the top 10 animal
adaptations at: http://animal.discovery.com/tv/a-list
/creature-countdowns/adaptations/adaptations.html.
■
Editorial Offices: SCIENCE WORLD, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-3999. Canadian address: Scholastic Canada Ltd., 175 Hillmount
Road, Markham, ON, Canada L6C 1Z7. Original contributions to Science World magazine or to contests, projects, and special features
sponsored by Science World magazine become the property of Scholastic Inc. Contributions cannot be acknowledged and cannot be
returned. Please send to Editor, Science World, Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012-3999.
PAGE
16
PRE-READING
PROMPTS:
LESSON PLANS
EARTH: NATURAL
RESOURCES
Mining
Lithium for
Your iPod
• How many devices do you have that use batteries? Do
lithium-ion batteries power any of those devices?
Get More From Your
Subscription
• How does a battery work?
• What are some advantages of rechargeable batteries?
Disadvantages?
DID YOU KNOW?
• In 1800, Alessandro Volta invented the voltaic pile. This
device was a stack of alternating zinc and copper discs
with brine-soaked cardboard discs in-between. It produced
electric current just like the batteries that we use today.
• Brine is a term used to describe a salty solution. Brine is
used in food preparation to help preserve foods, like pickles.
• We throw away about 3 billion batteries per year. Prior to
1997, when Congress mandated that the use of mercury
in disposable batteries be phased out, batteries in our
landfills were more of a cause of concern. It is still a
good idea to properly dispose of batteries so that the
toxic metals do not end up in landfills and so parts of the
batteries can be recycled.
Critical Thinking:
• Recently, the extraction fossil fuels from the earth and
oceans has become newsworthy. As evidenced by the oil
spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the collapse of a mine that
trapped workers in Chile, the retrieval of fossil fuels has
become more costly. How is mining for lithium different?
Should governments supply more funding to research
renewable energy resources? Why or why not?
project-based learning:
COMPUTERS/TECHNOLOGY: Use PowerPoint to create your
own Jeopardy-style game to test your classmates’ knowledge
of the elements on the periodic table. You can use categories
like “Atomic Mass” or “Element Discovery.” Instructions that
can help you set up the board in PowerPoint are available
online at: http://www.jmu.edu/madison/teacher/
jeopardy/Create_Jeopardy.pdf.
Resources
You can access these Web links at www.scholastic.com/scienceworld.
■ VIDEO
EXTRA: Watch a video about the lithium mines in the
Salar de Atacama at: www.cbsnews.com/video/watch
/?id=5299077n&tag=related;photovideo.
■ Learn all about the different types of batteries at:
www.howstuffworks.com/battery.htm.
■ Check out a slide show about Bolivia’s salt flats at TIME
magazine’s Web site: www.time.com/time
/photogallery/0,29307,2023839,00.html.
Check out
Science World’s Web site at
www.scholastic.com
/scienceworld
to download:
PowerPoints
• ITssue-enhancing
he Teacher’s Edition and bonus
• reproducibles
rticle-specific Web links and
• Avideo
links
updated index of
• Rthisegularly
year’s articles
for using Science World in
• Ttheipsclassroom
Science World
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FEBRUARY 14, 2011
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CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING
Name:
Science News
Directions: Read the “Science News” section on pages 2 to 7.
Then test your knowledge, filling in the letters of the correct answers below.
5.
7.
What is the second thing
that happens when a cat laps
up milk?
A A column of liquid is pulled up.
B The cat retracts its tongue.
C The tip of a cat’s tongue
touches the milk’s surface.
D The cat closes its mouth
around the drop.
What is NOT something a
person needs to fly a jetpack
created by the Martin Aircraft
Company?
A a pilot’s license
B to be 18 years old
C $100,000
D ear protection
2. A black hole’s gravity is
6. An object’s resistance
Poachers kill tigers _____.
A because the animals eat their
livestock
B for food
C for their body parts
D to illegally sell them to zoos
so strong it pulls in all of the
surrounding _____.
A energy
B matter
C light
D all of the above
to change in motion is called
_____.
A gravity
B friction
C momentum
D inertia
3.
Which organs did
scientists at Yale University
grow in a lab?
A ears
B hearts
C lungs
D stomachs
4.
8
When scientists washed
the cells off a pair of rat lungs,
they were left with a scaffolding
made of _____.
A muscle fibers
B collagen
C fat
D bones
9
8.
9.
Present-day dragonflies’
wingspans increased when they
were _____.
A raised in an environment
that matched the highest
prehistoric oxygen levels
B fed larger amounts of food
C given a larger space to live in
D raised in the company of
smaller insects
10. The Bloodhound car is
expected to reach a speed of
1,000 miles per hour. How fast
is that in kilometers per hour?
(Hint: One mile equals 1.609
kilometers.)
