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Don't Mess with Mercury
The three lessons in the don’t Mess with Mercury Unit Module are designed to teach middle schoolers about the dangers of mercury. The first option is teacher-led. Class members learn about mercury by reading case studies and...
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NewseumED: Civil Rights
As part of a social, economic, and legal/political civil rights study, class members brainstorm a list of current civil rights issues that affect their community and then select one issue that they think they could work to change as a...
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A Community Powered by Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is the focus of a seven-part environmental science unit for middle and high schoolers. Lessons challenge students to look closely at the type of energy they consume in their home, examine the regulations and limitations...
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When I Grow Up: Career Lessons and Activities for Grades 6-8
The "When I Grow Up" series features 13 math, science, and career exploration lessons and activities for middle schoolers. Pupils choose a profession based on their strengths and interests, then complete a handout that identifies their...
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Experimenting with Solar Heaters
As part of a STEM renewable energy series, middle schoolers design a standard solar heater. First, they create a simple solar heater to measure the temperature change in a vial of water, then calculate the heat energy transferred to the...
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Bioreactor Water Heating
Three hands-on STEM renewable energy activities lead learners through the concepts of solar and biomass heating and water pumping to design a water pumping system that uses multiple technologies to avoid water freezing in winter. They...
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On the Moon Educator Guide
The five lessons in NASA’s On the Moon Educator Guide challenge young engineers to design and build an air-powered rocket, a shock-absorbing system to protect two marshmallow astronauts, and a rubber band-powered rover. In addition, they...
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His Soul Goes Marching On: The Life and Legacy of John Brown
His Soul Goes Marching On: The Life and Legacy of John Brown looks at an event that became an important part of United States history. The seven resources cover the raid, John Brown's life, his reactions to the event, as well as news...
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Space-Based Astronomy Educator Guide
The Space-Based Astronomy Educator Guide teaches middle schoolers about the Earth’s atmosphere, the electromagnetic spectrum, and telescopes. Divided into units of study, including science demonstrations, lesson plans, and worksheets,...
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Global Problem Solvers
Cisco’s animated series, Global Problem Solvers, teaches viewers about social responsibility and teamwork. The two-season series follows a diverse group of talented teenagers who combine their unique individual skills and cooperate to...
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Global Problem Solvers: Season 2 - Storm Force
When a hurricane strikes Tampa, Florida, who will help? Season 2 follows the Global Problem Solvers as they embark on a new mission. The team touches down in hurricane-ravaged Tampa only to discover that their main line of communication...
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Global Problem Solvers: Season 1 - Working Well
Global Problem Solvers: Season 1 - Working Well series introduces viewers to a group of master problem-solvers, each with their unique strengths. Using their individual strengths, team members work together to overcome the obstacles of...
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TeachEngineering: Forces All Around
Imagine using a hot glue gun or a glue stick to demonstrate tension, compression, and torsion! A six-part series of lessons and hands-on activities teach young engineers about the fundamental facets of engineering design: forces, loads,...
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Moon Munchies: Human Exploration Project and Engineering Design Challenge
NASA and the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, or ITEEA, present young scientists with a challenge: design and build lunar plant growth chambers so that astronauts can grow edible plants on the moon. Class...
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Women's History: Activity Pack
A three-lesson unit from PBS’s History Detective series has young historians investigating women's contributions to American history. Young sleuths search for clues in artifacts, images, and videos. They hold a mock convention, create...
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Will You All Please Rise?
A three-lesson unit teaches fifth and sixth graders about the importance of participation in a democratic society. The first lesson focuses on the purpose of and importance of civic duty. The second lesson looks at the justice system and...
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The Diplomacy Challenge
A seven-lesson unit module offers high schoolers an opportunity to investigate the role diplomats play in an interconnected world. Acting as Early Modern era (1450-1750) diplomats, groups negotiate treaties to further the interests of...
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Dealing with Dilemmas: Upstanders, Bystanders and Whistle-Blowers
There are upstanders, bystanders, and whistle-blowers when it comes to dealing with dilemmas. The four lessons in this unit module ask young scholars to think about injustice and how to resolve difficult situations. Learners research...
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Water is Life: The Earth’s Hydrosphere and Its Impact on Living Systems
The three units in the “Water is Life: The Earth’s Hydrosphere and Its Impact on Living Systems” are designed to teach middle schoolers about the role water plays in all life. Unit 1 builds background knowledge. In Unit 2, scholars...
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Everest Education Expedition
Young explorers investigate the biodiversity of Mount Everest and the Himalayan Mountain ecosystem through hands-on and interactive activities. They examine the effects of climate change on the mountains, analyze maps, take a virtual...
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Middle School Chemistry: Chapter 6 - Chemical Change
Catalysts, reactants, or products? The final unit in the middle school chemistry module examines chemical changes. Tweens perform experiments to determine what factors impact the rate of chemical reactions, study energy changes, both...
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Middle School Chemistry: Chapter 3 - Density
Chapter three in the middle school chemistry unit explores the relationship between volume and density. Young chemists conduct experiments to find volume through displacement, observe how temperature affects water density, and how the...
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Middle School Chemistry: Chapter 2 - Changes of State
The second module in the middle school chemistry unit looks at changes in the states of matter. Middle schoolers observe heat transfer, build molecular models of water from Styrofoam, conduct controlled experiments with condensation and...
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Middle School Chemistry: Chapter 1 - Solids, Liquids, and Gases
The five lessons in the first module of the Middle School Chemistry unit focuses on solids, liquids, and gases. Young chemists use science to explain what appears to be magic tricks, build thermometers, study the impact of temperature on...