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The Greenhouse Effect
Why does it get so hot inside of our cars in the summertime? The greenhouse effect! Lab groups experiment to see what happens to an ice cube enclosed in a jar and placed in sunlight as compared to an ice cube outside of the jar. They...
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Leaves: All-Natural Solar Collectors
Take a good look at tree leaves and notice the adaptations for collecting solar energy. Pupils trace the margins of five different leaves onto graph paper and count the number of squares covered. They then relate this infomation to the...
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Solar Car Series: during What Part of the Day Can the Most Sun Power Be Collected?
In preparation for solar car races, middle schoolers attempt to discover what time of day the most solar energy can be collected. Begin by demonstrating the use of a voltmeter for measuring solar cell output. Take them outdoors to take...
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Solar Car Series: Angle/Energy Amount
Does the angle of a solar panel change the output? Emerging engineers find out! Demonstrate for your class how they can angle a straw to match the angle of light rays coming from a source. Then turn them loose to experiment with the...
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The Chemistry of Refining Crude Oil
Consider our energy sources: wood, coal, oil, uranium. Learners compare the pollution to energy produced for each. They practice fractional distillation of an alcohol/water mixture to simulate the process of refining crude oil....
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The Sun: Earth's External Heat Engine - Part 1 of the Astronomy Model
Designed by School Power...NaturallySM, this lesson familiarizes advanced earth science and physics learners about the variables that affect our supply of solar energy. They examine gas spectra and perform calculations. There is an...
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Exploring Biomes Lesson 1: Mapping Biomes
Environmental science learners examine satellite imagery of temperature, vegetation, precipitation, and productivity. They use these maps to understand how scientists divide the planet into major biomes. As part of a larger unit on...
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Organic Molecules Detected on Distant Planet!
Here is a planet worksheet in which learners read about organic molecules detected through spectral lines of the planet Osiris. They calculate the mass, the volume and the densities of common ingredients for planets including Osiris and...
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The History of Life on Earth
Using meters as years, your class works together to map out the geologic time scale on a football field. Plenty of background information is included in this lesson plan as well as several resource links and a student worksheet. Your...
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Message in a Bottle - A Satellite Journey through the Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream has historically provided humans with a faster trade route because of its swift-moving waters. It continues to be a source of information and fascination for oceanographers today. As your class views this collection of...
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Ozark Karst: A Fragile Landform
Young geologists become familiar with the Karst Topography in the Ozark Mountains. They study how human activity has affected the cave ecosystem. They conduct a simulation in which a large development is proposed in the area, and they...
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USGS Seismometer
A large black-line diagram of a seismometer fills this page. It is not a worksheet, but rather an explanation of how a seismometer works. You could make a transparency of it or display it via a video screen when teaching about seismic...
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What are Metamorphic Rocks and How are They Formed?
Even though the student handouts are not included in the write-up, this lesson plan contains the instructions for terrific activities to use when teaching middle schoolers about metamorphic rocks. First, they compare granite to gneiss...
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Towers of the Lost City
Middle school marine scientists compare the pH change in distilled and saltwater as acetic acid is added one drop at a time. Then they compare the pH change in both when sodium hydroxide is added. This experiment demonstrates the...
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Volcanic Environments
A diagram showing a cross-section of Earth points out the location of different plate boundaries and displays the numbers one through five. Beneath the diagram are five photos of different types of volcanoes. The object of the activity...
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Worksheet 3: Earth's Climate System II
A diagram of a mountain range and the prevailing winds is shown at the top of the page. Meteorology pupils describe the weather conditions at different points on the diagram. They explain the El Nino effect and why evaporation and...
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Rivers & Watersheds
An outstanding presentation of rivers and watersheds awaits your earth scientists! The erosion process created by rivers is addressed. Viewers are introduced to v-shaped valleys, alluvial fans, and watersheds. Several slides are...
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Why Do We Have Weather?
Convection is offered as the reason behind our weather phenomena. This presentation assumes that viewers are familiar with the methods of heat transfer, and is therefore more geared toward middle-school meteorologists. The focus is on...
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People Behind the Parks
Explore U.S. geography with your class by viewing a documentary. Show a portion of the Ken Burns documentary "The National Parks," and identify the individuals responsible for keeping the parks in order. Elementary and middle schoolers...
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Come On Down!
Begin with an introduction to famous deep-sea submersibles. Learners work in groups to gather information on different vessels and then share with the class. Each group then uses water displacement to help calculate the density of...
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Hurricanes
Your middle school meteorologists mull over hurricane facts while viewing this presentation. They learn about the physical characteristics and power of these low-pressure storms. They also discover the danger of hurricanes: freshwater...
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Virginia Geology
If you are a geology teacher in the state of Virginia, then this resource is right up your alley! It examines the five geologic provinces of Virginia: The Coastal Plain, The Piedmont, The Blue Ridge Mountains, The Valley and Ridge...
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Weather - Clouds and Precipitation
It's raining! It's pouring! Your class will not be snoring when viewing this presentation. Cloud formation and types are explained in the first half. Forms of precipitation are detailed in the second half. Concepts are explained...
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Investigating the Effect of Salinity on the Density and Stability of Water
Water with varying amounts of dissolved salt are dyed and then used to compare densities. The objective is to discover the effect of salinity, and therefore density, on ocean water on the stability of the ocean. Many branches of science...