A 16
B 108
C 1,609
D 20,625
Permission granted by Science World to reproduce for classroom use only. Copyright © 2011 by Scholastic Inc.
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Answers on TE 8
1.
Which type of
electromagnetic radiation did
the Fermi Telescope detect
coming from the center of the
Milky Way?
A gamma rays
B X-rays
C ultraviolet light
D microwaves
READING-COMPREHENSION SKILLS
Name:
WALKING MACHINES
In “Bionic Body Parts” (p. 8), you read about how doctors are outfitting patients with devices to help them replace
lost limbs and restore senses. Researchers have also been working to help patients who have lost the use of their
legs to walk again. Read the passage below to learn more about this one technology, then answer the questions
that follow.
Power Walk
People who have lost the use of their legs and must rely on wheelchairs to get
around may soon have another option. A new robotic suit called ReWaIk could
allow people who have become paralyzed to walk again with just a pair of crutches
to help them stay balanced.
ReWalk consists of lightweight braces that fit over the wearer’s hips and legs.
The suit is powered by rechargeable batteries and operated by a small backpack
computer. By pushing buttons on a wristband controller, users can select a
movement, such as standing, walking, sitting, or climbing stairs.
Users control ReWalk by leaning forward to shift their center of gravity (point where
an object balances). This activates tilt sensors, which signal the motorized braces
to take a step. Most people should be able to learn to use the suit in three weeks or
less, says Amit Goffer, ReWalk’s developer.
Answers on TE 8
1.Which of the following BEST summarizes the
3. What powers the suit?
passage above?
A People who are paralyzed can rely only on
wheelchairs to move around.
B ReWalk is a new device that attaches to a wheelchair
to help people who have lost the use of their legs get
around more efficiently.
C ReWalk, a machine consisting of special braces, a
computer, and batteries, could allow paralyzed people
to walk again.
D Amit Goffer is the first wheelchair-bound person to be
using the ReWalk to walk again.
how to use ReWalk?
A one week
B three weeks
C four weeks
D six weeks
2. What is the purpose of the second paragraph?
5. Which of the following activities is NOT one that
A to describe how a person uses ReWalk
B to introduce Amit Goffer, ReWalk’s developer
C to describe how someone can become paralyzed
D to describe the different parts of ReWalk
A solar panels
B rechargeable batteries
C stored kinetic energy
D AAA batteries
4. About how long should it take a person to learn
the ReWalk is programmed to perform?
A running
B walking
C standing
D climbing stairs
Permission granted by Science World to reproduce for classroom use only. Copyright © 2011 by Scholastic Inc.
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READING AND WRITING SKILLS
Name:
UGLY ADJECTIVES
In “Who You Callin’ Ugly?” (p. 12), the writer uses many words that are adjectives to describe the ugly animals’
distinctive traits. As you read through the article, write down the adjectives that the writer uses in the “Article Adjectives”
column below. Then, after taking a look at each animal, write your own adjectives to describe the traits in your own
words. (Hint: Some good adjectives are also in the critters’ names!)
Animal
Article Adjectives
Your Adjectives
Proboscis monkey
Leaf-tailed gecko
Wrinkle-faced bat
Star-nosed mole
Marabou stork
Sea pig
QUESTIONS
1. How were your answers different from those used in the article? For instance, did any of your
2. List three other animals whose names also describe something about their physical appearance.
Permission granted by Science World to reproduce for classroom use only. Copyright © 2011 by Scholastic Inc.
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Answers on TE 8
adjactives suggest that the animal is more cute than ugly?
GRAPHING SKILLS
Name:
MINING LITHIUM
In “Mining Lithium for Your iPod” (p. 16), you read about how miners extract lithium from brine under South American
salt flats. Lithium mining has been increasing over the years because of the high demand for lithium-ion batteries. Use
the data in the chart below to learn more about how the extent of lithium mining has changed over time.
World Lithium Production, 1952–2008
Year
Lithium Mined
1952
25,500
1960
87,100
1968
63,700
1976
75,000
1984
108,000
1992
156,000
2000
204,000
2008
382,000
(metric tons)
SOURCE: UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
GRAPH IT
Create a line graph to show how much lithium was mined each year. Be sure to give your graph a descriptive title and
label the x- and y-axes.
ANALYZE IT
1. In which year was the least lithium mined? The
4. How many times more lithium was mined in 2008
2. How much lithium was mined in 1960? In 2008?
5. Sony sold the first lithium-ion batteries in 1991.
greatest?
3. In which year was the amount of lithium mined
than in 1968?
What has happened to lithium production since that
year? What do you think this trend shows?
Answers on TE 8
almost double the amount mined in 1984?
Permission granted by Science World to reproduce for classroom use only. Copyright © 2011 by Scholastic Inc.
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