The North Carolina Atlas of Phenomena is a resource to support science teachers throughout the state to develop their own understanding of different phenomena and the disciplinary core ideas needed to explain them.
Phenomenon Description: Leaves with different sizes, shapes and colors.
Location: Wake County, Wake Forest
Grade Level or Course: Kindergarten
Question: Are all leaves the same?
Crosscutting Concepts: Structure and Function
Other related questions:
Phenomenon Description: Once only native to Central and South America, the nine-banded armadillo has slowly migrated to the southeastern US. The first confirmed observations in North Carolina occurred in the late 2000s.
Location: See NC Wildlife Resources Map for locations in the state
Grade Level or Course: 4
Phenomenon Description: The North Carolina mountains are home to several species of fireflies, most notably the synchronous and blue ghost fireflies, which put on stunning light shows in late spring and early summer.
Location: Graham
Grade Level or Course: Chemistry
Phenomenon Description: Solar panel farm in Robeson County, NC
Location: Robeson County
Grade Level or Course: Earth and Environmental Science
Question: How can a panel made of glass and silicon turn invisible sunlight into usable electricity?
Phenomenon Description: Kudzu growing along the road
Location: Wake County
Grade Level or Course: Biology
Question: How can a single plant grow up to a foot per day and what powers that kind of speed?
Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and Effect: Mechanism & Exploration
Phenomenon Description: Yellow dandelion plant in the middle of a grassy downtown area.
Location: Halifax Mall, Raleigh, North Carolina
Grade Level or Course: Grade 3
Question: How did the dandelions get there?
Crosscutting Concepts: Structure and Function
Phenomenon Description: Jockey's Ridge State Park is home to the tallest living sand dune system on the Atlantic Coast.
Location: Jockey's Ridge State Park, Nags Head
Grade Level or Course: Grade 4
Question: How did the Sand Dunes get to Jockey's Ridge State Park?
Phenomenon Description: A large mass of fire ants floating on top of floodwaters.
Location: Columbus County
Grade Level or Course: 4th grade
Question: How do fire ants create floating rafts during floods?
Crosscutting Concept: Structure and Function
Phenomenon Description: The USS North Carolina - SSN 777 (US Navy - Virginia Class Attack Submarine) uses nuclear energy.
Location: N/A
Grade Level or Course: Physical Science
Question: How do submarines like the USS North Carolina-SSN 777 generate and use nuclear energy?
Phenomenon Description: An area in a forest that has been burned by a fire.
Location: Harnett County, Raven Rock State Park
Grade Level or Course: Earth and Environmental Science
Phenomenon Description: Adults and children alike enjoy the summer thrill of racing down waterslides like the ones at Carolina Harbor Waterpark in Charlotte.
Location: Mecklenburg County, Carowinds
Grade Level or Course: Physics
Question: What are the physics behind waterslides?
Phenomenon Description: Unusual orange growth on an Eastern Red Cedar.
Location: North Carolina
Grade Level or Course: 8
Question: What is that strange orange growth on this tree?
Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and Effect
Science Domain: Life Science
Phenomenon Description: Tilled vs Non-tilled Soil
Location: Rockingham County, Reidsville
Grade Level or Course: Earth and Environmental Science
Question: Why do some farmers choose no-till farming practices?
Phenomenon Description: Blue Hue of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains
Grade Level or Course: 6
Question: Why are the Blue Ridge Mountains Blue?
Crosscutting Concepts: Energy and Matter: Flows, Cycles, and Conservation
Phenomenon Description: A large swarm of dragonflies (a mix of common green darners and wandering gliders) flying over a grassland at an environmental education center in Raleigh.
Location: Wake County, Prairie Ridge Ecostation
Grade Level or Course: Grade 5