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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Learners understand the process of recycling. They investigate how it improves the environment. They read the story "Don't Pollute" by Stan and Jan Berenstein. They analyze trash and sort it into bins.
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Let's Start Growing
Learners investigate how a tree grows from a seed. In this plant biology lesson, students use potting soil, tree seeds, and a paper cup to observe seeds growing into plants. Learners record observations in their science journals.
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Around and Around (The Water Cycle)
Students view a video of the water cycle, and make a water cycle baggie. In this water cycle lesson plan, students watch a video, discuss vocabulary, and make a water cycle baggie out of water, salt, ice, and a hot plate.
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Weathering
Second graders explore weathering and how the water cycle plays a part in weathering. In this weathering instructional activity, 2nd graders put gravel and sugar cubes in a jar and shake, simulating weathering. Students use the...
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Central Park Field Trip
Students visit the park to observe signs of spring in the forest and pond environments. In this field trip lesson, students explore the park for various items
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Earth & Space Science: Holding it Together
Students estimate how many drops of water can fit onto the surface of a penny and then test their hypothesis to find out. They also experiment with bubbles.
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The Amazing Ant
Students explain that ants are an important element of nature's balance. Ants eat many insects and are food to other animals. They watch a video and conduct hands-on activities that give them an excellent overview of the ants role in...
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Glove Gardens
Young scholars investigate how seeds sprout. For this scientific inquiry lesson, students make predictions on which seeds will grow the fastest and observe the seeds over a period of time. Observations are recorded into a journal.
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Trees and Erosion
Students examine the connection between trees and erosion. For this erosion lesson students experiment with the effects of rain on a hillside. Students investigate the number of trees and the amount of erosion.
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Density and Mass
Students experiment to find which liquids are more dense. In this density and mass lesson plan, students predict and then test objects to observe and measure their density. students observe which items sink and float. Students complete...
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Mighty Earth Movers
Note that although the publisher lists almost all of the Common Core standards for both math and language arts, you will most likely want to take the general topic and choose which area to focus on. Regarding math, pupils measure worms...
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Which Falls Faster?
Second graders study force and what it does. For this motion lesson students complete a demonstration on force and gravity and share their ideas.
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DAY AND NIGHT
Students use a lamp as the sun and his/her body as the earth. They rotate in different directions to explain how the earth moves around the sun. Using specific questions in their discussion, students discover the reasons for day and night.
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Invent on the Spot
The best inventions come from a problem that needs to be solved! Given a container with holes in it, learners must solve how to stop liquid from pouring out. They work together to develop an invention to accomplish this task.
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Water Cycle and Ecosystems
Learners explore the water cycle. In this investigative lesson, students examine the water cycle process. They will record their observations and discuss marine and freshwater ecosystems.
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THE WONDERFUL WATER CYCLE
Learners are introduced to the processes of evaporation and condensation as they observe physical changes in water. They observe how matter changes from a solid to a liquid state. Students are explained that steam is water in its gaseous...
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Wonder Underground
Students classify and record objects they find "underground." For this observation lesson, students dig into bins filled with soil and encounter various objects such as bark, twigs, etc. Students classify their findings.
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Watch Me Grow
Students observe that plants need air, food, light, and water to survive. In this plant biology lesson, students observe the growth and development of two plants, one is the control plant and the other is denied either air, water, or...
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WORM WATCHING
Students investigate how earthworms help build good soil. They examine the worms carefully to find the ringlike segments and swollen band at the front of the earthworm's body. Students take turns dampening the soil every day and adding...
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Landforms
Students begin their examination of landforms. Using a map, they locate and identify the major landforms on Earth. They discuss how landforms affect the lifestyle of the community and determine which goods and services the community...
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Go Glacier Go!
Students create a model of a glacier and observe how it moves. For this landforms lesson, students learn what a glacier is, build a model glacier and observe how it moves in a manner that more closely resembles a liquid than a solid.
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Air and Water in the Environment
Second graders participate in a three part instructional activity in which they identify and describe forms of moisture in the environment. Part one of the instructional activity involves the three stages of the water cycle, part two...
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Rocks, Rocks, Rocks
Students are introduced to how the different types of rocks formed. As a class, they are read a book about rocks and create a list of what they already know about them. Using examples of rocks they find around the school, they discover...
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Drawing From Nature
Students observe similarities and differences of natural objects. In this observation lesson, students use a magnifying glass to identify the details of objects.