Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian In Your Classroom: The Music in Poetry
Take poetry off the page and put it into terms of movement, physical space and, finally, music with this series of three lessons from the Smithsonian Institution. This resource introduces students to two poetic forms that originated as...
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Bird Nests
Learners build bird nests. In this Science lesson, students consider climate, location, and structure when building their bird nest. Learners try to locate each other's nests within the activity site.
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Gaming in the Outdoors
Students explore their environment through a scavenger hunt. In this outdoor exlporation instructional activity, students use hunt cards and search for animal food, natural shapes, or both. Students share their finds. Students create ink...
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Great Streamboat Race
Students analyze currents. In this Science lesson, students race small boats in a creek or stream. Students time the currents and collect organisms from the creek or stream.
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Isopods
Students observe isopods for their distinct characteristics. In this isopod and pbservation activity, students gather at least two different isopods for observation. Students create a list of isopod features on a data board. Students...
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Moisture Makers
Students use cobalt chloride paper to find moisture in leaves. In this moisture content investigation, students compare and contrast the amount of water given off by various leaves.
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Out of Control
Young scholars release care of a lawn. In this Science lesson, students observe the changes that occur when lawn maintenance is stopped. Young scholars record data from several observations.
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Seas in Motion
Students analyze wave movement. In this Science lesson, students use items that float to observe waves and currents. Students record and discuss their observations.
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Salt Water Revival
Students produce a high tide. For this Marine Biology lesson, students visit a tide pool to investigate the creatures response to changes in the tide. Students discuss the results of their experimentation.
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The Old White Sheet Trick
Students attract night animals. In this Science lesson, students use a large white surface and a light at night. Students observe and record what they see.
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Leaf Living
Students participate in a game to simulate life on a leaf. In this habitat lesson, students climb under a pile of leaves, some acting as predators and some as prey. Students answer questions related to the game under the leaves.
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Leapin' Lizards
Third graders lure lizards with different foods and observe what the lizard eats. For this animal behavior lesson, 3rd graders discover how lizards eat and their behaviors when more than one lizard is present. Students create their own...
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Water Breathers
Students explore the effects of animal breathing and movement on water currents. In this aquatic animal lesson, students use food coloring to experiment and learn about water currents created by aquatic animals.
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Nutrients Nutrients We Need
Second graders examine the six nutrients humans need to maintain good heath. In this ecosystem lesson, 2nd graders learn about how plants grow and compare how humans need nutrients from plants to how plants need nutrients from the soil....
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Hopper Circus
Students explore biology by participating in an insect identification activity. In this grasshopper lesson plan, students discuss the types of insects who jump high and identify their anatomical parts. Students collect a group of...
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Seed Dispersal
Students disperse seeds. In this Science instructional activity, students experiment with various ways to naturally disperse seeds. Students evaluate the effectiveness of the various ways to disperse seeds.
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Just Turn it Off
Young scholars explore energy. In this energy lesson, students discover why it is important to conserve energy. Young scholars discover how energy is used in items we use everyday. Students discover how batteries work. Young scholars do...
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Exploring Parts and Wholes
Students explore the concept of parts making up a whole. In this parts and whole lesson, students come to understand that parts of a system must come together in order for the system to work properly. Students investigate items indoors...
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What Can Data Tell Us?
Students explore data distribution. In this data analysis instructional activity, students create a data distribution table by playing the game "Tower of Hanoi" from the Hall of Science. Students analyze their data and answer data driven...
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Children Around The World
Students read a multicultural book called "This Is the Way We Go to School" by Edith Baer and Steve Bjorhman. They become culturally aware of the different nationalities around the world and different ways that they may do things on a...
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Stream Scanners
Students investigate quality of water in a stream, lake, or pond by examining chemical, physical, and biological characteristics.
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Reflection of Light
Students experiment with reflections of two plane mirrors placed at a 90 degree angle to see what will be reflected.
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Family and Household Structure
Students examine what the word "family" means today. They identify cultural traditions that are still popular in the United States. They read primary source documents and discover how advice is passed on from generation to generation.
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Learning About A Country While Chatting Online
Students take a "virtual trip" to Switzerland. This lesson gives suggestions about how to arrange and then organize such an online chat trip so that it be as beneficial as possible.