Encourage tinkering with ideas, relationships, connections. Set up situations where students have to find information not readily available in school texts. Provide opportunity for students to design open-ended explorations of the concept. Provide multiple options so students can plan a unique "proof" of learning.

Absolute Zero

Objective: The student will be able to construct a procedure for experimentally determining absolute zero

Activity: In lab groups, design an experiment to determine the Celcius temperature of Absolute Zero. The students are allowed water, thermometers, a pressure gauge, rock salt and Bunsen burners.

Assessment: Student participation and % accuracy on the actual value of Absolute Zero versus its theoretical value