WCC Teaching Materials Collection

Mystery Boxes: Exploring the Process of Science
Nathan Rice, Whatcom Community College; Kaatje Kraft, Whatcom Community College
In this activity, students will work in groups to follow the steps of the scientific method to investigate the unknown contents and internal structure of sealed boxes. They will generate questions and hypotheses and then test those hypotheses using their senses and a few tools. Then they will share their conclusions with the class and reevaluate their conclusions after peer review.

Wax Paper Folding - Discovering the Conic Sections
Leslie Glen, Whatcom Community College
Students fold "patty paper" to create the conic sections, and in the process, discover their properties.

Stoichiometry: An inquiry-based general chemistry activity
Paul Frazey, Whatcom Community College
This in an inquiry-based activity on stoichiometry for college-level general chemistry. It use the POGIL approach for collaborative group work.

Combination Jigsaw and Gallery Walk activity
Tommaso Vannelli, Pierce College District; Paul Frazey
A combination Jigsaw and Gallery Walk activity exploring the five periodic trends typically discussed in Genenral Chemistry texts (atomic and ionic radii, ionization energies, electron affinity, and electronegativity). this activity spans two class periods and employs an on-line (Canvas) discussion prior to class for sharing research results within expert groups.

Properties of Real Numbers in-class group activity
Mei Luu
Real Numbers properties worksheet

Ecology Modules
John Rousseau, Pierce College District
The ecology section of a year-long introductory biology course was reworked from a lecture style format to a small-group activity format that involved both in-class and field activities.

Knowledge Survey of Probability in Statistics
Wendi Davis, Whatcom Community College
This activity is intended for any sized Introductory Statistics course where students are going to be learning about basic probability. In this activity students take a knowledge survey on probability where they say whether they COULD answer the questions and with what degree of confidence.

Chemistry and Cell Review for Microbiology
Debbie Lancaster, Pierce College District
Basic Chemistry and Cell Biology are two subjects that are reviewed in Introduction to Microbiology. These two activities are both designed to have the students actively participate in the review processes and to be able to relate the information to a new area of study, microbiology.

3 Part Calendar Assignment for Introductory Computer Science Courses - Building a meaningful, useful, long term project
Ryan Parsons, Whatcom Community College; Brody Coleman, Whatcom Community College
This 3 part assignment is designed to be worked on over the entire quarter for an introductory computer science course. The end result is to create a calendar program that has a visual display and several different functionalities, allowing the students to demonstrate many core programming skills while taking ownership of their own large project.

Ecoconcepts Illustrated: Art Projects to Understand Environmental Science Vocabulary
Wendy Borgesen, Whatcom Community College