Accessible Science Activities

 

Models of three types of stress that can be placed on rock are described.
Modeling shear stress with playdoh.
Rock Under Stress
For students with visual impairment, the volume of sound can be used to represent the brightness of stars as the concepts of apparent and absolute magnitude.
a group of stars
Using Sound to Describe Star Brightness
This hands-on activity allows students who are blind or visually impaired to "build" a model of the solar system showing relative distances between planets.
Solar System in a meter.
Solar System in a Meter
Through a tactile graphic and an active model, students will gain a better understanding of spring tide and neap tide.
The image is of the tactile graphic describing neap tide and spring tide.
Using Tactile Graphics to Teach Students with Visual Impairments About Tidal Range
In this activity, students consider how a model of the 3-D Earth can be shown in 2-D on a tactile graphic, and why models, though useful, have limitations.
The image is of the APH Tactile World Maps.
Shape of the Earth with 2-D and 3-D Models: Practicing Tactile Graphics
In this simple interactive model, students use their hands to model the tectonic plates and the movement of these plates.
Student models a divergent boundary with this hands.
Tectonic Plate Boundaries - Interactive Model
Video with transcript, questions, and tactile images to teach students with visual impairments about black holes and the Milky Way.
Satellite in outer space
Monster of the Milky Way
In this hands-on geology lab, students with visual impairments explore index fossils and analyze data to solve a mystery.
Fossil
Forensic Geology Lab: Digging Through the Sands of Crime
This model utilizes the fan as the luminosity of the star in order to describe in a tactile manner the absolute verses apparent magnitude of stars.
Apparent magnitude depends on the luminosity of a star and the distance from the Earth.
Apparent vs. Absolute Magnitude of Stars- Interactive Model
In this active model, students who are blind or visually impaired will compare the relationship of the Sun, Moon, and Earth during the phases of the Moon and relate this to the tides.
Graphic of sun, moon, tides
Relating Tides to the Moon Phases
In this activity, students with visual impairments model day and night using a globe specially marked to indicate the students' current location on Earth.
A student uses the globe to describe day and night.
Earth's Rotation Causes Day and Night - Interactive model
Students who are blind or visually impaired will understand the revolution of the Moon around the Sun and its rotation through this simple activity.
A student stands with the Moon (a balloon) facing the Earth.
Rotation and Revolution of the Moon: Active Model

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