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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

Plant Structures Lab Stations

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
In China, hibiscus is known as the shoe flower because it is used to polish shoes, while in Hawaii, it is honored as the state flower. Young scientists learn about the structure and function of flowers. They dissect hibiscus flowers,...
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

The Monster Mash

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Young scientists create monsters by applying their knowledge of transcription and translation. They randomly find the DNA, assign it a codon, and build monsters piece by piece. 
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

The Last Supper: Identifying Macromolecules

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Why do medical examiners always state the contents of a person's stomach? Scholars learn about the importance of macromolecules through a case study of stomach contents. They perform multiple tests to determine a conclusion before they...
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

"Something Old, Something New..."

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Young scientists learn about DNA replication through a video and model creation. They answer analysis questions before exploring the role of mutations and then complete a summative assessment.
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

Genetics, Genetics, and More Genetics: Exploring Independent Assortment and Non-Mendelian Genetics

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Two individuals share 99.9 percent of their genetic codes, yet diversity is observed everywhere. Young scientists learn about diversity through hands-on activities and an experiment. They apply the concepts of independent assortment and...
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

Enzymes in Action

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Enzymes play a role in almost every function in the human body. Scholars explore three variables related to the use of enzymes. They observe a catalase reaction, experiment with substrates, and examine reactions rates. 
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

Do You See What I See?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
In only nine months, a small group of cells grows into a fully developed baby. Pupils learn about the development of an embryo to a fetus to a baby. They identify each step of weekly development. Young scientists look at ultrasounds to...
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Lesson Plan
Science 4 Inquiry

A Whole New World: The Search for Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Scholars find Earth won't support humans much longer and need to identify a planet with water to inhabit. They test four unknown samples and determine which is the closest to water. Then they explain and defend their results.
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Lesson Plan
K20 LEARN

How Does Your Garden Grow?

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
Seventy thousand different types of soil exist in the United States alone. Young scientists learn about the importance of soil to the food supply. They test soil for a variety of factors and determine the best place to set up a community...
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Activity
DiscoverE

Design a Shoe

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Engage young scientists in a project where high fashion meets engineering! Using foam core and hot glue, partnered pupils design and create a functional, fashionable pair of shoes. Groups then put the footwear through its paces using a...
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Activity
DiscoverE

Slender Tower Challenge

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Looking for an engineering project that will tower above the rest? Try a design experiment that has built-in fun! Groups examine a variety of skyscraper designs, then compete to create their own slender towers. The teacher's guide is...
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Activity
DiscoverE

LIDAR: Mapping with Lasers

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
We would be lost without maps! How are they made? Introduce junior topographers to LIDAR technology with a fascinating activity. Set up a mock city, then have learners operate a laser measure to determine the shape of the landscape using...
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Unit Plan
Royal Society of Chemistry

Acids and Alkalis—Gifted and Talented Chemistry

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Looking for a comprehensive plan for teaching acid-base chemistry? Science scholars discover acid-base interactions through a thoughtfully written unit. The resource is divided into paced activities and individual work designed to...
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Lab Resource
Royal Society of Chemistry

Observing Chemical Changes—Microscale Chemistry

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Want to add a wow factor to your current chemical changes lesson plan? Try a microscale experiment with colorful precipitates! Partnered learners conduct 10 single displacement reactions and record their observations.
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Unit Plan
Royal Society of Chemistry

Equilibria—Gifted and Talented Chemistry

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Teaching is a balancing act! Keep things on an even keel with a comprehensive equilibrium lesson plan. The resource covers reversible and irreversible reactions, Le Chatelier's Principle, and the industrial applications of equilibrium...
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Hydrophobic Surfaces—Deposition and Analysis

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Couches, carpets, and even computer keyboards now advertise they are spill-resistant, but what does that mean? Scholars use physical and chemical methods to coat surfaces with thin films to test their hydrophobic properties. Then they...
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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Color Vision Genetics Evolution Simulation

For Teachers 7th - 12th Standards
At one point, all mammals carried only two color receptors, but now most humans carry three. An informative presentation and hands-on activity demonstrate how this evolved through genetics. By participating in the activity, pupils...
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Lesson Plan
Towson University

Looking Into Lactase: Guided Inquiry

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Milk does a body good ... unless, of course, someone is lactose intolerant. Pupils play the role of pharmaceutical scientists in a guided inquiry lab about lactase. Lab groups collaborate to learn more about lactose intolerance, how...
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Lesson Plan
Towson University

Berries...With a Side of DNA? (High School)

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Is DNA still present after picking fruit or cooking vegetables? Biology scholars extract and collect DNA strands in an impactful lab. Working groups prepare their samples and compare their results to negative and positive standard...
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Forensic Science: Case of the Missing Diamond Maker

For Teachers 5th - 9th Standards
Someone stole a diamond-making machine. Who done it? Scholars use forensic science at six different stations to determine the culprit. They analyze fingerprints, use their senses, and complete chemistry experiments to determine the...
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Interactive
McGraw Hill

Population Biology

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
The carrying capacity of an environment varies based on the organisms that live there. Using a virtual lab simulation, scholars test two protists living in their own environments and a third environment where both protists live. They...
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Lesson Plan
University of Minnesota

Do the Stroop

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The Stroop test helps diagnose executive function disorders when used in conjunction with other tests. Reading color words and identifying colors seem like basic skills, but the Stroop test may show otherwise. Scholars work with a...
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Lesson Plan
University of Minnesota

Blind Spot

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Your eyes each work independently, so how do we only see one image? The quick hands-on experiment encourages young scientists to test their blind spots on each eye individually. After learning where the blind spot is and why it exists,...
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Activity
American Chemical Society

Preparation and Combustion of Biodiesel

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The United States is the world's largest producer of biofuel. During an in-class investigation, young scientists produce their own biodiesel. They burn a sample of it to determine the heat of combustion. Then they discuss the results...