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Insect Camouflage
Students investigate insect camouflage and mimicry. In this animal science lesson, students discuss how camouflage helps an insect survive. Additionally, students use the included template to color and cut illustrations of insects....
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Predicting the Future
Students examine how scientists predict the effects of global climate change. In this environmental science lesson, students participate in a discussion about using computer generated data to create climate predictions. Students examine...
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A Campfire Conversation
Students examine point of view as it relates to public issues. In this point of view instructional activity, students become familiar with the point of view of John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt about the wilderness. Students debate if...
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Images of the Parks
Students explore U.S. geography by completing a research project about the National Parks. In this scenery image analysis lesson, students identify the different national parks in our country and observe paintings and images by famous...
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Animal Adaptations
Students focus on the pelts of fur-bearing animals native to Iowa to discover their different adaptations. In this animal adaptation lesson, students work in groups and examine various pelts to find information about the animals habitat...
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Fishing
Students explore the techniques and basic needs of the fisherman. In this fishing lesson plan, students view a demonstration of the use of fishing equipment. Students research Iowa farm ponds and design a class mural from their...
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Habitat Sunprints
Students recognize various habitats and where they are found. In this habitat sunprints lesson, students observe the contents of habitats and record what the sunprint might represent. Students use blueprint paper and small natural...
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Stream Table
Young scholars explore channelization, riparian habitats and soil erosion to find out about the aquatic habitats in Iowa. In this aquatic habitats lesson, students define important terms and read an article about pollution. Young...
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Wetland in a Pan
Seventh graders build a watershed from various materials. In this life science lesson plan, the students will be able to change the design of their watershed to see the changes in the way the water will drain. Each group will be able to...
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The Game of Life
Young scholars explore the game of life which refers to what happens to a species when most of the population is gone. In this endangered species activity, students describe what it means for a marine animal to be endangered. Young...
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SPLASH – Monitoring Humpback Whales
Students view a video about the humpback whale and why it is endangered. In this endangered species instructional activity, students recognize the importance of observing and following an endangered species in an ecosystem. Students...
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Climate Change & Coral Activities
Students study how the ocean stabilizes our planet's climates and how global warming is becoming a threat to this fine balance. In this climate change lesson, students identify that fossil fuel emissions are responsible for global...
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Terrestrial Hi-Lo Hunt
Students assess environmental factors. In this environmental factors lesson, students explore their surroundings identifying warm and cool spots, dry and wet areas, and determining the warmest and coolest areas. Students analyze their...
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Hold It
Students explore animal characteristics by examining water currents in person. In this animal strength lesson, students discuss tides and currents and attend a field trip in which they are in contact with flowing water. Students create a...
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Wolves At Our Door
Students investigate the wolf. In this animal adaptation instructional activity, students examine the social characteristics of the wolf. They discuss the role of human intervention in reestablishing the wolf population.
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Creatures of the Skies
Students create a bird identification game. In this classification lesson, students work in pairs to collect information about a specific bird. They use a bird field guide to aid in the research. They challenge other students in their...
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Antarctica: Effects of Salinity on Icebergs
Students investigate the effects of salinity on icebergs. In this hands on lesson, students design and conduct an investigation into how the amount of salt in ice affects its buoyancy.
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Blue Planet: Tidal Seas
Students investigate how tides affect sea life. In this video based lesson, students view a video on how tides affect sea life. They do web-based research to find the answers to a series of questions and then play Tidal Trivia to test...
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Natural Forces
Students assess the damage natural forces have caused Maryland's geographic features. In this state geography and ecology lesson, students work in a group to research ways in which weathering, erosion, and deposition have affected the...
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Dinosaur Detectives
Middle schoolers write a report about a paleontologist. For this paleontology lesson, students research and write a report about a noted paleontologist. They discuss the importance of technology to paleontologists and how paleontologist...
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Mesozoic Murals
Students create a mural of one of the Mesozoic Periods. In this geologic timeline activity, students will research the plants and animals that lived in the Mesozoic Era in order to create a mural to scale that represents one of the three...
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Hazardous Chemicals? Not in my Water!
Students reflect on the effects of their actions on the environment. In this community service activity, students investigate the hazardous quality of products within their homes. Student educate their families and communities about the...
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Saving the Sandhill Cranes
Students explore environmental awareness by participating in movie making. In this endangered species lesson, students discuss the problems dealing with sandhill cranes at a nearby beach and the impact our environment is having on them....
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Managing Ecosystems
Students take a closer look at managing ecosystems in Britain. In this geography skills lesson, students determine how applying climax vegetation theories to the Salisbury Plain have helped or hindered the area.