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Teaching Kids about the Environment
Fifth graders identify the species of plants and animals found in an environment. They compare these findings to plant and animal species found in an unlike environment. Students acquire and compare soil samples from the two sites chosen.
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Floating Plates on the Earth
Fourth graders construct a concept map about Plate Tectonics. They include types of movement, names and effects of boundaries. They research plate tectonics, describe and name 3 types. They analyze the effect on the earth's surface of...
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Survival Extravaganza
Fifth graders discuss the effects of scarcity. In this survival lesson, 5th graders use strategies that would help them survive in a survival situation. Students write letters about bears in need of help to survive. Students answer...
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Dust in the Wind; Chemicals in the Water
Students explore mechanical and chemical weathering at stations. They articulate some mechanisms of chemical and mechanical weathering through exploration in a lab. Students stations describe how chemical weathering differs from...
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Death On Board La Belle: Finding Clues from Old Bones
Students practice analyzing skeletal remains for clues by using the Internet. In this scientific investigation lesson, students research the La Belle shipwreck using the Internet and written materials, later completing a Skeletal Report...
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Osmosis and Diffusion: Egg Lab
Learners examine why diffusion and osmosis happen in an egg cell. In this diffusion lesson students demonstrate a semi permeable membrane.
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Introduction to Chemistry
In this introduction to chemistry worksheet, students answer 9 questions regarding the study of chemistry. The first part is matching, then they "think like a scientist" and then they problem solve.
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The Greenhouse Effect
Eighth graders research the Greenhouse Effect on the Internet. They use a variety of sources and take notes on the topic. They use ClarisWorks to type a report, use spellcheck, proof and edit. They can create a class bulletin board.
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Oil Spills
Third graders examine the San Francisco oil spill and the effects it has had. In this investigative lesson students view a demonstration on oil clean up and how it works. They see how wildlife is rehabilitated, how the oil is cleaned...
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Blue Mud Shrimp Mystery
Students explore invasive species on an environment. In this exploratory lesson students hypothesize why shrimp are on the decline and make a brochure or poster showing their results.
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Going in Cycles: The Life of an Aluminum Can
Young scholars investigate the manufacture of aluminum cans and consider the energy and resources saved when the cans are made from recycled material. They explore the concept of closed-loop recycling using charts, worksheets and...
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Going in Cycles: The Life of an Aluminum Can
Students explore the life cycle of aluminum cans. In this recycling activity, students review the manufacturing process and how to make a closed loop cycle. Students also have the opportunity to present what they've learned to others...
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Five Themes of Geography and Current Events
Basically, pupils look for a current world event from a reputable source and identify the five themes of geography within it. Throughout the school year, they keep a notebook of these current events. A grading guideline is outlined, and...
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Biome-Ecology Unit with a "Design a Zoo" Extension
Students participate in a three part unit about biomes. Part one, students research the biomes of North America and part two consists of research on zoos and a field trip to a zoo. While part three ties together the first two when...
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Classification of Pasta, Rice and the Nine Planets
Eighth graders create a classification system of the planets and give a written rational for their choice of categories. In this investigative lesson students participate in an activity that helps them to explore classification.
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Habitats, Abiotic v. Biotic
Pupils explore and define ecosystem, ecology and habitat. They discuss abiotic and biotic organisms and the things needed for survival. After observing pictures of animals in their habitat, students compare and contrast habitats and...
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A Rainbow Under the Sea: How do Animals Survive in the Ocean?
Second graders read books, watch videos, complete worksheets and participate in class discussions about ocean animals. They, in groups, design PowerPoint presentations on selected marine animals.
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Radical Rainforest
Third graders examine rainforests and the four different layers that make up a rainforest. They create an advertisement poster advertising a trip to the rainforest, including information concerning why people should visit, as well as,...
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Dirt Life
Students select and collect soil samples from a variety of locations (schoolyard, home, etc.). They do this lab after an interest-generating discussion about "dirt" and microbes. Students make a dilution in sterile water, plate it on a...
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Ecosystems, Habitats and Survival
Students analyze the habitats of animals and people, how they are developed and maintained, and what factors affect shelter selection. They create a classified ad that describes a specific animal's habitat.
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Adopt A Twig
Sixth graders explore leafless twigs and identify leaf buds. In this forest resources activity students complete a lab activity that shows them how to identify tree and leaf identification.
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When You're Hot, You're Hot!
Eighth graders examine the development of the different temperature scales. They experiment with hot and cold temperatures.
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School Yard Park/Ecosystem
Fifth graders observe and categorize different sections of a park and it's ecosystem. In this categorizing lesson plan, 5th graders collect different facets of nature from a nearby park (without disturbing the ecosystem). They map,...
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Seeing the Cell as a System
Students explain how the components of a cell operate as a system. Students examine a bicycle and find out if parts were arranged differently, could the system still be carried out. They look at cells as well and see what function they...