Lesson Plan
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Groundwater as Part of the Water Cycle

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Make sure to read through the activity procedures thoroughly before teaching this lesson because the materials list is incomplete. Also, the mentioned worksheets and booklet are not available. However, there is no need to discard this...
PPT
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The Work of Waves and Wind

For Teachers 7th - 12th
This is not revolutionary, but it is informative. Earth science viewers in grades 7-12 get carried away with wave and wind erosion. They view diagrams of how waves impact ocean shorelines. They see examples of the different types of sand...
Lesson Plan
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What Floats Your Boat?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
This open-ended boat building exercise is meant to be part of a three-lesson series on ships. Links to the other two lessons are included. This particular part is mostly a group lab activity in which they build a boat, find its load line...
Lesson Plan
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Getting the Lead Out

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The article for this lesson no longer accessible through the links in the lesson plan, but can be found in the National Center for Biotechnology Information website. After reading it, environmental science students answer questions and...
Lesson Plan
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Three is a Toxic Number

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Future public health advocates read a case study of a combination of water pollutants that may be linked to autism. The class is split into three groups, one to research each of the suspected chemicals. The look at how each one affects...
Lesson Plan
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Temperature Changes Everything

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Middle school chemists visit interactive websites in order to discover what happens to molecular motion when heat is added to matter. They conduct an experiment that demonstrates the expansion of matter with the addition of heat. A lab...
Lesson Plan
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Putting the Ice in Hockey

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Eighth grade physical science classes examine why the ice on which hockey is played is slippery. They do so by discussing phases of matter and the molecular motion in each. They read an article on a website and write out answers to...
Lesson Plan
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Environmental Concerns (1) Analysis of Lead in Paint (2) Analysis of Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th
A scenario and background information are provided for two different open-ended experiments that experienced chemistry classes can perform toward the end of the school year. In the first, they design a method for testing flakes of paint...
Lesson Plan
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Who Owns Water

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students role play how water is allocated to different holders of water rights. In this ecology lesson, students identify the different water rights available. They explore problems associated with water use including drought, degraded...
Lesson Plan
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Decision Making a Mock Town Meeting on a Proposed Tank Farm

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the potential hazards to the water supply. In this ecology lesson, students role play a town hall meeting to discuss the proposal of a storage tank construction in their place. They present their arguments and...
Lesson Plan
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Seepy Sandwich

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore Earth science by participating in a pollution activity. In this water infiltration lesson, students utilize a water sprayer, food coloring and slices of bread to simulate how pollution can spread into our drinking water...
Lesson Plan
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Why Is Water Important?

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students conceptualize and communicate ideas about the many varied and important uses of water. They create original art reflecting their ideas. Students write and read orally a sentence describing their illustration.
Lesson Plan
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Why Live Near Water?

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students explore why communities settle in locations where land and water meet. They create three-dimensional models to demonstrate their understanding of the numerous needs water serves. They then analyze the importance of water to...
Lesson Plan
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Watershed Ways

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students connect the water cycle concept with local fresh water availability and consumption. They identify waterways in their own region. Students define, predict, research, and map local watershed areas. They research the positive...
Lesson Plan
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Water is Essential to Life

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Young scholars increase their knowledge of why clean water resources are essential to the survival of plants, animals, and people. They deomonstrate their understanding of the role of water for sustaining life by creating an original...
Lesson Plan
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Strong Ice

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Through three activities, first-time physical scientists wonder at the properties of water. Freeze some soda cans and a container of water prior to the investigation to show that water expands when frozen. Lab groups experiement with...
Lesson Plan
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Water Has Many Uses

For Teachers K - 5th
Pupils discover numerous uses of water. In this water usage activity, students interview family members and discover unknown ways water is used in our daily lives. Numerous resources are provided.
Lesson Plan
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Seepy Sandwich

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Pupils study how water infiltration can carry pollution underground. In this water infiltration instructional activity, students conduct an experiment on water infiltration and underground pollution.
Lesson Plan
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When Are We Wasting Water

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars study water conservation. In this water conservation activity, students participate in a water conservation experiment. Young scholars discover how to conserve water while washing their hands.
Lesson Plan
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Let Me Tell You About...

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students comprehend the differences between flat maps and relief or topographical maps. They recognize how forces such as earthquakes, volcanoes, water, and wind-as well as human actions--have altered the Earth's surface. Students work...
Lesson Plan
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Watershed Protection

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore environmental care by participating in an Earth science activity. In this clean water lesson, students discuss what a watershed is, how they become polluted, and how it affects the overall quality of drinking water....
Lesson Plan
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Fraction Earth -- Water and Land

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Learners research the amount and sources of water on Earth. They interpret data to create a physical representation of water and land mass on the planet. They then use art materials to create a visual and tactile representation of...
Lesson Plan
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A Comparison of Land and Water Temperature

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine NASA satellite observations of surface temperature and investigate the seasonal changes of land and water temperature.
Lesson Plan
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Working With Environmental Issues

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students consider the source of disease and parasites in West Africa. In this environmental issues lesson, students read "Working with Environmental Issues," by Fred Koehler. Students participate in an activity that requires students to...