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Biology: Plants - The Fiber of Life
Students, in groups, examine and list the varieties of plants and how they relate to man and the environment. They create plant books complete with leaf samples with sketches and information, grow beans in plastic baggies, and role-play...
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"Five Little Seeds"
Fourth graders complete various activities related to the plant life cycle. They read the book "The Tiny Seed," read and discuss the poem "Five Little Seeds," complete a "Plantenstein Mystery" and other online activities, write and...
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Honing in on Hummingbirds
Students explore ruby-throated hummingbirds. For this cross-curricular hummingbirds lesson, students listen to the book The Mystery of the Missing Hummingbirds and choose related topics to research with a partner. Students draw or write...
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Bug-O
Middle school special education young scholars (moderate to severe) learn about insects by playing an entomological version of bingo. They cut out pictures of different bugs and glue them onto a grid. Place the game card inside a sheet...
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Microbe Detective Story
Students play the parts of members of a microbe detective team. They solve the mystery of students stricken with chills, vomiting, and diarrhea after a picnic. They research different microbes and look for appropriate antibiotics.
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A Hidden Beauty
Expose the beautiful mystery of bulbs as young botanists learn all about these fascinating plants. They glean information from a short text before observing actual bulbs (consider an onion), and comparing their findings with predictions....
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Exploration with Geometric Solids
Students reinforce geometric concepts by playing "Guess My Solid." Through a process of elimination, they determine the shapes of mystery solids. Finally, students use various materials to construct their own geometric figures.
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Artifacts 2: Artifacts in Context
Students role play as archeologists to determine how artifacts tell about how people lived. In this artifacts lesson, students look at pictures of artifacts of the ancient city of Catalhoyuk and tell what life was like there. They look...
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Mystery Machines
Students explore simple machines and demonstrate thier acquired understanding by building a simple machine.
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And the Number Is (Second Grade)
Second graders create Mystery Numbers. They give the class clues about the name, value, and multiples of the digits which make up the number.
National First Ladies' Library
Social Studies: Who Burned Down Barnum's Museum?
Learners examine the social conflict of the 19th century and the destruction of the American Museum. In pairs, they conduct Internet research and attempt to solve the mystery of who burned down the museum. Clues to the mystery are found...
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What's That Relic?
Fifth graders listen to a read aloud of David Mc Cauley's book Motel of the Mysteries. They discuss an unknown artifact and decide what it might be used for. They research other artifacts and play "What's that Relic?"
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Wetland Metaphors
Students are presented with a selection of hands on objects for investigation as metaphors for natural functions of wetlands. A 'Mystery Metaphor Container' is presented to the class with everything having to do with a wetland in some...
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Place Value
Fifth graders explore number meanings and their relationship. Using place value clues and base-ten blocks, 5th graders build a models of numbers and determine their value. To reinforce number relationship, students participate in a...
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Drama: Inferential Thinking
Students anonymously answer a set of questions listing favorite activities and preferences. They exchange papers and attempt to determine certain characteristics of their "mystery" classmate.
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Life Science: DNA Whodunit?
Students role play an honorary detective to assist in solving a crime committed. They investigate by a bank robbery and interview eyewitnesses using their Crime Investigation Notebook and clues from an eyewitness account from the...
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Math: Mr. E Graphs
Second graders role-play as members of the "Math Graph Detective Academy" and assist in solving a mysteries. Once they have watched a "top secret" video, they sort objects according to traits into five categories. Throughout five...
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Under the Sea
Learners culminate a science and language arts unit by participating in a performance. In this performance lesson, students make costumes and scenery before performing a play entitled, "The Mystery of the Missing Jewel Fish."
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Creating Animal Prints
Students investigate the habits of animals by studying their prints. In this animal life lesson, students investigate the different types of tracks left from animals by researching the Internet. Students utilize clay or Play-Doh to...
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What's Out There? Space Shuttle Exploration and Simulation
Students role-play the jobs of space shuttle astronauts, conduct experiments, and research space using the Internet and offline experiments. Student-astronauts hold a "press conference" to share their information with others in a...
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Women in Science
Learners study the roles that women have played in science throughout history. They work in small groups while visiting the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
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Wildlife Animal Skulls
Students observe skulls of wild animals and determine their characteristics for survival. They evaluate the skuylls to discover the diets, and if the animals were predators or prey. They complete worksheets on mystery skulls.
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Time Travel
Students investigate the concept of time travel and quantum physics. They complete a Webquest, read excerpts from the book, 'The Time Machine,' play an online time traveler game, and read and evaluate newspaper articles about time.
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Alien Invaders!
Students play math detectives and solve a series of story problems or word problems in order to finish an adventure. The activity connects math and reading while reinforcing critical thinking and problem-solving skills