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Space Science: Phases of the Moon
Looking for a terrific lesson on the phases of the moon that has lots of good worksheets? With two excellent websites are embedded in the plan, the activity is sure to spark some interest in your astronomy unit. Some common...
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A Weighty Issue
Want to get your students motivated in science class? Given only a piece of aluminum foil, assign groups the task of designing a "barge" that will support the weight of a bunch of pennies. The group who is able to put the most pennies...
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The Search for El Nino
Sixth graders complete an El Nino scavenger hunt. In this earth science lesson, 6th graders describe the conditions that create El Nino and compare it to normal condition. They discuss how this phenomenon affects marine ecosystem.
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Autosomal Pedigrees Worksheet
Three autosomal pedigrees are printed on this assignment. Biology scholars read them and determine the phenotypes for several individuals and find which ones inherit different genetic disorders. This fundamental skill can be reinforced...
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How Many Organisms Live Here?
Young scholars observe pond organisms through a sample from a pond. In this pond organisms lesson, students use a pail and scoop from the bottom of the pond to take a sampling. Young scholars analyze the organisms removed from the pond...
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Logs to Soil
Students observe the decomposition of a log and analyze what is happening. In this log to soil instructional activity, students saw through logs to make a log profile. Students use cards and answer questions related to their log.
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Super Soil
Young scholars compare the organic matter found in soil. In this soil lesson, students compare a commercial garden mix soil to their local soil and determine which has more organic material.
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Water Holes to Mini-Ponds
Students compare two mini-ponds. In this environmental awareness lesson, students build two mini-ponds from water holes. Students add fertilizers to one and not to the other. The results are observed and compared. This could easily be...
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Invent an Animal
Students recognize how animal adaptations help animals survive in their environment. In this characteristics lesson, students create an original animal that can adapt to a specific habitat. Students create a model of their animal. ...
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Mineral Matters
Middle schoolers work in a team to use the ProScope Digital USB Microscope and a computer to collect microscopic images from a variety of mineral specimens. They compare specimens and determine how they are alike and different by...
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Water Works
Students create a "water web" to illustrate the interdependence among water users and producers. They distinguish between direct and indirect uses of water; illustrate the interconnectedness of water users in a community; and demonstrate...
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Environmental Benefits of Recycling
Fourth graders understand the benefits of recycling. In this recycling literacy instructional activity, 4th graders read an article and identify the main idea. Students understand the process of transfer to the landfill and discuss how...
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Design a Green Rooftop Garden
Design and construct buildings with rooftop gardens. Junior engineers work in groups to build two buildings and then perform experiments to determine whether or not a garden affects the building temperatures. They graph and interpret...
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Ornithology and Real World Science
Double click that mouse because you just found an amazing lesson plan! This cross-curricular Ornithology lesson plan incorporates literature, writing, reading informational text, data collection, scientific inquiry, Internet research,...
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Open-Ended Questions
Students identify a topic for an open-ended question and evaluate the question. After developing ideas that lead to inquire, they investigate and research this topic on the Internet, and then create an iMovie.
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Exploration of 'pill bugs'
Fifth graders define words. They create a dichotomous key. After carefully examining pill bugs, 5th graders record observations. They compare and contrast habitats of pillbugs.
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Class Activity: Satellite Tracker
Demonstrate how the Skywatch website works, locating your city via The International Space Station. Have cooperative groups use string and a protractor to identify an azimuth. When each groups' height has been marked, you will have a...
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Tutti Frutti
Get some competition going in your life science class. Give lab groups a variety of plant parts, all of them fruits, except one. Their mission is to make observations, compare and contrast, in order to be the first to identify the...
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What Am I Missing?
Discuss nutrition and identify components of a healthy diet, view a Food Guide Pyramid, and create a Personal Food Pyramid, listing all foods eaten in the past 24 hours. Compare food lists with the standard Food Guide and determine where...
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Galaxy Adventure
Working in groups, learners create a mnemonic device, give an oral presentation, and create a pictorial representation of the correct sequence of the planets and asteroid belt from the sun. An assessment rubric is included in the lesson...
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Teamwork and Productivity: Building a Better "What's It"
Students produce products and calculate their group's profit or loss. In this productivity lesson, students work as a team to produce products at specific specifications for a pretend company. At the end of the time limit, they compute...
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Two Beets Or Not Two Beets—What Is Your Question?
Students use the scientific method to test an idea regarding the structures of a plant as it supports the biological evidence for life. In this growing roots instructional activity, students use organizing sheets to record their...
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Solid Waste Recycling
Students seek scientific and technological solutions to envrionmental problems. They record class activities in a journal. They identify relationships among living things and their environments.
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Not Everyone Lived in Castles During the Middle Ages
Students complete a variety of online activities surrounding their study of the Middle Ages. They focus on the various levels of the class sytem and then role play a member of a given class.